Le directeur adjoint de la division des sociétés de la SEC prend sa retraite après avoir façonné la politique crypto

Un architecte clé de la réglementation américaine sur la crypto quitte la scène.

Le départ crée un vide au sommet, alors que l'industrie navigue toujours dans un paysage réglementaire en constante évolution. Son héritage ? Une approche souvent perçue comme agressive par les acteurs du marché, qui ont dû s'adapter à un cadre où les poursuites en justice ont parfois précédé des directives claires. Une stratégie qui a laissé plus d'un fonds de capital-risque traditionnel se gratter la tête en se demandant où placer son argent—autre part, souvent.

Qui prend la relève ?

La question brûlante tourne maintenant autour de son successeur. L'industrie surveillera de près la nomination, cherchant des signaux sur une éventuelle détente ou, au contraire, une intensification de la surveillance. Le timing est crucial, avec plusieurs dossiers majeurs encore en suspens et une innovation technologique qui ne ralentit pas pour attendre Washington.

Un chapitre se ferme, laissant derrière lui un manuel de régulation écrit à coups de procès et d'avertissements. Le prochain décidera si ce manuel sera révisé ou simplement appliqué avec une vigueur renouvelée.

LaMothe presents herself as a strong supporter of crypto 

Over the past year, LaMothe has been responsible for several key staff statements, particularly regarding the crypto industry. An example of these statements includes one that declared meme coins are not categorized as securities, and another that presented the commission’s perspective on staking.

Moreover, apart from her role in the crypto industry, sources acknowledged that LaMothe took the initiative to guide policy recommendations for firms submitting draft registration statements, in addition to other responsibilities. Her work helped crystallize regulatory views on whether certain digital assets should be treated as securities and clarified the SEC’s stance on hot‑button issues like memecoins and staking activities

Notably, SEC officials joined the agency’s Division of Corporation Finance in 2002. At this time, LaMothe assumed several senior roles. Before joining this team, she worked in the private sector, is a licensed certified public accountant, and secured her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Hampton University.

With these exemplary achievements, the regulatory watchdog counts LaMothe’s retirement as a significant loss to the commission. It is worth noting that her retirement news comes at a time when the agency starts its second year of embracing a new focus centered on a more supportive approach towards the crypto ecosystem.

Meanwhile, reports alleged that since the start of US President Donald Trump’s tenure in office and later under the leadership of a new chair, the SEC has given a green light to listing standards for several crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

This approval marked a significant milestone in the cryptocurrency industry, as it enabled several firms to introduce ETFs that can track assets such as DOGE, SOL, and XRP. 

Another key achievement the industry witnessed was the SEC’s decision to withdraw various enforcement cases raised against prominent crypto companies. The agency also initiated  “Project Crypto” to revise the commission’s regulations concerning digital assets.

The SEC encounters several retirements this year 

The SEC publicly stated that Nekia Hackworth Jones, who assumed two crucial roles in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, namely Deputy Director of the Division of Enforcement (Southeast) and, before that, Regional Director of the Atlanta Regional Office, completed her tenure in December of this year.

In a statement, Jones noted that, “As both Atlanta Regional Director and Deputy Director overseeing the Home Office along with the Atlanta and Miami regional offices, I have witnessed my colleagues at this agency show an unwavering dedication to protecting investors, excellent judgment in fulfilling our mission, and impressive knowledge in all areas of the securities industry.”

Interestingly, the agency had signaled a major staff cut earlier this year. At this particular moment, several workers had decided to accept voluntary buyouts and resignations after the trump administration instructed a significant restructuring of the federal workforce.

Sources familiar with the situation indicated that approximately 500 to 700 workers on the SEC’s team were expected to be laid off. A large percentage of the impacted employees came from the agency’s enforcement, examination, and legal divisions. 

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