SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce says “We can’t ignore it” in Bitcoin 2025 Fireside Talk
At the 2025 Bitcoin 2025 conference this morning, U.S. Securities and Trading Specialist Hester Peirce took the stage to shoot Hailey Lennon, Fold’s general counsel, and this caused a fire.
Lennon, who has raised questions about execution priorities since the management change, asked, “What is the current execution priority (if any) in the digital asset space?” Pierce acknowledged the public frustration: “Some people think we are not using these cases as inaction, but there is a lot to digest.” She stressed that the agency is actively making external perspectives, noting that “this is really a way to make good rules.”
The core theme of the conversation is regulatory uncertainty. “I have a complaint that it’s hard to identify bad actors in an environment of regulatory uncertainty, which gives them more room to operate. At the same time, it pushes legitimate actors completely to the United States or completely out of the industry. We need to create a good environment for good actors and a good actor for bad actors.”
Peirce also talked about her recent tweets that hint at disclosure requirements for projects that are potentially considered securities.
When asked about the explosion of memes and speculative tokens, Pierce won’t back down: “If you expect to buy an adult and become a billionaire, be careful, be careful. Be an adult. If you want to speculate, work hard, but don’t complain to the government if there is anything wrong.” This confirms the value and security of Bitcoin.
She stressed the importance of community engagement, noting that “government works for the people” and encouraged participants to weigh in on issues such as surveillance and financial freedom. “In the United States, we are all involved in freedom. Freedom of innovation. Your voice is very important to help us think about these issues.”
Peirce’s remarks echo the statements JD Vance spoke about in his speech at the Bitcoin 2025 conference yesterday. They both stress that we, the American people, have the ability to change the traditional financial system and fuel Bitcoin.
Lennon discusses the growing presence of Bitcoin in traditional finance, asking whether the SEC is ready for such a convergence. Pierce replied: “We can’t ignore it. When people use something freely, it will eventually be incorporated into traditional financial products. We need to consider how it interacts with our regulatory framework, but the key is to retain people’s ability to transfer value on their terms.”
Looking ahead, Peirce reminded attendees: “You don’t have to wait for the government. Ask for transparency. Learn from failure. Boost, dust and do better next time.”
You can watch the full panel discussion along with the following Day 3 Bitcoin 2025 conference:
