SEC Crypto Pioneer LaMothe Exits After 24 Years

Cicely LaMothe leaves SEC after 24-year tenure that shaped crypto policy. She provided 7 guidance speeches on memecoins and staking. What is the next step in regulation?

On Monday, December 29, the SEC declared the retirement of Cicely LaMothe. She was the Deputy Director of the Division of Corporation Finance. Her exit brings to an end a 24-year tenure at the agency.

LaMothe joined the SEC in 2002. She ascended to senior leadership positions. Her eventual assignment was on the operations of disclosure.

Seven Statements That Changed Crypto

LaMothe also headed a serious direction to digital assets, disarming regulatory ambiguity and providing the industry with a necessary template.

According to the SEC’s official statement, LaMothe thanked her fellow workers and said that the job was tough but not unpleasant. She valued the efforts of her staff.

The deputy director has given seven staff statements that relate to memecoins, staking structures, and exchange-traded products. The advice was key in regulatory discussions.

She explained that memecoins do not necessarily qualify as securities, which opens the way to file memecoin ETFs. Bonk-linked products and Dogecoin.

She differentiated between custodial and non-custodial staking, which assisted companies in managing registration processes and expediting the registration of crypto ETPs.

Timing Raises Questions About Regulatory Future

The departure of LaMothe is part of larger agency changes. The SEC has become more pro-crypto and ended several enforcement actions.

On X, Representative Maxine Waters announced hearings in SEC oversight, citing how the agency handled the issue following the dismissal of cases against Coinbase and Binance.

The agency endorsed the listing criteria of crypto ETFs to have DOGE, Sol, and XRP exchange-traded products. Project Crypto aims to update digital asset regulations.

Caroline Pham resigned as the Acting Chair of CFTC and joined MoonPay as Chief Legal Officer. Rostin Behnam also resigned as CFTC head in the past.

Senator Cynthia Lummis announced that she will not seek re-election. The Bitcoin hoarder supporter leaves in November. Government posts are being vacated by pro- crypto voices.

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Hampton Graduate 24-Year Built Legacy.

LaMothe graduated with a degree in Accounting from Hampton University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Before joining the SEC, she had worked for six years in the private sector.

She was the Program Director of Disclosure Review, Director of the Office of Assessment and Continuous Improvement, and Director of Corporation Finance between December 2024 and October 2025.

Jim Moloney, the Director, Division of Corporation Finance, applauded her efforts, saying that over 24 years, LaMothe had done much more than what was required of her. Her accounting skills enhanced investor protection.

LaMothe increased the registration statement on draft, suggested faster processing, and assisted in establishing whether digital assets could be considered a security.

SEC records indicate that the agency lost 19 percent of its employees in May. Major divisions left and Waters insisted on oversight hearings on the changes.

Nekia Hackworth Jones also served her full tenure as the Deputy Director of Enforcement in charge of Southeast operations. Some of the top officials are retiring at the same time.