SEC crypto watchdog resigns after nearly a decade

Share this article

David Hirsch, the chief of the Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit for the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), announced he’s leaving his role after almost nine years in a LinkedIn post.

“During that time I had the opportunity to work on more complex, challenging investigations and issues than I ever imagined when I joined the agency as a staff attorney in the Fort Worth Regional Office. I’m particularly proud of the historic work done by the Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit team I had the privilege to lead,” Hirsch stated.

In his time working with the regulator, Hirsch led charges against notorious crypto companies, such as Binance, Coinbase, and Ripple. In September, Hirsch also expanded SEC’s actions against decentralized finance (DeFi) players, saying that the usage of “DeFi” wouldn’t stop the regulator’s work.

Recently, the SEC agreed to reduce its proposed settlement amount for Ripple from $2 billion to $102.6 million, as reported by Crypto Briefing.

Notably, Hirsch didn’t inform in his post where he’s going next. “While it is hard to leave an agency that has given me so much, I am very excited for the next set of challenges. I look forward to sharing more about that soon, but for now I’m excited for a break and travel with my family before my son heads to college in the fall.”

Share this article