SEC Corporation Finance deputy director set to retire after shaping crypto policy

Cicely LaMothe, the deputy director of the Division of Corporation Finance at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), who has greatly contributed to shaping the agency’s approach towards the crypto industry, is set to retire soon.

News regarding LaMothe’s retirement was initially revealed by the agency, which cited her statement dated Monday, December 29, in which she noted, “The work has been very challenging yet rewarding, and I have learned a lot from the dedicated people who work hard every day for this important mission.”

The development marks the end of a 24‑year tenure during which she held multiple senior roles, most recently serving as Deputy Director for Disclosure Operations. She also acted as the division’s leader until James Moloney was appointed Director on September 30, 2025.

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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