SEC’s Finance Deputy Director Cicely LaMothe Retires; Who’s Next?

• LaMothe leaves the U.S. SEC after more than two decades of service. 
• She made palpable achievements that impacted the crypto market during her tenure.
• The next U.S. SEC’s Finance Deputy Director of the Division of Corporation Finance will be appointed by Chair Paul Atkins.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the retirement of two senior individuals. On December 29, the SEC announced that Cicely LaMothe, the Deputy Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, has retired from the agency.

The agency also announced that Nekia Havkwoth, the Deputy Director of Enforcement, concluded her tenure. 

LaMothe Leaves SEC With Notable Contributions to Crypto Industry 

Since 2002, LaMothe has worked at the SEC in different senior positions. For 24 years, she served the Division of Corporation Finance to help investors make informed decisions.

“Throughout her tenure, she has contributed her passion, commitment, and accounting expertise to support our mission to ensure investors have the information they need to make informed decisions,” Jim Moloney, Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, noted. 

During her tenure at the SEC, she helped issue more than 25 new and updated compliance and disclosure interpretations. LaMothe helped expand the capital formation for publicly traded companies. Most importantly, she helped modernize the SEC’s effectiveness in regulatory oversight.

How Did She Impact Crypto Space

Having served the SEC since the inception of the first crypto asset, Bitcoin (BTC), LaMothe has played a crucial role in shaping the mainstream adoption of digital assets in the United States. 

On the top list, she helped issue seven statements on various crypto-related matters, which improved clarity on liquid staking, stablecoins, mining activities, meme coins, and crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs). LaMothe also helped issue recommendations to the commission in regards to the concept releases that cover both foreign private issuers and asset-backed securities.

As such, LaMothe leaves the agency at a time when the crypto industry has gained significant clarity from the SEC. For instance, in early 2025, SAB 122 rescinded SAB 121, which required crypto custodians to list client crypto assets as liabilities on their balance sheet.

Who’s Next?

The retirement of LaMothe from the SEC leaves a vacuum that must be filled. Furthermore, the position of the SEC’s Deputy Director of the Division of Corporation Finance helps run the agency’s day-to-day operations.

As such, the SEC Chair Paul Atkins will have to appoint a new Deputy Director of the Division of Corporation Finance in early 2026. Although the SEC Chair Atkins has not announced the next appointee, a pro-technology and disruptive innovation will be favored.

Moreover, Chair Atkins has been helping President Donald Trump deliver on some of his campaign promises including in crypto and artificial intelligence (AI) growth. With the upcoming Crypto Clarity Act and the Responsible Financial Innovation Act of 2026 likely to be enacted next year, the replacement of LaMothe will happen in the near term.

Related: SEC Chair Atkins Formalizes ‘Tokenization First’ Policy to Modernize U.S. Capital Markets