- Hester Peirce and Karima Woods discussed cryptocurrency regulation at the 8th annual Black Blockchain Summit at Howard University.
- Peirce, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission commissioner, emphasized the value of financial education for investors over traditional disclosure requirements.
- Both regulators highlighted the use of “regulatory sandboxes” to encourage digital asset innovation with different focuses at the federal and local levels.
- Peirce is promoting a potential cross-border regulatory Sandbox proposal between the United States and United Kingdom, while Woods advances related efforts for Washington, D.C.
- The summit included both policy discussions and lighter moments, reflecting Peirce’s public engagement approach.
Hester Peirce, a commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Karima Woods, head of the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, spoke about cryptocurrency policy at the 8th Black Blockchain Summit, held at Howard University on September 27, 2025. The event gathered regulators and industry participants to explore the future of digital assets and finance in the U.S.
In her remarks, Peirce stressed that U.S. capital markets are a resource “that belongs to everyone.” She explained, “I do believe that financial education is the best protection that we can give people,” noting a need to rely less on disclosures as a default method for protecting investors. Peirce said, “Principles-based regulation is what we need,” framing this as a key to expanding financial inclusion with new technologies.
The discussion between Peirce and Woods highlighted evolving strategies to regulate digital assets like cryptocurrencies. Peirce described ongoing efforts at the SEC’s Crypto Task Force. She expressed strong interest in a cross-border regulatory sandbox—a system that allows controlled market testing of new technologies—between U.S. and U.K. authorities.
Woods described Washington, D.C.’s moves toward its own regulatory sandbox, referencing a recommendation made to Mayor Bowser in October 2020. This initiative is designed to provide a secure space for testing innovative financial products and services. Both officials are working on separate projects—federal and local—to support crypto-related innovation under regulatory oversight.
Earlier in the week, Peirce also appeared at the Coin Center Dinner in New York, where she used humor to reference her future plans beyond the SEC. She said, “My plan long had been to transition to beekeeping—honey is delicious and nutritious, and bees sting with less glee than most of my Twitter commenters.” She closed with appreciation for those who work on crypto solutions despite personal risks, adding seriousness to her comments.
The summit’s discussions show how regulators at different levels continue to develop new approaches to the emerging digital asset industry, focusing on investor education, regulatory sandboxes, and innovation.
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