President Donald Trump has reportedly selected Brian Quintenz, currently heading a16z’s encryption policy and a former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) commissioner, as the permanent chairman of the CFTC.
The news was shared by Fox journalist Eleanor Terrett, who cited three sources confirming that Trump has chosen Quintenz for the role.
Brian Quintenz picked as the Permanent US CFTC Chairman
Quintenz’s nomination as the Chairman of CFTC has been widely praised by both the crypto community and lawmakers. Acting Chair Caroline Pham, who was appointed as the interim head of the CFTC, expressed her support, stating, “I congratulate my friend Brian Quintenz on his selection as CFTC Chairman. I worked with Brian on important initiatives that he led to success when he was a CFTC Commissioner. He will do the same for crypto and innovation. I look forward to supporting Brian and his leadership at the CFTC.” It is worth mentioning that Pham had recently touched upon the need to revising regulations on prediction markets, as she plans to address the legal uncertainties surrounding Polymarket and Kalshi in an upcoming roundtable.
Ji Kim, President and Acting CEO of CryptoCouncil, called Quintenz a great choice for the role, adding, “Brian has been a leader in promoting pro-market innovation both during his previous tenure as CFTC Commissioner, where he sponsored the Technology Advisory Committee (TAC), and in his current role at a16z. Nobody better understands the transformative potential of digital asset technology, and how sound and clear regulation can foster growth. It’s an exciting day for the country and the future of innovation.”
Quintenz has long been a staunch advocate for cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance. He was among the earliest leaders in Washington to recognize the value of crypto. Prior to his stint at a16z, Quintenz was nominated by both President Obama and President Trump to serve as a commissioner of the CFTC, and in August 2017, he was unanimously confirmed by the US Senate. Under his leadership, the CFTC oversaw the listing of the first US regulated Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts on derivatives exchanges, as well as the rapid expansion of decentralized finance (DeFi).
In addition to Quintenz’s nomination, the White House has confirmed that Jonathan Gould, also a pro-crypto advocate, will be nominated as the Comptroller of the Currency. Jonathan McKernan has also been selected to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Also Read: CFTC Uncovers $1.5M Crypto Fraud, Bans from Self-Trading
Source: https://www.cryptonewsz.com/president-trump-brian-quintenz-cftc-chairman/