- Trump reportedly picked pro-crypto Brian Quintenz as CFTC Chair, but the White House has not confirmed it.
- His leadership could shift crypto regulation from SEC enforcement to clearer CFTC rules.
Donald Trump, the current President of the United States, selected accomplished CFTC commissioner Brian Quintenz as the CFTC’s permanent chairman. FOX Business journalist Eleanor Terrett exposed this development through multiple sources who understand this situation well.
SCOOP: Three sources with direct knowledge of the matter tell me that @realDonaldTrump has chosen @BrianQuintenz, current Head of Policy at @a16z crypto and a former commissioner, to be permanent chair of the @CFTC.
No official statement from the @WhiteHouse yet, but officials…
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) February 12, 2025
When not leading policy efforts at a16z Crypto Venture Capital, he acted as a commissioner for the CFTC under his role as Head of Policy. His financial regulatory background demonstrates his readiness to fill the role. Various experts, including FOX Business Senior Correspondent Charles Gasparino, already considered him one of the top choices for the position before his official selection. Gasparino made the prediction following word that Trump’s transition team conducted interviews with six potential candidates.
The confirmation process will bring Quintenz into the seat vacated by Caroline Pham, who operates the agency in an acting capacity.
What’s Next? The Process for Confirming Quintenz as CFTC Chair
Journalistic reports have mentioned Quintenz’s appointment, yet the White House has officially failed to verify this nomination. Inside the CFTC, sources have confirmed that Quintenz received the nomination for the chair position with acting chair Caroline Pham among those who verified the news.
Pham praised Quintenz, who had previously served at the Commission, and expressed faith in his ability to advance deregulation in the financial sector.
How Quintenz’s Leadership Could Reshape Crypto Regulation
As part of the Biden administration, the SEC took a leading position in crypto industry regulation. Gary Gensler led the SEC when it deemed the majority of cryptocurrencies to be securities, with Bitcoin as the main exception. Gensler’s administrative strategy met opposition from business figures because it focused on enforcement actions without defining specific rules, as asserted by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.
Long before crypto arrived, stakeholders have stood in favor of the CFTC taking over digital asset regulation. Businesses view the Commission as a professional regulatory body instead of an agency performing enforcement actions. Many speculate that Quintenz’s nomination will substantially change the United States’ approach to crypto regulation. Jeremy Hogan, an attorney who supports crypto assets, gave positive feedback about Quintenz by indicating that his position would be important in defining the industry’s upcoming path.
The head of the CFTC will, eventually, likely be more important to the crypto space than the head of the SEC.
And Brian Quintez is a solid "A!"
Maybe an A+, but I never gave A+s when I was teaching, either. https://t.co/whWDQaiHfD
— Jeremy Hogan (@attorneyjeremy1) February 12, 2025
Following White House approval, Quintenz must undergo Senate examinations before assuming permanent position as CFTC Chair. The Senate maintains its approval delay for Paul Atkins to become SEC Chair even though the period has stretched far beyond previous congressional norms.
