Brian Quintenz Accuses Tyler Winklevoss of Blocking CFTC Chair Nomination

Brian Quintenz accused Tyler Winklevoss, Gemini co-founder, of obstructing his nomination as CFTC Chairman. On September 11, Quintenz shared on X that Winklevoss lobbied President Trump against him.

Details of the Dispute

Quintenz released private messages with Tyler Winklevoss, which he claimed was uncharacteristic for him.
Messages dated July 24, 2025, included Gemini's complaint against the CFTC, following a 2017 inquiry where the CFTC accused Gemini of providing misleading information regarding a Bitcoin [BTC] futures contract.
Gemini countered with accusations of CFTC staff misconduct during the investigation.
Winklevoss sought Quintenz’s opinion on the matter, but he remained neutral.
Winklevoss contacted Trump to pause Quintenz’s confirmation over unrelated concerns.

Nomination Challenges

In early 2025, Trump nominated Brian Quintenz, from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Crypto, to head the CFTC.
Internal emails suggest Quintenz accessed confidential CFTC information while on Kalshi's board.
Concerns arose over potential impropriety and poor optics.
Tyler Winklevoss criticized Quintenz's suitability for the role.