Trump Nominates Brian Quintenz as CFTC Chairman
Brian Quintenz has been nominated by Donald Trump to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). He previously served as a commissioner from 2017 to 2021 and organized the Technology Advisory Committee. During his tenure, he advocated for a self-regulatory organization for the crypto sector.
After leaving the CFTC, Quintenz became head of policy at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), which significantly funded the Fairshake political action committee, contributing nearly $140 million to the 2024 election cycle.
Acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham expressed support for Quintenz, highlighting his successful initiatives as a commissioner. Industry groups also backed his nomination, noting his history of supporting DeFi and promoting favorable policies for developers and users.
There is ongoing momentum in Congress to enhance the CFTC's regulatory authority over the crypto industry, particularly concerning spot Bitcoin markets. The Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, which aimed to strengthen the CFTC's oversight, passed in the House but stalled in the Senate.