U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly nominated former commissioner Brian Quintenz as his administration’s permanent CFTC Chairman.
Eleanor Terrett, a prominent journalist at FOX Business, revealed the development today, citing three sources familiar with the matter. According to Terrett, Trump has chosen Quintenz as the permanent chairman of the CFTC under his administration.
It bears mentioning that Quintenz is the Head of Policy at popular crypto VC firm a16z Crypto. He was also a former commissioner of the CFTC, making him a suitable candidate for the position.
Before Quintenz’s selection, several prominent figures, including FOX Business Senior Correspondent Charles Gasparino, identified him as the favorite for the position. Gasparino made the projection after sources claimed that Trump’s transition team interviewed six candidates for the CFTC Chair position.
A month later, the U.S. President has reportedly nominated Quintenz to replace Commissioner Caroline Pham, who is currently leading the CFTC in an acting capacity.
No Official Confirmation from the White House
In the meantime, the White House has not issued an official statement confirming Quintez’s nomination. Nonetheless, Terrett disclosed that some CFTC officials, including Pham, have confirmed the move.
In a statement, the acting CFTC chair congratulated Quintenz on his selection while reflecting on his past initiatives at the Commission that led to success. Additionally, she expressed confidence in his ability to advance crypto and innovation in the United States.
A New Era for the CFTC
Multiple sources expect the CFTC to be an active regulator in the crypto market under Trump’s administration.
Recall that the Biden administration made the SEC the top regulator of the crypto sector. In parallel, under former SEC chair Gary Gensler, the agency characterized most crypto assets, excluding Bitcoin, as securities.
The SEC was criticized heavily due to Gensler’s preference for a ‘regulation-by-enforcement’ approach.
Consequently, most stakeholders, including Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, believe the CFTC should be the appropriate regulator to oversee the industry.
Last month, Gasparino said the CFTC is more of a regulator than an enforcement arm, aligning the Commission with Trump’s promise to provide clear and transparent crypto regulations.
Notably, pro-crypto lawyer Jeremy Hogan echoed a similar sentiment today, noting that Quintenz, whom he rated ‘A!’, will likely be of utmost importance to the crypto industry than the SEC Chair.
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
If the White House confirms Quintenz’s nomination, he will undergo the Senate’s screening before confirmation as the permanent CFTC Chair under Trump. In the meantime, the U.S. Senate has yet to confirm Paul Atkin as SEC Chair.
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