Trump Administration Withdraws Brian Quintenzâs CFTC Nomination
On September 30, the White House officially withdrew Brian quintenzâs nomination to lead the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This move ends weeks of speculation about Quintenzâs future role in the administration.
Quintenz, a crypto industry expert, was nominated in February 2025. His nomination faced delays due to disputes and ethics concerns.Notably, billionaire tyler Winklevoss, a key Trump supporter, lobbied against Quintenz. Winklevoss raised issues related to Geminiâs ongoing CFTC enforcement case. Quintenz later released private messages with Winklevoss, accusing him of lobbying against his nomination.
Additional concerns came from tribal groups, gaming lobbies, and ethics watchdogs. They questioned Quintenzâs role at prediction market Kalshi and his pre-nomination briefings from CFTC staff. As the nomination process stalled, the administration began reviewing other candidates.
With Quintenz out, the CFTC is left with acting chair Caroline Pham. The agency oversees trillions in swaps trading and is expected to play a larger role in regulating crypto under new legislation. The Trump administration remains committed to making America a global hub for crypto markets.
Potential new nominees include former CFTC commissioner jill Sommers, ex-CFTC official Josh Sterling, and SEC counsel Mike Selig.The new nominee will shape the regulatory framework for digital assets in the coming years.
Quintenzâs exit marks a turning point for the CFTC.As institutional and retail interest in crypto grows, the agencyâs direction under Trump could significantly impact the future of digital assets.
