The Trump administration officially withdrew the nomination of Brian Quintenz to serve as chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), confirming reports from multiple outlets including Politico, Bloomberg, and CoinDesk.
Quintenz, a former CFTC commissioner during the first Trump administration and current global head of policy at Andreessen Horowitz’s (a16z) crypto division, had been nominated in February 2025 to lead the agency amid growing expectations for expanded crypto regulation.
Quintenz is a prominent figure in U.S. financial regulation, particularly in commodities and emerging technologies like cryptocurrency. He served as a Commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from 2017 to 2021, nominated initially by President Barack Obama and later confirmed under President Donald Trump.
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During his tenure, Quintenz was known for advocating innovation-friendly policies, including tailored approaches to blockchain and digital assets, while emphasizing risk management over broad regulations.
He has described himself as a proponent of “practical safeguards” for market innovations, drawing from his experience as a former fund manager at Saeculum Capital Management and a Capitol Hill policy aide.
Quintenz’s nomination was announced early in the year, positioning him to oversee the CFTC’s role in regulating derivatives and emerging digital assets markets, valued at over $4 trillion. He underwent a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing in June 2025 but never advanced to a full confirmation vote, with the White House requesting postponements in July.
As a pro-crypto advocate, Quintenz has advised firms like prediction market Kalshi and supported innovation-friendly policies. His potential role was seen as a boost for the industry, aligning with Trump’s vision to make the U.S. a “global hub for crypto markets.”
The decision followed months of delays attributed to: Crypto Industry Pushback: Major players, notably Gemini co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, lobbied against Quintenz.
In September 2025, Quintenz publicly released private messages revealing the Winklevoss brothers’ concerns over his stance on a June 2025 CFTC enforcement action against Gemini for alleged investigative misconduct.
Quintenz had declined to commit to reversing the action pre-confirmation, frustrating the brothers. Tribal groups, gaming lobbies, and ethics watchdogs raised questions about Quintenz’s private-sector ties, including pre-nomination briefings with CFTC staff.
Reports also highlighted broader lobbying disputes within the crypto sector. The nomination stalled amid a pending government shutdown and congressional debates on expanding CFTC authority over crypto spot markets.
Quintenz responded graciously, stating: “Being nominated to chair the CFTC and going through the confirmation process was the honor of my life. I am grateful to the President for that opportunity… I’m looking forward to returning to my private sector endeavors during this exciting time for innovation in our country.”
A White House official emphasized that the pull does not preclude future collaboration with Quintenz, and the administration remains committed to appointing a crypto-savvy leader soon.
The CFTC is currently led by Acting Chair Caroline Pham, who has indicated plans to depart upon a permanent chair’s confirmation. All other commissioners from early 2025 have since left, leaving the agency understaffed during a critical period.
The White House is vetting new candidates, including: Josh Sterling, former senior CFTC official. Michael Selig, chief counsel to the SEC’s crypto task force. Tyler Williams, counselor to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on digital asset policy.
Jill Sommers, ex-CFTC commissioner. This development underscores ongoing tensions in crypto regulation, as the industry pushes for lighter-touch oversight while facing enforcement scrutiny.
The CFTC’s next chair will play a pivotal role in shaping U.S. policy on digital assets, especially with pending legislation. Updates are expected as the administration announces a replacement nominee.
