Donald Trump has reportedly chosen Brian Quintenz, the present Head of Coverage at a16z Crypto, to steer the Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee (CFTC), Fox Enterprise journalist Eleanor Terret reported on Feb. 12.

If confirmed, Quintenz will exchange acting Chair Caroline Pham.

Who’s Quintenz?

Quintenz, who served as a CFTC commissioner from 2017 to 2021, performed a key position in advancing technological oversight on the company. He chaired the Expertise Advisory Committee and supported the thought of a self-regulatory physique for the crypto sector.

After leaving the Fee, he joined a16z Crypto, the place he has been instrumental in shaping coverage methods. Notably, a16z is a serious crypto-focused enterprise capital agency and was a serious monetary power within the 2024 election, contributing $47 million to Fairshake and different political organizations.

His nomination indicators Trump’s broader intention to redefine monetary regulation, significantly within the crypto and derivatives markets.

Ought to Congress go market construction laws granting more authority to the CFTC, Quintenz might be accountable for drafting interpretive guidelines that form how the company enforces these new laws.

Notably, the crypto business has lengthy advocated for CFTC oversight, arguing that it might provide a extra innovation-friendly regulatory strategy than the US Securities and Alternate Fee (SEC).

Business response

Though the White Home has but to formally announce Quintenz’s nomination, key business figures have already endorsed it.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and different crypto leaders have welcomed the choice and expressed confidence in his capacity to steer the company.

Crypto legal professional Jeremy Hogan emphasised that the CFTC Chair might grow to be extra influential in crypto regulation than the SEC’s management and known as Quintenz a powerful selection for the Fee.

Hogan said:

“The top of the CFTC will, finally, probably be extra necessary to the crypto area than the top of the SEC. And Brian Quintez is a stable ‘A!’”

In the meantime, finance lawyer Scott Johnsson highlighted Quintenz’s position in launching CME Bitcoin Futures, which paved the best way for Spot Bitcoin ETFs. Based on him, this reinforces confidence in his capacity to information the company successfully.

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