Brian Quintenz, a One-Time CFTC Commissioner, Will Be Donald Trump's Choice to Run the Regulator Again

Quintenz previously served with the regulator between 2017 and 2021, where he organized the Technology Advisory Committee.

Former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner Brian Quintenz is set to be nominated once again to lead the federal commodities regulator, according to Punchbowl News.

Currently serving as Andreessen Horowitz's (a16z) head of policy, Quintenz was previously a commissioner at the CFTC from 2017 to 2021. During his tenure, he established the Technology Advisory Committee and expressed support for a crypto-specific self-regulatory organization to oversee companies.

After leaving the agency, Quintenz joined a16z, where he became the head of policy. Notably, a16z was one of the major contributors behind Fairshake, a crypto-focused political action committee that poured nearly $140 million into the 2024 election.

Punchbowl News first reported the nomination.

In a statement, acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham congratulated Quintenz on his selection.

“I congratulate my friend Brian Quintenz on his selection for CFTC Chairman,” said Pham. “I worked with Brian on several important initiatives that he led to success when he was a CFTC Commissioner. He will do the same for crypto and innovation. I look forward to supporting Brian and his leadership at the CFTC.”

Following the news, industry groups also expressed support for the nomination. Miller Whitehouse-Levine, the CEO of the DeFi Education Fund, a lobbying group, said the organization looked forward to working with him.

“Brian has a long track record of supporting DeFi and advocating for sound policies that will enable DeFi developers and users to thrive in the United States,” he said in a statement.

As reported, both the industry and Congress have pushed toward giving the CFTC greater oversight of the crypto industry in recent years.

Former CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam notably advocated for making the agency a primary market regulator for at least parts of the industry, including overseeing spot Bitcoin markets.

A bill, the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, would have given the CFTC greater authority over crypto policy. The House passed it last year, but it did not go through the Senate.