YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — Donald Trump plans to appoint Brian Quintenz as the next Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chair, according to a document sent from the White House to Capitol Hill and reported by Bloomberg on Feb. 12.
Quintenz, currently the head of policy at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)’s crypto division, is expected to take a leading role in crypto regulation if confirmed. The move could shift oversight of digital assets from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to the CFTC.
Brian QuintenzPhotographer: Paul Miller/BloombergA report from journalist Eleanor Terrett also confirmed the appointment, citing three sources with direct knowledge of the matter. While no official statement has come from the White House, officials at the CFTC have confirmed the decision.
Quintenz CFTC Appointment Confirmed. Source: Eleanor TerrettActing CFTC Chair Caroline Pham congratulated Quintenz, stating that she worked with him on key initiatives during his time as a CFTC Commissioner and expects him to play a similar role in crypto regulation.
Other Key Financial Appointments in the Report
The document also mentions that Jonathan Gould, a partner at Jones Day, has been nominated as Comptroller of Currency, a position responsible for regulating U.S. national banks.
Jonathan Gould’s CFTC Nomination. Source: InternetIn addition, Jonathan McKernan, who resigned from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) on Feb. 11, has been selected as the permanent head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Jonathan McKernan’s CFPB Appointment. Source: U.S. GovernmentBrian Quintenz’s History at the CFTC
Quintenz served as a Republican commissioner at the CFTC from 2016 to 2020 during Trump’s first administration. While in the role, he supported integrating digital asset derivatives and crypto products into the federal regulatory framework.
After leaving the CFTC, Quintenz remained active in crypto policy and often commented on regulatory decisions by the SEC. His focus has been on crypto market regulations, particularly in contrast to the SEC’s stance on digital assets.
Quintenz’s Criticism of SEC’s Ether Stance
In March, Quintenz questioned the SEC’s approach to Ether (ETH), highlighting inconsistencies in how the agency classifies the crypto asset. He pointed out that in October 2023, the SEC approved Ether futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which he argued confirmed that ETH was not a security.
Quintenz stated that if the SEC had doubts about Ether’s regulatory classification, it would not have approved the ETF. He also noted that if Ether were considered a security, then CFTC-listed futures contracts would be illegal under current regulations.
Brian Quintenz on ETH Security Status. Source: XA16z’s Role in Crypto Regulation
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is one of the most active crypto venture capital firms, with investments in projects like Solana, Avalanche, Aptos, EigenLayer, OpenSea, and Coinbase. The firm has been involved in crypto policy discussions and continues to monitor U.S. regulatory changes.
Following recent regulatory shifts, a16z has indicated that it expects “greater flexibility to experiment” under a new Trump administration.
The price of A16Z/USDT surged following reports that Donald Trump plans to appoint Brian Quintenz as the next Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chair. The token’s value climbed sharply, peaking above $0.60, before retracing to around $0.49.
A16Z Token Spikes on CFTC News. Source: TradingViewThe post Trump to Appoint Brian Quintenz as CFTC Chair, Report Says appeared first on Coinchapter.
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