President Donald Trump has selected Brian Quintenz to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a move that signals increasing oversight of the cryptocurrency industry. Quintenz, who previously served as a CFTC commissioner from 2017 to 2021, is known for his work in the crypto space. Under his leadership, the CFTC began regulating Bitcoin and Ether-based futures contracts and paid more attention to decentralized finance (DeFi).
Quintenz’s Experience in Crypto Regulation
Quintenz, nominated by both Presidents Obama and Trump, led the CFTC’s Technology Advisory Committee during his tenure. The committee focused on cryptocurrency discussions, providing insights into the emerging digital asset market. He has also been involved with several crypto-related organizations, including serving on Crypto.com’s advisory council and being a board member at Kalshi, a prediction market platform.
Quintenz is part of the advisory board at Inca Digital, a firm providing risk management and data analytics to crypto firms and banks, offering counsel on crypto regulatory matters.
Advocating for Crypto Self-Regulation
In 2018, Quintenz called the crypto industry a “young market” and suggested that self-regulation by the industry would be beneficial. He argued that establishing an independent regulatory body with enforcement powers would add credibility to the market and protect investors, highlighting the importance of some form of federal oversight in the industry.
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