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White House Weighing Candidates for Multiple CFTC Spots: Former Chairman Giancarlo

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Though the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Acting Chairman Caroline Pham has been blazing forward on crypto-friendly policy, even as she has one foot out the door, the White House is working quickly to find a permanent successor after abandoning President Donald Trump’s first choice.

Trump nominee Brian Quintenz, a former commissioner, was dropped recently, and the administration has since been “hard at work” on announcing a new choice, said former CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo, who added that he was at the White House on Wednesday.

“The White House felt that they had things in hand; it didn’t work out,” Giancarlo said in an interview on CoinDesk TV. “I’m very optimistic that soon we will have nominees that everyone will say, ‘Wow, great choices.'”

Giancarlo — a longtime crypto advocate sometimes known in the industry as “Crypto Dad,” a name he used as the title of a book he wrote on the digital assets movement — said the White House is vetting CFTC candidates beyond the chairmanship. Without a slate of commissioners, whoever takes over from Pham would be alone at the commission, which is meant to have five members by law. Policies instituted by a single-member commission could be vulnerable to legal challenges.

“They’re very aware of this,” Giancarlo said. “They know what they’ve got to do.”

A top contender for the chairmanship is Mike Selig, who has been working as a senior official on crypto policies at the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to people familiar with the vetting. Any nominees still need confirmation from the U.S. Senate before they can take the jobs — a process that stalled mid-stream with Quintenz after he was openly opposed by Gemini CEO Tyler Winklevoss.

The CFTC is likely to be a leading regulator of U.S. crypto markets, especially if the Senate completes and passes market structure legislation that’s already cleared the House of Representatives. That effort would give new powers to the smaller cousin of the SEC, granting it jurisdiction over the spot markets where crypto commodities such as bitcoin trade directly. Though the SEC has been moving quickly into a crypto-cheering posture under Trump, the CFTC had a deep history with the sector since its 2015 move to recognize bitcoin as a commodity.

Earlier this week, Pham sought to assure financial-sector lawyers that the CFTC is moving forward fine under her temporary leadership, though she’s also said she’s hoping to leave the agency soon. Giancarlo said she is owed a “debt of gratitude” for what she’s doing, much of which has been focused on a “crypto sprint” she’s offered to match the SEC’s Project Crypto agenda.

While the shorthanded CFTC awaits new leadership, the Senate has been slowed by the federal government shutdown and is showing few signs of a near-term completion of the industry legislation.

Representative Bryan Steil, the chairman of the crypto subcommittee within the House Financial Services Committee, said in a separate interview on CoinDesk TV that the current goal is “getting this completed as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the year.” That’s slipped considerably from Trump’s initial deadline of August.

The House had already passed its version this year — the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act — with an overwhelming bipartisan vote. Steil argued the Senate can save a lot of time by “using Clarity as baseline text” for its work, though Senate Republicans proposed their own draft language and that’s the text lawmakers have been working from.

Read More: U.S. SEC Takes Preliminary Step to Expand Universe of Crypto Custody to State Trusts



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White House pulls Brian Quintenz CFTC chair nomination
NFT Gaming

White House pulls Brian Quintenz CFTC chair nomination

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Brian Quintenz is no longer President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, ending weeks of speculation about the fate of his candidacy.

Summary

  • White House withdrew Brian Quintenz’s CFTC chair nomination on Sept. 30
  • Disputes with Gemini’s Tyler Winklevoss and ethics concerns stalled process
  • Trump administration now seeking new crypto-savvy CFTC candidate.

The White House confirmed the withdrawal on Sept. 30, noting that Trump will soon name a new nominee to chair the derivatives regulator.

Bloomberg first reported the move, citing a White House official who said the administration still plans to work with Quintenz in other roles. Quintenz, who serves as global policy head at a16z crypto, said he looks forward to returning to the private sector after what he called the honor of going through the confirmation process.

Nomination stalls amid disputes and delays

Quintenz, a pro-crypto figure nominated in February 2025, had been expected to bring industry expertise to the CFTC as it expands oversight of digital assets. His nomination progressed through hearings in June but stalled in July when the White House asked the Senate Agriculture Committee to pause a scheduled vote.

The delay followed lobbying by billionaire Tyler Winklevoss, a key Trump supporter, who raised concerns tied to Gemini’s ongoing CFTC enforcement case. In September, Quintenz publicly released private messages with Winklevoss, accusing the Gemini co-founder of lobbying against him.

The dispute added to existing questions raised by tribal groups, gaming lobbies, and ethics watchdogs about his role at prediction market Kalshi and pre-nomination briefings from CFTC staff. As the process dragged on, the administration began reviewing alternative candidates.

Next steps for the CFTC chair role

The decision leaves the CFTC with only acting chair Caroline Pham, following a series of commissioner resignations. The agency, which oversees trillions in swaps trading, is also expected to play a larger role in regulating crypto under legislation moving through Congress.

The Trump administration has made clear it wants the CFTC to be central to U.S. digital asset oversight. A White House official said the president remains committed to making America the global hub for crypto markets and is looking for a nominee aligned with that vision.

Potential candidates reportedly include former CFTC commissioner Jill Sommers, ex-CFTC official Josh Sterling, and SEC counsel Mike Selig.

Quintenz’s exit marks a turning point for the agency at a time when institutional and retail interest in crypto markets continues to grow. With a new nominee expected soon, the CFTC’s direction under Trump could shape the regulatory framework for digital assets well into the next decade.



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U.S. SEC headquarter in Washington (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
Crypto Trends

White House Withdraws Pro-Crypto Brian Quintenz’s Name From CFTC Chair Nomination

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The White House withdrew former Commodity Futures Trading Commissioner Brian Quintenz’s nomination to run the agency late Tuesday, capping off a month-long fight over U.S. President Donald Trump’s pick for agency chair.

Trump tapped Quintenz shortly after retaking office. Quintenz joined venture firm Andresseen Horowitz’s global head of policy, and has been an adviser to firms like prediction marketplace Kalshi since leaving the CFTC following his term as commissioner.

In a statement to CoinDesk, Quintenz said, “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 and to the Senate Agriculture Committee for its consideration. I [am] looking forward to returning to my private sector endeavors during this exciting time for innovation in our country.”

Politico and Punchbowl News earlier reported that the White House had withdrawn Quintenz’s nomination.

Quintenz has made statements in favor of the crypto industry since his first term as commissioner, including floating the idea of a self-regulatory organization for the industry similar to securities markets’ Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Despite this, crypto exchange Gemini co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss — both of whom support Trump — opposed his nomination in late July, with Tyler telling CoinDesk that he did not believe Quintenz’s views on developers and his work with Kalshi qualified him for the role.

However, Quintenz released messages he had exchanged with the Winklevoss brothers earlier this month, suggesting that they really opposed his nomination because he would not commit to a public view on a CFTC enforcement action against Gemini. In his messages, Quintenz said that it would be better for a “fully confirmed chair” to review the CFTC’s actions.

Crypto lobbyist organizations and companies wrote a public letter supporting his nomination in a late August bid to put his nomination back on track.

Still, the White House asked the Senate Agriculture Committee to postpone a vote on Quintenz’s nomination a few times in July. Last week, Semafor reported that it had begun vetting new candidates to run the agency, which at present is helmed by Acting Chairman Caroline Pham. All of the other commissioners at the agency at the start of 2025 have since left, and Pham has indicated her intention to depart as well at some point, CoinDesk previously reported.

The CFTC’s potential lack of a permanent chair comes as Congress considers legislation that would give the agency a more prominent role in regulating crypto spot markets, though the legislative process is likely to be delayed by a pending government shutdown.

UPDATE (Sept. 30, 2025, 23:48 UTC): Adds additional context, clarifies that Quintenz joined a16z following his term as CFTC commissioner.



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Trump Pulls Brian Quintenz Nomination for CFTC
Crypto Trends

Trump Pulls Brian Quintenz Nomination for CFTC

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Update (Oct. 1, 12:10 am UTC): This article has been updated to add a comment from Brian Quintenz and further information.

The Trump White House has withdrawn Brian Quintenz’s nomination to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

“Being nominated to chair the CFTC and going through the confirmation process was the honor of my life,” Quintenz told Cointelegraph, confirming a Politico report on Tuesday

“I am grateful to the President for that opportunity and to the Senate Agriculture Committee for its consideration,” Quintenz added. “I look forward to returning to my private sector endeavors during this exciting time for innovation in our country.”

Quintenz, a former CFTC Commissioner and head of crypto policy at a16z, was widely backed by the crypto industry, but his nomination faced delays in Congress and reported pushback from crypto exchange Gemini co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.

Brian Quintenz speaks during a Congressional nomination hearing in June. Source: Senate Agriculture Committee

The White House has yet to officially announce the move, and it’s unclear why Quintenz’s nomination was withdrawn.

Quintenz, Winklevoss public spat over nomination

Quintenz had previously claimed that the Winklevoss brothers had interfered with his nomination for the role, pressuring President Donald Trump to drop his pick.

Quintenz shared a series of private messages between himself and the Winklevosses on X last month, claiming Trump “might have been misled.”

Related: US regulators dismiss SEC-CFTC merger rumors, move to dispel crypto ‘FUD’ 

“I believe these texts make it clear what they were after from me, and what I refused to promise,” Quintenz said. “It’s my understanding that after this exchange they contacted the President and asked that my confirmation be paused for reasons other than what is reflected in these texts.”

The CFTC has been without a full-fledged chair for almost a year now and is being led solely by Acting Chair Caroline Pham, who had said she would leave the agency upon Quintenz’s nomination.

Magazine: Bitcoin is ‘funny internet money’ during a crisis: Tezos co-founder 



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SEC, CFTC Pledge Closer Cooperation, ‘Harmonization’ on Crypto and Market Oversight

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In brief

  • The SEC and CFTC leadership have called for “harmonization” after years of overlap and conflict.
  • The push comes amid rapid changes in U.S. crypto policy under the Trump administration.
  • Officials stressed cooperation, not consolidation, as the crypto industry pushes for clarity.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said Monday they will work more closely together, beginning with crypto markets, in an effort to reduce duplication and regulatory conflict.

The pledge came after a joint regulatory roundtable in Washington, D.C., and marks what leaders described as a turning point for American financial oversight.

“For too long, the SEC and CFTC have operated in parallel lanes, too often in conflict with one another, leaving the American public to bear the costs of duplication, delay, and uncertainty. That era is behind us,” SEC Chair Paul Atkins said in prepared remarks. “We are charting a new course, one that will solidify America’s position as the world’s financial leader.”

Alex Urbelis, general counsel and chief information security officer at Ethereum Name Service told Decrypt the lack of clarity and duelling rulebooks had stalled blockchain innovation in the US for many years now, but cautioned that achieving greater harmonisation between the two regulators wouldn’t necessarily be easy.

“Collaboration between market regulators is an excellent sound bite for crypto, but requires real work and likely the will of Congress to remove statutory overlaps,” Urbelis said, adding that, “The balance of investor protection and promoting innovation isn’t easy, and will always be a game of push and pull despite the best regulatory intentions.”

Crypto policy shifts

The announcement follows a shift in Washington’s posture toward crypto markets over the past year, with the return of the Trump administration pushing regulators to ease restrictions on digital assets.

Since early 2025, the SEC and CFTC have floated proposals to expand market trading hours to a 24/7 schedule, introduce regulatory exemptions for decentralized finance projects, and allow spot crypto assets to trade directly on U.S. exchanges. At the same time, the SEC has dismissed multiple enforcement actions against crypto firms, including Kraken, Cumberland and ConsenSys, signaling a broader pivot away from the aggressive crackdown that defined the Gensler era.

SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda additionally emphasized the need for clearer lines of oversight as markets evolve. “Innovation rarely respects jurisdictional lines and often does not fit neatly into the statutory distinctions between ‘securities’ and ‘commodities’ written decades ago,” he said.



“Today, we have an opportunity to avoid the mistakes of the past and instead, together, build a regulatory architecture that evolves with our markets — not against them.”

The SEC has previously pledged to implement an “innovation exemption” for certain digital assets by year’s end as part of “Project Crypto,” an SEC initiative to lower regulatory burdens.

CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham echoed the call for collaboration, while pushing back on criticism of her agency’s work. “In recent years, the dynamic between our agencies could be described as one of competition rather than collaboration. That is not what this Administration wants. It is not what we want,” she said. “The CFTC is alive and well, and there needs to be no more FUD about what’s happening on the other side of town.”

Meanwhile, the CFTC under Pham has  increased its pace of enforcement and rulemaking actions, which she highlighted as proof the commission remains fully engaged.

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Crypto Trends

Crypto is ‘Job One’ as U.S. SEC, CFTC Move Into Harmony on Policies: Chairman Atkins

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins said that “crypto is job one” as his agency hosted a Monday roundtable focused on harmonizing policy work with its sister regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Both agencies are set to have central roles in overseeing the digital assets markets in the U.S., with the SEC overseeing crypto securities and the CFTC — especially after it’s expected to be given more authority by Congress — supervising the bulk of digital assets transactions. But leaders of both have said they want the borders between securities and commodities to be seamless, allowing single firms or even apps to traverse both without difficulty.

“Our two agencies must work in lockstep,” Atkins told a crowd of financial compliance lawyers and industry representatives at the SEC headquarters in Washington. “What matters is building a framework where our agencies coordinate seamlessly.”

Read More: SEC, CFTC Chiefs Say Crypto Turf Wars Over as Agencies Move Ahead on Joint Work

The CFTC Acting Chairman Caroline Pham added, “It’s a new day, and the turf war is over.”

Though it’s an unusually powerful sentiment from these agencies, which have often been at odds with each other, the CFTC side is still absent a permanent leader to assure its strategic decisions won’t be shifted under new management. But Pham spent some of her time at the microphone assuring the crowd that her agency is moving at a rapid pace under her leadership.

“The CFTC is alive and well, and there needs to be no more FUD about what’s going on,” she said, evoking the common crypto-world acronym for “fear, uncertainty and doubt.”

Atkins commented on the CFTC leadership under Pham, with whom he’s been working together on crypto initiatives, as “full-speed ahead.”

On the sidelines of the roundtable event, the SEC chairman told reporters that “obviously, top priority right now is crypto.”

He said in response to a question from CoinDesk that President Donald Trump “kind of laid down the gauntlet” and wants to sign a market structure bill by the end of the year. “We’ll see how that goes.”

Asset tokenization will be one particular area of SEC focus, he said, though he said it may take “a year or two” to erect regulatory guardrails around the activity.

“The potential is pretty much endless,” he said.

Atkins also dismissed speculation about the SEC and CFTC merging, calling it “fanciful.”

The Monday roundtable was the latest SEC event that put some focus on the crypto space, though this one represented a wider cooperation between the agencies. Weighing in on the panels were digital assets and blockchain leaders from such firms as Kraken, Crypto.com, Polymarket, Kalshi and Robinhood Markets.



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CFTC To Explore Stablecoins for Derivatives Collateral
Crypto Trends

CFTC To Explore Stablecoins for Derivatives Collateral

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The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is looking to allow tokenized assets, including stablecoins, to be used in derivatives markets as collateral in a move supported by crypto executives.

CFTC acting chair Caroline Pham said on Tuesday that her agency will “work closely with stakeholders” on the scheme and is encouraging feedback on using tokenized collateral in derivatives markets until Oct. 20.

“The public has spoken: tokenized markets are here, and they are the future. For years I have said that collateral management is the ‘killer app’ for stablecoins in markets.”

If implemented, stablecoins like USDC (USDC) and Tether (USDT) would be treated similarly to traditional collateral like cash or US Treasurys in regulated derivatives trading. Congress passed laws earlier this year regulating stablecoins, which have seen their adoption grow among financial institutions.

Source: Caroline Pham

Stablecoin, crypto heavyweights back move

Crypto executives from stablecoin issuers Circle Internet Group, Tether, Ripple Labs and crypto exchanges Coinbase and Crypto.com all gave their stamp of approval for the CFTC’s move.

Circle president Heath Tarbert said that the GENIUS Act “creates a world where payment stablecoins issued by licensed American companies can be used as collateral in derivatives and other traditional financial markets.”

“Using trusted stablecoins like USDC as collateral will lower costs, reduce risk, and unlock liquidity across global markets 24/7/365,” Tarbert added.

US President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law in July. It’s geared toward establishing clear rules for payment stablecoins, but is still awaiting final regulations before implementation.

Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal also backed the move, and said in a X post on Tuesday that “tokenized collateral and stablecoins can unlock US derivatives markets and put us ahead of global competition.”

Source: Paul Grewal

Meanwhile, Jack McDonald, senior vice president of stablecoins at Ripple, said the initiative is a key step toward integrating stablecoins into the “heart of regulated financial markets,” and driving greater efficiency and transparency in derivatives markets.

“Establishing clear rules for valuation, custody, and settlement will give institutions the certainty they need, while guardrails on reserves and governance will build trust and resilience.”

Initiative in the works since early 2025

Pham said the tokenized asset initiative will build on the CFTC’s Crypto CEO Forum and is also part of the previously announced crypto sprint to apply the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets recommendations.

The crypto CEO forum in February called for crypto industry CEOs to provide input on an upcoming digital asset pilot program and discussed the use of tokenized non-cash collateral.

Related: CFTC adds crypto leaders to digital asset group, JPMorgan exec tapped for co-chair

The CFTC’s Global Markets Advisory Committee also released a recommendation last year from its Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee on expanding the use of non-cash collateral through distributed ledger technology.

US crypto regulatory landscape changing

Pham’s announcement comes the same day Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins said his agency is working on an innovation exemption that would act as a regulatory carve-out, giving crypto companies temporary relief from older securities rules while the SEC develops tailored regulations.

He also announced Project Crypto in July, which hopes to modernize the securities rules and regulations around crypto and move America’s financial markets to move onchain.
Magazine: US risks being ‘front run’ on Bitcoin reserve by other nations — Samson Mow



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Paul Atkins has been confirmed by the Senate to take over the Securities and Exchange Commission as chairman. (Senate Banking Committee)
NFT Gaming

U.S. CFTC Moves Toward Getting Stablecoins Involved in Tokenized Collateral Push

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The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is starting an initiative to allow stablecoins as tokenized collateral to satisfy margin needs in the vast derivatives market, inviting input from the industry on how to bring such a policy online.

In the latest move toward crypto inclusion in the U.S. financial sector, the acting chief of the CFTC, Caroline Pham, continues to advance policy in the absence of President Donald Trump’s current nominee to be the chairman, former Commissioner Brian Quintenz. As the confirmation process for Quintenz remains mired in delays and some open conflict, Pham has been regularly announcing initiatives as part of a “crypto sprint” and working with Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins.

“For years I have said that collateral management is the ‘killer app’ for stablecoins in markets,” Pham said in a Tuesday statement. “I’m excited to announce the launch of this initiative to work closely with stakeholders to enable the use of tokenized collateral including stablecoins.”

Pham had been pushing since last year for a so-called regulatory sandbox for tokenization, when she served as a commissioner during the previous administration, and when she took over as acting chairman, she announced the pursuit of a pilot program on stablecoin-backed tokenization.

Stablecoins, newly regulated under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS) Act, are the dollar-based tokens that are key to the plumbing of crypto markets and smart-contract-driven digital finance. In an agency press release that also rounded up comments from Circle, Coinbase and Ripple executives, the CFTC said it’ll take written ideas until October 20.

The recent President’s Working Group report on crypto policy called on the CFTC to “provide guidance on the adoption of tokenized non-cash collateral as regulatory margin.”

According to Pham, “these market improvements will unleash U.S. economic growth because market participants can put their dollars to work smarter and go further.”



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Trump Weighs New CFTC Chair Picks As Quintenz Stalls
Crypto Trends

Trump Weighs New CFTC Chair Picks As Quintenz Stalls

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The Trump administration is reportedly considering a slate of new candidates to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as Brian Quintenz’s confirmation has stalled.

New candidates being discussed include Michael Selig, chief counsel to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s crypto task force and a former asset management attorney, and Tyler Williams, Treasury counselor on digital asset policy, who previously worked at Galaxy Digital.  

Cointelegraph contacted the CFTC for further details but did not receive an immediate response.

Brian Quintenz’s nomination hit a wall in July after Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss asked Donald Trump to halt the process, expressing frustration at the Biden administration’s crackdown on his company. 

“Seven years of lawfare trophy hunting. It’s outrageous what they did to us,” he said at the time. The White House then requested that the Senate pause the planned vote.

Earlier this month, Quintenz publicly suggested Trump “might have been misled” by the Winklevoss twins, posting screenshots of private messages on X.

Related: Crypto advocacy groups double down on Quintenz confirmation at CFTC amid pushback

Winklevoss twins flex their influence

The Wall Street Journal described the situation as the Winklevoss twins as “flexing their Washington influence” after backing Trump’s campaign with millions of dollars in donations.

The CFTC is understaffed, with only acting chair Caroline Pham remaining after multiple recent resignations. At the same time, the agency is expected to gain expanded oversight of crypto assets under pending legislation.

Meanwhile, the White House hasn’t officially moved away from Quintenz but is exploring alternatives as discussions about new candidates have intensified recently.

Brian Quintenz shares screenshots from his spat with the Winklevoss twins earlier this month. Source: Brian Quintenz.

Fostering crypto advancement 

The CFTC has made several moves recently to favor the crypto industry in the United States, such as allowing offshore exchanges to serve US citizens under an initiative called “crypto sprint.”

In August, the Commission launched an initiative to enable the trading of “spot crypto asset contracts” on CFTC-registered futures exchanges.

A pro-crypto agency head will likely extend the advancement of crypto-friendly legislation in the US. 

Magazine: XRP to retest highs? Bitcoin won’t go sideways for long: Hodler’s Digest



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Trump’s Stalled CFTC Chair Nominee Takes Feud With Winklevoss Twins Public

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In brief

  • Brian Quintenz, President Trump’s nominee to head the CFTC, publicly released screenshots of purported Signal messages with Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
  • Quintenz claimed that they tried to derail his nomination after he wouldn’t commit to their demands regarding CFTC reform.
  • According to Quintenz, the Winklevoss brothers threatened to contact President Trump directly about the matter, and his Senate confirmation vote was subsequently pulled at the White House’s request.

Brian Quintenz, President Donald Trump’s long-stalled pick to head the CFTC, escalated a spat with Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss Wednesday, publicly posting what he said were screenshots of conversations with the twin crypto entrepreneurs regarding their reported attempts to derail his nomination.

The images show what appears to be a text conversation on messaging app Signal between Quintenz and the Winklevosses on July 24. Decrypt reached out to a Gemini representative to confirm the accuracy of the screenshots, but did not immediately receive a response. 

In the conversation, the Winklevoss brothers grill the nominee over his reaction to, and enthusiasm regarding, a complaint filed by their crypto exchange Gemini in June over how the CFTC handled an investigation and eventual lawsuit against the company.

I’ve never been inclined to release private messages. But in light of my support for the President and belief that he might have been misled, I’ve posted here the messages that include the questions Tyler Winklevoss asked me pertaining to their prior litigation with the CFTC.

I… pic.twitter.com/MN75M1XUpT

— Brian Quintenz (@BrianQuintenz) September 10, 2025

In 2022, the regulator sued Gemini for making “material false or misleading statements” to regulators years prior about its Bitcoin offerings. Gemini ultimately settled the suit this January, paying $5 million without admitting or denying any wrongdoing.

In the text conversation with Quintenz, the Winklevosses appear to take issue with Quintenz’s excitement about their complaint, and flexed their closeness with the president. 

“Our complaint raises serious questions and concerns about the culture of the agency that you are about to chair and its overall fitness on the eve of it being contemplated as a major regulator for the crypto industry,” Tyler wrote, according to the screenshots. “Cultural reform, which includes rectifying what happened to us, should be the highest priority.”



Per the texts, Tyler went on to quiz Quintenz about his commitment to that goal, and said he was potentially going to reach out to “the president himself” to discuss the matter.

“I believe these texts make it clear what they were after from me, and what I refused to promise,” Quintenz wrote today on X. “It’s my understanding that after this exchange they contacted the president and asked that my confirmation be paused for reasons other than what is reflected in these texts.”

Quintenz went on to emphasize his closeness with Trump and his commitment to supporting his agenda.

The CFTC nominee, who currently heads global policy at venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, previously served as a CFTC commissioner during the first Trump administration. Trump nominated him to chair the committee in February, but his confirmation has stalled for months. Days after the texts described above were reportedly exchanged, a Senate committee pulled a vote on Quintenz’s nomination, at the request of the White House.

In the weeks following the botched vote, top crypto lobbying groups urged the president to stand by his nomination of Quintenz, who is widely expected to treat the industry favorably at a crucial moment for its interaction with the CFTC.

Pending crypto market structure legislation would give the relatively obscure regulator extensive new powers over the vast majority of the digital asset economy and companies including the Winklevoss’ Gemini, which plans to go public on Wall Street later this week.

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