Brian Quintenz Named as Leading Candidate for CFTC Chairman Under Trump Administration

• The White House intends to nominate Brian Quintenz as CFTC chairman, pending formal confirmation.
• Quintenz previously served as a CFTC commissioner (2017-2021) and currently leads crypto policy efforts at a16z.
• The administration is also nominating Jonathan Gould as Comptroller of the Currency and Jonathan McKernan as CFPB director.

The cryptocurrency sector is undergoing significant leadership shifts following Donald Trump’s re-election as the 47th President of the United States. The administration has intensified its focus on digital assets by appointing key figures to regulatory positions. Among these developments, Brian Quintenz has emerged as the top candidate for the role of chairman at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

White House Moves Toward CFTC Leadership Nomination

The White House intends to nominate Brian Quintenz for CFTC chairman as verified by Bloomberg. From 2017 to 2021 Quintenz fulfilled duties as a commissioner at the CFTC before his nomination to the chair position. Quintenz directs the global cryptocurrency regulatory functions at a16z as he maintains his position as a venture capital firm executive.

The Bloomberg report indicates that Capitol Hill received official communication from the White House regarding the nomination. While neither the CFTC nor the White House has issued formal confirmation, sources cited by Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett have stated that Quintenz is expected to be appointed as the permanent chair.

Industry Reactions to the Potential Appointment

Caroline Pham, the current acting chair of the CFTC, acknowledged the development and extended congratulations to Quintenz. Pham stated that she had previously collaborated with Quintenz on key regulatory initiatives and expressed confidence in his ability to drive advancements in digital asset oversight.

As part of broader regulatory shifts, the White House document also mentioned the nomination of Jonathan Gould as Comptroller of the Currency. Additionally, Jonathan McKernan has been nominated to serve as the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. These nominations signal ongoing structural changes within financial regulatory bodies under the new administration.
Trump’s administration has demonstrated increasing engagement with the cryptocurrency industry. Recent appointments include David Sacks as the White House AI & Crypto Czar and the formation of a Presidential Working Group to assess Bitcoin’s role as a strategic reserve asset. These actions reflect a policy direction that incorporates digital assets into broader financial discussions at the federal level.