President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is eyeing someone with an affinity for cryptocurrencies to be the next chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). According to He told Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terret.
Among those in contention is reportedly current CFTC Commissioner Summer Marsinger. Brian Quintenz, a16z head of crypto policy and former CFTC commissioner. and Marco Santori, Kraken’s chief legal officer.
The report cited two sources familiar with the discussions who said Mr. Quintenz and Mr. Marsinger were “strong frontrunners” for the role.
Cryptocurrency friendly candidates
Both reported front-runners bring significant experience and crypto policy credentials.
Mr. Marsinger is considered a thought leader at the intersection of cryptocurrency innovation and consumer protection. She frequently speaks at industry events and has championed balanced regulation to foster growth in the sector.
Quintenz, meanwhile, has been a vocal advocate for a regulatory environment that accommodates cryptocurrency innovation, a stance honed between his tenure as CFTC commissioner and his current role at a16z.
Whichever candidate is chosen could lead officials to policies that prioritize transparency and innovation in the U.S. cryptocurrency industry.
The CFTC oversees $500 trillion in trading volume across currencies and financial derivatives and has long competed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory authority over cryptocurrencies.
Many industry insiders prefer the CFTC as the primary regulator for cryptocurrencies because of its historically light regulation.
Optimism under Trump
The Trump administration, which takes office on January 20, signals a marked departure from the current administration’s approach. During his campaign, Trump vowed to end the regulatory “crusade” against the cryptocurrency industry under the Biden administration.
The pledge has already appointed crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the SEC, Bitcoin (BTC) advocate Scott Bessent to be the next Treasury Secretary, and innovation-friendly David Sachs to lead the SEC. He has begun forming important personnel positions, including appointing him “Cryptocurrency Emperor.”
While Mersinger and Quintenz lead the pack, other names remain on the list, including CFTC Commissioner Caroline Pham, a Republican with a strong regulatory background. Neil Kumar and Josh Sterling have both held senior positions at the CFTC and are considered regulatory experts.
The Trump transition team is reportedly vetting at least six candidates for the role, as the administration focuses on finding a leader who aligns with its vision for the crypto industry. It reflects that.
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