Trump Picks a16z Policy Head Quintenz To Lead As CFTC Chair

• Brian Quintenz, Head of Policy at a16z, is the top contender for the role of CFTC Chair. 
• Quintenz served as the Republican commissioner at CFTC during Trump’s first term. 
• U.S. Senator Cory Booker criticizes Trump for violating the separation of powers.

President Donald Trump has nominated Brian Quintenz to be the next chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). According to sources, Quintenz is the current head of policy at Andreessen Horowitz’s (a16z) crypto firm, a venture capital fund. Notably, Quintenz served as the CFTC Chair during Trump’s previous tenure. In 2020, he left the agency and joined a16z, providing funds for crypto, blockchain, and Web3 startups. 

Following the announcement, Acting Chair Caroline Pham congratulated Quintenz on his selection and stated that they had worked together on several initiatives. However, the crypto community raised concerns when the message was not available on her X profile, raising suspicion over her tweet.

Pham was appointed by Trump in January 2025, succeeding Rostin Behnam. Under her tenure, the agency has been working on a pilot program for digital asset markets focused on tokenized non-cash collateral like stablecoins. 

Quintenz Influence on CFTC

If elected, Quintenz’s tenure could mark a significant shift in the CFTC, with his approach to emerging financial markets. Quintenz earned a strong reputation for advocating to regulatory changes and urging the CFTC to alleviate risks within the regulatory landscape, promoting financial technology, blockchain, and crypto. 

Further, he led the CFTC’s Technology Advisory Committee, bringing in discussions on how new technologies could reshape the financial markets. As a result, his efforts paved the way for the futures market and the evolution of decentralized finance (DeFi). 

Related Article: Garlinghouse Shortlisted for U.S. Crypto Advisory Council

Senate-Trump Dispute 

Trump’s nominations, including Elon Musk, Caroline Pham, and Brian Quintenz, have sparked controversy with the U.S. Senate as the latter were unable to vote on cabinet members. Following this, U.S. Senator Cory Booker criticized the administration, stating that the first three weeks of Trump’s administration were a reckless violation of their powers and duties. Further, pinpointing Trump’s reckless statements, Booker emphasized that such statements are a constitutional violation and shouldn’t be normalized. However, Quintenz’s nomination pushes for pro-crypto regulatory advancements under the CFTC. While the administration appears committed to reshaping the agency’s role in overseeing crypto markets,

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