President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Brian Quintenz, a former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) commissioner, to lead the agency.
Currently serving as the policy lead for VC giant Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto division, Quintenz has emerged as a frontrunner among candidates, according to sources cited in Bloomberg's report.
An announcement is expected in the coming days following the conclusion of interviews for the chair position.
Other candidates reportedly include current CFTC Commissioners Summer Mersinger and Caroline Pham, as well as legal experts Joshua Sterling and Neal Kumar.
If selected, Quintenz would bring a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors.
During his tenure at the CFTC, he oversaw the launch of the first regulated Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contracts and promoted discussions on decentralized finance (DeFi).
Quintenz’s pro-innovation stance complements Trump’s apparent focus on fostering a supportive environment for the crypto industry, which played a significant role in the 2024 elections.
Andreessen Horowitz alone donated $25 million and $23 million, respectively, to pro-crypto political candidates through its political action committee, Fairshake.
Since joining a16z Crypto, Quintenz has remained an outspoken advocate for crypto-friendly policies, calling for regulations tailored to blockchain technology.
He has criticized the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approach as overly restrictive, noting that the crypto ecosystem needs rules “fit for purpose” to realize its full potential.
“I think what the crypto ecosystem wants is rules that fit its technology, that are fit for purpose, that allow for the innovation to actually reach its full potential,” Quintenz said in a 2022 interview with Decrypt. “You’re not getting that out of the SEC.”
The CFTC chair position is critical as the agency is expected to tackle major policy shifts, particularly amid jurisdictional tensions with the SEC.
If confirmed, Quintenz would oversee a regulatory environment primed for change.
Edited by Stacy Elliott.