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Crypto World Petitions Trump to Push Quintenz's CFTC Nomination in Ongoing Saga
The industry is now openly urging the confirmation process that was delayed by the White House for the CFTC leadership that will be key to digital assets regulation.
Updated Aug 20, 2025, 6:08 p.m. Published Aug 20, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
What to know:
- Despite earlier objections from crypto exchange Gemini, a united front of digital assets lobbying groups is backing Brian Quintenz to be confirmed by the Senate as the next chief of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
- The groups sent a letter to President Donald Trump, asking that Quintenz's confirmation be hurried along, calling the former policy chief at a16z the "right person at the right time" to run the CFTC.
- It was Trump's White House, though, that had delayed the confirmation process last month.
After President Donald Trump's administration stepped in to delay the confirmation of his own pick to run the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a mostly united crypto industry is now stepping out to cheer on the nominee, Brian Quintenz, sending the president a letter urging a quick approval.
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The confirmation of the former CFTC commissioner as the regulatory agency's new head — and likely future leading voice in overseeing the U.S. crypto markets — had been stymied at the second-to-last procedural hurdle when the White House asked the Senate Agriculture Committee to halt its vote to forward Quintenz's nomination to a final floor vote.
That unexplained move — preceded by vigorous opposition against his candidacy from Gemini CEO Tyler Winklevoss — cast a shadow over Quintenz's status, though the White House reportedly backpedaled with a quick, public assurance that Trump's pick was still in favor.
In the interim, people familiar with the situation said Quintenz has been in direct contact with crypto insiders about their support. And weeks after his confirmation hiccup, as the Senate continues its summer break, a coalition of the largest and widest-reaching crypto associations — including the Crypto Council for Innovation, Digital Chamber, Blockchain Association and DeFi Education Fund — sent a letter to Trump on Wednesday urging his "prompt" confirmation.
"Mr. Quintenz brings unmatched expertise and foresight to the challenges and opportunities of digital asset regulation, strengthened by his extensive private sector experience," they wrote of Quintenz, who served as head of policy for a16z Crypto after his CFTC stint."He is, quite simply, the right person at the right time to lead the CFTC," the letter concluded.
That runs counter to the sentiments from Winklevoss, who decried Quintenz's ongoing ties to prediction market firm Kalshi and what Winklevoss characterized as attempts from Quintenz to influence the CFTC on the company's behalf. The Gemini CEO also criticized the former CFTC commissioner's views on software developer liability and his support for increased funding for the agency as it takes on crypto tasks.
But industry insiders recognize the leadership crisis looming at the CFTC, where Acting Chairman Caroline Pham is the only Republican member and has been talking about leaving. The agency's only other commissioner, Kristin Johnson, is a Democrat who has also said she's exiting soon. If Quintenz remains in a holding pattern, the regulator that stands to be elevated to lead crypto oversight could be left without any commissioners.
The Trump administration didn't explain its hesitancy on Quintenz, nor has it nominated any other people to fill the empty seats on the five-member commission.
Quintenz declined to comment on his confirmation situation.
Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, congressional legislation that's passed the House and is still being negotiated in the Senate would set up the CFTC as the primary regulator over the spot markets for crypto commodities — including bitcoin , ether and other leading tokens. That could elevate its eventual importance beyond the Securities and Exchange Commission in the realm of crypto trading, and if the bill passes Congress, the future law would head to the CFTC to be written into regulations.
Read More: Gemini's Tyler Winklevoss Says Trump CFTC Pick Quintenz Has 'Disqualifying' Views
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