Brian Quintenz, the head of policy at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and a former commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), is reportedly on President-elect Donald Trump’s list of candidates to lead the agency.
Quintenz stands out because of his experience in both the public and private sectors. As a CFTC commissioner from 2017 to 2021, he played a key role in helping the agency embrace digital assets.
He oversaw the introduction of the first regulated Bitcoin
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He also pushed for more discussions of decentralized finance (DeFi), which focuses on innovation without sacrificing market integrity.
After leaving the CFTC, Quintenz joined a16z, where he has been vocal about the need for clear, practical crypto regulations. He has been critical of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for what he sees as its strict approach to the industry.
According to Bloomberg, the final decision is expected soon, as interviews for the role are wrapping up. Other potential candidates include current CFTC Commissioners Summer Mersinger and Caroline Pham, along with legal experts Joshua Sterling and Neal Kumar.
If chosen for the CFTC chair, Quintenz could help settle the ongoing debate over who should regulate crypto—CFTC or SEC. His appointment might also signal a shift toward a more innovation-friendly regulatory environment.
Over at the SEC, Trump has reportedly named Paul Atkins as a candidate for its chair. What could his appointment mean for the crypto community? Read the full story.
