a16z crypto policy lead Brian Quintenz emerges as leading candidate for CFTC chair under Trump administration

Quintenz has previous CFTC experience and played a role in the implementation of Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contracts.

Key Takeaways

• Brian Quintenz, linked with a16z crypto, is a leading contender for the CFTC chair position under Trump's new administration.
• With Paul Atkins nominated to lead the SEC, it is anticipated that Trump's transition team will soon announce their pick for the CFTC chair.

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has wrapped up interviews for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chair position, and Brian Quintenz, Head of Policy at a16z crypto, has emerged as a frontrunner for the position, according to a new report from Bloomberg, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Quintenz’s background in crypto policy positions him as a strong contender for the role, especially as the CFTC is expected to play a key part in regulating digital assets under the incoming Trump administration.

Quintenz, who previously served as CFTC Commissioner during both the Obama and Trump administrations, oversaw the implementation of the first fully-regulated Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contracts. He currently advises a16z on crypto policy and investments.

Sources say Quintenz has been working with the Trump transition team on crypto policy matters in recent weeks, collaborating with David Sacks, Trump’s designated AI and Crypto Czar. His candidacy is backed by a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz.

Trump’s team may soon announce their pick for CFTC chair following the nomination of Paul Atkins as SEC chair.

Other candidates, including current CFTC Commissioners Summer Mersinger and Caroline Pham, as well as former officials Joshua Sterling and Neal Kumar, are also under consideration.