Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to nominate Brian Quintenz, a prominent crypto advocate and current head of policy at Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto division, as the next chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). According to Bloomberg, a document sent from the White House to Capitol Hill on Feb. 12 revealed Trump’s intention to position Quintenz at the helm of the CFTC. If confirmed, Quintenz’s appointment could significantly reshape the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies, potentially positioning the CFTC as the primary watchdog for the industry over the more enforcement-heavy Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Alongside Quintenz, the document also named Jonathan Gould, a partner at the global law firm Jones Day, as Trump’s choice for Comptroller of the Currency, the agency overseeing U.S. national banks. Additionally, Jonathan McKernan, who recently stepped down from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), has been tapped as the new permanent head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Quintenz’s Track Record in Crypto Regulation Quintenz is no stranger to the CFTC. He previously served as a commissioner under the first Trump administration from 2016 to 2020, where he strongly supported the integration of digital asset derivatives and cryptocurrency products into the federal regulatory framework. His stance on crypto-friendly policies has remained unwavering. In March, he openly criticized SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s approach to Ethereum’s legal classification, accusing the agency of regulatory inconsistency. He pointed out that the SEC had previously classified Ethereum as a non-security when it approved Ether futures ETFs in October 2023. “If the SEC had any doubt about ETH’s regulatory treatment, it wouldn’t have approved the ETF,” Quintenz argued, further stating that treating ETH as a security would make CFTC-listed futures contracts “illegal.” A16z’s Influence Quintenz’s current role as head of policy at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) underscores his deep involvement in the crypto sector. A16z is one of the largest venture capital firms in the industry, backing major blockchain projects like Solana, Avalanche, Aptos, EigenLayer, Lido, OpenSea, and Coinbase. Following the crypto regulatory shakeup anticipated under a new Trump administration, a16z has expressed optimism about a more flexible environment for blockchain innovation. If Quintenz secures the CFTC chair position, the U.S. could witness a shift toward a more balanced and industry-friendly approach to crypto regulation. The post Trump Reportedly Eyes Pro-Crypto Advocate Brian Quintenz for CFTC Chair appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .
