Crypto Advocacy Groups Double Down On Support Of Prospective CFTC Chair – Crypto News

Several cryptocurrency and blockchain associations advocating for the industry are pushing for a “prompt confirmation” of Brian Quintenz as chair of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

In a Wednesday letter to US President Donald Trump, representatives from several crypto organizations reiterated their support for Quintenz’s confirmation in the Senate following the president’s nomination.

Signatories included the Crypto Council for Innovation, Blockchain Association, Decentralization Research Center, DeFi Education Fund, The Digital Chamber, Satoshi Action Fund and Solana Policy Institute

The advocacy organizations argued that Quintenz was “exceptionally well-suited” to head the CFTC in part due to his experience with and understanding of digital assets.

After being nominated to chair the agency in February, he was referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee, which delayed a vote days before the chamber was scheduled to break for an August recess. 

The committee said that the delay came following a request from the White House. An August report also suggested that Gemini co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss pressed Trump to reconsider Quintenz’s nomination, claiming he would not fully enact the president’s crypto agenda as CFTC chair.

“As the Presidential Working Group on Digital Asset Markets Report clearly articulated, the CFTC has many critical, complex, and nuanced goals ahead of it, including working with Congress to establish a comprehensive federal market structure framework with appropriate oversight of digital asset commodities, in order to advance your Administration’s agenda,” said the letter, adding that:

Installing a permanent Chairman to the CFTC is absolutely critical to realizing these goals […]”

Quintenz previously served as a CFTC commissioner under Trump from 2017 to 2021, having been nominated by former US President Barack Obama in 2016.

Related: Trump’s CFTC chair pick won’t push president for bipartisan commission

Financial regulator facing a staff exodus

Even if Quintenz’s confirmation were to move quickly through the Senate once the chamber returns from recess on Sept. 3, the regulator still has vacancies that could slow its work related to crypto and otherwise. Currently, the five-member panel of commissioners is staffed only by acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham, and Commissioner Kristin Johnson.