CFTC Leadership Vacuum As Trump Pulls Quintenz Nomination

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is facing a leadership vacuum after the Trump administration retracted Brian Kintenz’s nomination after opposition from Gemini co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.

After Congress failed to pass the budget, leadership Vakkaum has been exacerbated by the government shutdown, signaling plans to leave as well as acting chair Caroline Fam. Commissioner Christine Johnson’s departure on September 3rd left Pham as the only commissioner of the CFTC.

This will begin coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on digital asset regulation, leaving without confirmed leadership in preparation for potentially expanded authority under the pending Clarity Act.

It’s a new day. From now on 🇺🇸🫡 #ProjectCrypto @secpaulsatkins @secgov @cftc @a1policy pic.twitter.com/kchrm036mg

– Caroline D. Fam (@carolinedpham) July 31, 2025

Pro-Crypto Quintenz faced pushback from Gemini co-founder

Quintenz’s nomination began to unravel after pressure from the Winklevoss Twins. He publicly questioned the qualifications and opposed his stance on CFTC’s enforcement action against the company.

In late July, Tyler Winklevos said he did not believe Quintenz’s opinion on the developer and his experience with Kalshi had played a role in him. The Winklevoss Twins then urged Trump to reconsider his nomination for Quintenz.

In September, Quintenz used X to share a private message exchanged between himself and the Winklevoss twins.

Quintenz shares a private message from Gemini co-founders (Source: x))

He suggested that the real reason Gemini co-founder opposed his appointment was because he did not commit to the public opinion of CFTC’s enforcement action against their company.

“I think these texts reveal what they are asking for from me and what I refuse to promise,” Quintenz writes to X.

“It is my understanding that after this exchange they contacted the President and asked him to pause my confirmation for reasons other than those reflected in these texts.”

The Crypto Lobyist organizations and businesses had written public letters in support of Quintenz’s nomination towards the end of August to keep the former commissioner’s appointment on track.

But that wasn’t enough as the White House asked the Senate Agriculture Committee to postpone the vote on Quintenz’s nomination. That was the case last week It has been reported The process of examining alternative candidates had already begun.

CFTC could become a critical cryptographic regulator

The CFTC challenge comes when U.S. lawmakers push agencies into becoming key regulators in the crypto space through the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, known as the Clarity Act.

The bill has entered the legislature and aims to clarify the roles of the CFTC, SEC and other agencies when it comes to cryptographic regulations.

It also attempts to clearly define which crypto falls within the scope of each institution by dividing these digital assets into three categories: digital goods, investment contract assets, and permitted payment stability coins.

When signed by law, the express conduct provides the agent with exclusive regulatory jurisdiction over the transactions of digital goods in situ and in cash markets.

Quintenz said he added that being nominated to lead the CFTC is a “honor of my life” and that he will return to the private sector amid the “exciting time for innovation” in the US.

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