Brian Quintenz Discloses Crypto Links As CFTC Exodus Continues

Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Brian Quintenz, has revealed multiple ties to the crypto industry amid a staff exodus at the regulator due to the President’s pro-crypto stance.

In a letter released by the US Office of Government Ethics on May 25, Quintenz revealed his positions in crypto and market firms that would fall under the CFTC’s regulatory priorities. 

One of his commitments is as a board member for the decentralized betting platform Kalshi, which settled a legal battle with the CFTC earlier this month. He is also currently the head of crypto policy at Andreessen Horowitz.

Brian Quintenz Will Take Steps To Avoid Conflicts Of Interest In His New Role

Given Quintenz’s roles at Kalshi and Andreessen Horowitz, his portfolio currently intersects directly with two main policy areas within the CFTC – crypto asset regulation and prediction markets. 

🚨 Trump’s CFTC pick, Brian Quintenz, discloses $3.4M in assets — including investments in crypto & prediction markets.

He says he’ll divest if confirmed as chair. 👀📉 #Crypto #XEP #Trump pic.twitter.com/iXnaW8Llz1

— 𝕏aif🇮🇳|🇺🇸 (@Xaif_Crypto) May 28, 2025

Quintenz has already said that he will step down from his role at Andreessen Horowitz if he becomes the next CFTC chair. He also outlined steps he will take to avoid any conflicts of interest in a May 21 letter to the CFTC’s Designated Agency Ethics Official, John Einstman. 

“I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter in which I know that I have a financial interest directly and predictably affected by the matter,” he wrote in the letter. 

CFTC Exodus “Not A Great Situation” 

Quintenz was nominated as new CFTC chair by Trump in February, and is currently awaiting Senate confirmation.

That comes amid an exodus of commissioners at the financial regulator due to concerns over Trump’s embrace of the crypto market. 

Democrat Commissioner Kristin Johnson announced on May 21 that she plans to depart the CFTC later this year. Similarly, Commissioners Summer Mersinger and Christy Goldsmith Romero have also said they would step down on May 30 and May 31, respectively. 

If the Commissioners step down, it could open up all four remaining positions at the CFTC later this year, a situation that Romero said is “not a great situation.”

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