Brian Quintenz, President Trump's selection to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), sees blockchain as a transformative force far beyond just finance.
In remarks prepared for his Senate confirmation hearing, Quintenz stressed that this foundational technology holds the potential to impact “every aspect of society.”
Quintenz, most recently leading policy for a16z Crypto, brings extensive global experience in crypto regulation. He plans to use this insight to help Congress craft a comprehensive framework for U.S. crypto markets, specifically addressing spot market authority.
He explicitly warned that failing to curb bad actors and fraudsters would jeopardize America’s leadership in blockchain innovation. To prevent this, he advocates for clear definitions of token classifications and assigned oversight roles for crypto trading.
Beyond digital assets, Quintenz aims to uphold the CFTC’s role as a global leader in market oversight, emphasizing risk-based regulation and robust customer protection.
His confirmation hearing comes as the CFTC faces a leadership void, with several commissioners departing amidst pushes to expand the agency’s power over crypto through the “Clarity Act.”
Connecticut has made a clear move to keep digital assets out of government affairs.
Switzerland is gearing up to begin automatic crypto asset data sharing with over 70 countries, including all EU member states and the UK, as part of a broader push toward international tax transparency.
As the European Union prepares for its next phase of crypto oversight, regulators are turning their attention to decentralized finance (DeFi)—without a clear definition of what decentralization actually means.
In a surprising shift, Russia has shelved plans to widen its crackdown on crypto mining, choosing economic stability over stricter energy controls.