White House Withdraws Brian Quintenz’s Nomination to Lead CFTC Amid Crypto Dispute

The White House has withdrawn former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner Brian Quintenz’s nomination to chair the agency, ending weeks of political tension over President Donald Trump’s pick. Quintenz, who previously served as a commissioner before moving into the private sector, had been nominated earlier this year to lead the CFTC, a pivotal agency in overseeing U.S. derivatives and potentially crypto spot markets.

Quintenz, now a policy head at Andreessen Horowitz and adviser to firms like Kalshi, expressed gratitude for the nomination, calling it “the honor of my life.” He noted that while the process was intense, he looks forward to returning to private sector innovation.

Despite his pro-crypto stance, Quintenz faced unexpected opposition. Notably, Gemini co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, both supporters of Trump, criticized his nomination. Tyler Winklevoss argued Quintenz’s advisory work and views on developers made him unqualified. However, Quintenz countered by releasing messages suggesting the Winklevosses’ opposition stemmed from his refusal to publicly commit on a pending CFTC enforcement case against Gemini.

Crypto industry groups and lobbyists attempted to rally behind Quintenz, publishing an open letter of support in August. Nonetheless, the White House repeatedly delayed a Senate Agriculture Committee vote on his nomination. By late September, reports surfaced that new candidates were being vetted, signaling the administration’s shift in direction.

Currently, the CFTC is led by Acting Chair Caroline Pham, with all other commissioners having exited at the start of 2025. Pham herself has indicated plans to leave, leaving the agency facing a potential leadership vacuum. This comes at a critical moment, as Congress debates legislation that could expand the CFTC’s authority to regulate crypto spot markets. However, progress is likely to stall with a looming government shutdown.

The withdrawal underscores the growing political friction between policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders over the future of cryptocurrency regulation in the U.S.