President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is eyeing crypto-friendly names as the next chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), according to to Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett.
Among those reportedly in conflict are Summer Mersinger, a current CFTC commissioner; Brian Quintenz, head of crypto policy at a16z and former CFTC commissioner; and Marco Santori, Kraken’s chief legal officer.
The report cited two sources familiar with the discussions who described Quintenz and Mersinger as “front runners” for the role.
Crypto-friendly contenders
Both reported frontrunners bring significant experience and crypto policy credentials.
Mersinger is considered a thought leader at the intersection of crypto innovation and consumer protection. She regularly speaks at industry events and advocates for balanced regulation to promote growth in the sector.
Meanwhile, Quintenz has been an outspoken advocate for a regulatory environment that enables crypto innovation, a stance that has been honed during his tenure as CFTC commissioner and his current role at a16z.
If selected, each candidate could steer the agency toward policies that prioritize clarity and innovation in the U.S. crypto industry.
The CFTC oversees $500 trillion in trading volumes in currencies and financial derivatives and has long competed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for regulatory authority over cryptocurrencies.
Many in the industry prefer the CFTC as the primary regulator for crypto, citing its historically lighter regulation.
Optimism under Trump
The Trump administration, which begins on January 20, has signaled a marked departure from the current administration’s approach. During his campaign, Trump promised to end the regulatory “crusade” against the crypto industry under the Biden administration.
This promise has already begun to shape key appointments, including the appointment of pro-crypto Paul Atkins to lead the SEC, Bitcoin (BTC) proponent Scott Bessent as the new Treasury Secretary, and innovation-friendly David Sacks as “crypto -tsar’.
While Mersinger and Quintenz lead the pack, several other names remain on the shortlist, including Caroline Pham, a Republican CFTC commissioner with a strong regulatory background; Neal Kumar and Josh Sterling, both of whom held senior positions at the CFTC and are considered regulators.
Trump’s transition team has reportedly vetted at least half a dozen candidates for the role, reflecting the administration’s focus on finding a leader who aligns with its vision for the crypto industry.