Michaela
The White House has pulled Brian Quintenz’s nomination to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), ending what once seemed a near-certain confirmation.
Key points:
- The White House has withdrawn Brian Quintenz’s nomination for CFTC chair, ending what seemed a likely confirmation despite his strong support from crypto and traditional finance sectors.
- Quintenz claimed the Winklevoss brothers misrepresented concerns to President Trump, sharing messages highlighting disputes over Gemini’s complaint with the CFTC.
- Following the withdrawal, the White House is reportedly considering Michael Selig and Tyler Williams as potential new candidates for the CFTC chair role.
A White House official confirmed to Politico that Quintenz’s nomination has been withdrawn, noting that he remains a “trusted ally” and that the Trump administration anticipates collaborating with him in other roles. “President Trump has made it a priority to make America the crypto capital of the world, and in doing so has called for the revitalization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to play a larger role in securing this promise,” the official stated. The official also added that the White House would be announcing a news nominee soon.
Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett reported on X that Quintenz issued a statement regarding the nomination withdrawal. “Being nominated to chair the CFTC and going through the confirmation process was the honor of my life. I am grateful to the President for that opportunity and to the Senate Agriculture Committee for its consideration,” Quintenz said. “I’m looking forward to returning to my private sector endeavors during this exciting time for innovation in our country,” he added.
Quintenz’s exit concludes a surprising reversal for a nominee who had previously seemed all but certain to secure confirmation. The former CFTC commissioner, with experience at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and prediction market startup Kalshi, had garnered broad support across both crypto and traditional finance sectors.
The uncertainty over Quintenz’s nomination reportedly began in July, when Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, co-founders of the crypto exchange Gemini, informed President Donald Trump that Quintenz’s views did not align with the administration’s agenda. Shortly afterward, the White House requested that the Senate Agriculture Committee postpone a scheduled meeting that likely would have advanced his nomination to a full-floor vote.
Quintenz, however, has claimed that the Winklevoss brothers may have misrepresented their concerns to President Trump. In early September, he shared screenshots of July messages exchanged with Tyler Winklevoss, in which Winklevoss raised issues related to what he called “7 years of lawfare trophy hunting,” focusing largely on Gemini’s June 2025 complaint with the CFTC over alleged investigative misconduct. The two had agreed to continue the conversation at a later date, though it is unclear if a follow-up occurred.
After Quintenz made these messages public, reports emerged that the White House had begun exploring alternative candidates for the CFTC chair position. Among those reportedly under consideration are Michael Selig, chief counsel for the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, and Tyler Williams, an advisor on digital assets to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
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Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
