Brian Quintenz, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has disclosed financial holdings and board positions that tie him closely to the crypto sector.
Quintenz, a former CFTC commissioner from 2017 to 2021, reported at least $3.4 million in assets in paperwork filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics on May 25, according to Bloomberg.
Both firms fall squarely within CFTC’s regulatory scope, suggesting potential conflicts if he assumes the chairmanship. Quintenz’s ties to Kalshi are particularly notable, given the company’s recent legal clash with the CFTC over election markets.
Quintenz’s portfolio includes interests in three AH Capital funds, as well as equity in prediction markets firm Kalshi and derivatives brokerage Next Level Derivatives.
He also committed to resigning from all corporate roles and divesting conflicting assets within 90 days of Senate confirmation. Quintenz’s nomination signals a continued pivot by the Trump administration toward more crypto-friendly leadership at key financial agencies.
In a letter to the agency’s Designated Ethics Official, he pledged to recuse himself from any matters involving Kalshi for a year and a16z-related issues for two years.
Speaking with Bloomberg, she said the agency has already received applications and that such products could go live “very soon,” marking a significant step in bringing crypto derivatives back onshore. Mersinger emphasized the importance of offering these products under U.S. regulation, suggesting it would boost market integrity and benefit both the crypto industry and the wider economy.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is poised to approve crypto perpetual futures trading in the United States, according to outgoing commissioner Summer Mersinger.