The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is on the brink of becoming a leading regulator for cryptocurrencies and related businesses, pending new legislation before Congress. Earlier this year, former CFTC Commissioner and current Andreessen Horowitz Crypto Head of Policy Brian Quintenz seemed poised to lead the agency, putting a pro-crypto voice in a position to draft much-needed industry regulations. However, the committee unexpectedly announced a delay in voting on his nomination, twice, ultimately stating that the White House requested the postponement regarding President Donald Trump’s nominee, without further details.
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Gemini (GEMI) co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss claimed responsibility for the halt and eventual failure of Quintenz’s nomination, highlighting the considerable influence that billionaire crypto figures and major Trump supporters can exert within the current administration, while stalling the confirmation of a regulator desired by many in the crypto sector.
“Many in our industry have significant concerns about this nomination,” Tyler Winklevoss remarked to CoinDesk in August, shortly after the confirmation votes were delayed. “Mr. Quintenz does not align with the president’s stated agenda and goals.”
Quintenz, meanwhile, remained mostly silent regarding the challenges to his nomination until September, when he shared messages exchanged with Winklevoss, in which Winklevoss seemed to request that Quintenz take a definitive stance on how the CFTC dealt with a case against Gemini that was resolved in January 2025.
“I believe these texts clarify their expectations from me,” Quintenz said in a social media post, adding that he felt Winklevoss’s discussions with the President were misleading.
“I recall our winter conversation where I expressed my initial disappointment at [the Enforcement Division] for pursuing this so aggressively,” Quintenz said in one of the shared messages. “I assure you of a fair and reasonable review of the situation and the individuals and division involved to determine if they acted inappropriately.”
Despite his efforts, the White House withdrew his nomination a few weeks later.
