With a confirmation of Mike Selig to lead the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission imminent, the current acting chief, Caroline Pham, is advancing her plan to transition to the crypto firm MoonPay.
As CoinDesk mentioned last month, Pham plans to assume the roles of chief legal officer and chief administrative officer at the financial technology firm focused on crypto, which recently secured a New York trust charter. This move was further validated by a company statement on Wednesday, along with Pham’s acknowledgment of her transition once President Donald Trump’s nominee, Selig, is appointed.
“I’m thrilled to join MoonPay at such a critical point,” said Pham, in a rare career announcement before her departure from the regulator. She also shared on social media platform X on Wednesday that she anticipates a “smooth transition” after Selig is sworn in.
“The future is bright,” she remarked.
The former managing director at Citigroup has actively pursued a proactive agenda supporting crypto-friendly policies, culminating in several recent initiatives as Selig’s confirmation progresses in the Senate. His approval is expected as part of a significant nominee package in a vote scheduled for Wednesday evening.
Selig is currently an official at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where he has contributed to the agency’s cryptocurrency policy efforts.
“Caroline is one of the most influential leaders in U.S. financial regulation, defining the future of digital assets,” said Ivan Soto-Wright, co-founder and CEO of MoonPay, in a statement praising her as the “ideal leader to steer MoonPay through our next phase of growth and regulatory excellence.”
At the firm, which also possesses a New York BitLicense and facilitates crypto trading, payments, and stablecoin infrastructure, Pham will direct its policy and regulatory strategy in Washington. The company isn’t directly overseen by the CFTC.
Read more: Most Influential: Caroline Pham
