Winklevoss Opposes Quintenz for CFTC Chair Over Conflict Concerns

Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of crypto exchange Gemini, questioned Brian Quintenz’s nomination to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), New York Post reports. President Trump picked Quintenz in February, but the White House asked the Senate Agriculture Committee to delay his confirmation vote.

Winklevoss, an early Trump supporter, said Quintenz’s board seat at prediction-markets firm Kalshi and his regulatory background pose a conflict with the administration’s deregulatory goals. Quintenz served as a CFTC commissioner from 2017 to 2021 and now leads policy at Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto division.

A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that a Quintenz associate sought non-public CFTC data on designated contract markets. Kalshi could have used this information for competitive advantage. During his previous CFTC role, Quintenz supported expanding the agency’s budget and staff, which goes against Trump’s plans to reduce government oversight.

“His stated positions are not aligned with President Trump and the Administration’s stated goals,” Winklevoss told the New York Post. Quintenz pledged to resign from Kalshi’s board if confirmed as CFTC chair.

The Senate Agriculture Committee canceled Monday’s confirmation vote without explanation after the White House requested the postponement. The delay suggests growing concerns about Quintenz’s nomination from both parties.

If Quintenz’s nomination fails, industry sources mention potential alternatives. Acting Chair Caroline Pham could remain in position, or SEC Chair Paul Atkins could oversee both securities and commodity futures regulation.

Quintenz graduated from Duke University and Georgetown’s MBA program. He worked in private equity at Hill-Townsend Capital before joining the CFTC in 2017. He left the commission in 2021 and joined Andreessen Horowitz in December 2022 to handle crypto policy.

The CFTC expects to play a larger role in crypto regulation under Trump’s administration. The commission currently oversees commodity futures and derivatives markets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contracts.

Related: End of Crypto’s Wild West? U.S. Senate Finally Finds the Regulatory Formula