Summary:
- CCI summarizes President Trump’s crypto appointments in the SEC, CFTC, Treasury, and FDIC.
- Looking at these appointments under a crypto-specific lens, we see an encouraging and clear signal shift towards a more positive view of digital assets in the United States.
- This the first in a series of 2025 U.S. policy blogs from CCI to help the sector keep track of the rapidly changing landscape.
In the first weeks of the Trump Administration, there has been a wave of both major executive branch and regulatory appointments. Many are relevant for the crypto industry, and President Trump’s crypto appointments reflect his administrations policy initiatives. CCI is helping you keep track of who’s who and what we know so far:
Brian Quintenz – Nomination Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
On February 11, 2025, President Trump nominated Brian Quintenz to serve as the Chair of the CFTC. Quintenz previously served as a CFTC Commissioner from 2017 to 2021, having been nominated by both Presidents Obama and Trump and unanimously confirmed by the Senate. During his tenure, he led the agency’s Technology Advisory Committee (TAC), where he spearheaded discussions on blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and other emerging technologies, ensuring that regulatory frameworks evolved alongside financial innovation.
Since stepping down as CFTC Commissioner, Quintenz has served as the Head of Policy at a16z, where he continued advocating for modernizing financial regulation to accommodate digital assets and emerging markets. He has been a vocal proponent of clear, risk-calibrated rules for digital assets, arguing against “regulation by enforcement” and instead promoting a proactive policy approach that fosters institutional adoption while maintaining market integrity. His nomination signals a continued effort to modernize CFTC policies to support financial innovation while ensuring robust consumer protections.
Caroline D. Pham Named Acting Chair at CFTC
Trump’s crypto leadership begins on January 20, 2025 as Caroline D. Pham was unanimously elected as Acting Chair of the CFTC. Pham served as a CFTC Commissioner from 2022 and has had prior roles at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and CFTC enforcement divisions. She led multiple digital asset initiatives at the CFTC, including the creation of a Digital Asset Markets subcommittee.
While in her previous role as CFTC Commissioner, Pham’s priorities included fostering collaboration across the finance ecosystem, embracing technological advancements, and ensuring the U.S. remains a global leader in financial markets. She spearheaded initiatives to modernize market structures, including the first-ever U.S. digital asset taxonomy.
As part of her commitment to innovation and regulatory clarity, Pham announced a new CEO Forum with leading industry firms to discuss the launch of the CFTC’s digital asset markets pilot program. The initiative focuses on tokenized non-cash collateral, including stablecoins, to enhance market efficiency and risk management. Participants in the forum included Circle, Coinbase, Crypto.com, MoonPay, and Ripple.
Paul Atkins nominated Chair of the SEC
The U.S. Senate confirmed Paul Atkins as the permanent SEC Chair. Atkins is a long-time advocate for free-market principles and innovation, and is expected to further solidify the administration’s pro-crypto stance.
Atkins previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008 where he focused on enhancing compliance in the financial services industry and addressing issues of investor harm. In 2016, Atkins worked closely with President Trump and a team of CEOs – including those from JPMorgan and Disney – on the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum providing strategic and policy advice on the U.S. financial landscape.
Mark Uyeda as Acting SEC Chair
President Trump appointed Mark Uyeda as Acting Chair of the SEC. He will lead the agency until a permanent chair is confirmed. Known for his critical stance on the SEC’s past enforcement strategies, Uyeda brings a perspective that prioritizes regulatory clarity and fairness.
Uyeda is expected to revisit pending enforcement cases, reassess the SEC’s crypto policies, and with his appointment the SEC’s antagonistic posture towards the industry will immediately change.
Hester Peirce – SEC Crypto Task Force Lead
On January 21, 2025, Acting Chair Uyeda announced the SEC’s first-ever crypto task force. Led by Commissioner Hester Peirce, it will be dedicated to developing a “comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets.”
The task force will prioritize clarifying the security status of crypto assets, addressing token offerings, and improving transparency in regulatory approvals for crypto products, while ensuring investor protection and fostering responsible innovation. It will also work within the SEC’s statutory authority to provide regulatory clarity while exploring exemptions where appropriate.
Peirce, an advocate for crypto innovation, has long pushed for a clear and tailored regulatory framework. She has emphasized that this task force represents a shift away from enforcement-driven regulation toward a more structured, legally sound, and practical approach. Public engagement will be a key component, with the task force actively seeking input from industry participants, regulators, and the public. Richard Gabbert, Senior Advisor to the Acting Chairman, and Taylor Asher, Senior Policy Advisor to the Acting Chairman, will serve as the task force’s Chief of Staff and Chief Policy Advisor, respectively.
Scott Bessent – Secretary of the Treasury
On January 28, 2025 Scott Bessent was sworn in as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. Bessent is expected to play a pivotal part in advancing President Trump’s economic agenda, including the push to extend the tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term and to implement new tariff measures. Additionally, Bessent will be a central figure in addressing upcoming fiscal challenges, such as increasing the debt ceiling and securing government funding.
As Secretary, Mr. Bessent will oversee the U.S. Treasury’s mission to sustain a strong economy, drive economic growth, and create jobs by fostering conditions for prosperity both domestically and globally. His confirmation hearing demonstrated his commitment to ensuring the U.S. remains a global leader in financial innovation.
David Sacks – AI and Crypto Czar
In December, then President-elect Trump, announced that former PayPal executive David Sacks would be the first White House AI and Crypto Czar. His role is to “guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness.”
Additionally, Trump said that Sacks “will work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.” Sacks will also be chairing the President‘s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, which is tasked with reviewing federal agencies treatment of digital assets, blockchain technology and recommending regulatory and legislative proposals. These proposals would foster innovation, promote greater regulatory clarity, and strengthen U.S. global competitiveness. As a part of this broader effort, the Trump Administration established the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, otherwise dubbed the “Crypto Council.”
Sacks joined the Chairs of the Senate Banking Committee, the House Financial Services Committee, and the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for a press conference announcing a bicameral working group in collaboration with the White House Crypto Council. The group aims to build consensus around a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. His engagement with both chambers and key committees underscores a promising, bipartisan approach to shaping the future of crypto regulation.
Bo Hines – Executive Director of Crypto Council
President Trump’s crypto appointments continue with Bo Hines as the Executive Director of the Crypto Council. The council will focus on shaping US policy in the digital assets sector, operating under David Sacks, Trump’s designated AI & Crypto Czar. Hines will join Sacks in coordinating with Congress and federal agencies to create a unified framework that balances innovation with accountability for the digital assets industry.
Hines previously ventured into politics, running as a Republican candidate to represent North Carolina’s 13th district in Congress. In his new position, Hines will provide guidance on regulatory frameworks, market opportunities, and the incorporation of digital assets into the wider economy. This appointment showcases a shift in federal policy toward a more expansive, proactive, and structured approach to overseeing crypto in the U.S.
Howard Lutnick – Nominee for Commerce Secretary
In the stream of President Trump’s crypto appointments, Howard Lutnick was nominated for the role of Commerce Secretary. Lutnick is a billionaire businessman, and previously served on President Trump’s transition team.
The Commerce Department oversees agencies such as the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. As the next prospective Commerce Secretary, Lutnick would be in charge of “funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather”.
He will also play a key role in shaping the country’s artificial intelligence and crypto policies, particularly through the Patent and Trademark Office’s approach to blockchain-related intellectual property, as well as broader trade and economic regulations impacting the industry. In addition, the Department of Commerce oversees NIST which works on AI best practices and helps “AI developers evaluate and mitigate risks stemming from generative AI.”
Travis Hill – Acting Chairman FDIC
Travis Hill assumed the role of Acting Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and outlined an agenda to embrace financial innovation. His vision prioritizes fostering a safe and sound banking system while promoting technology adoption, including the exploration of tokenization and its potential to transform the financial landscape.
Hill is a proponent of decentralized finance innovations, particularly the benefits of tokenization in improving payment systems and financial transactions. In his previous remarks at the Mercatus Center, Hill emphasized how tokenization could streamline payments, introduce atomic settlement, and enable programmability, driving efficiencies in key areas like cross-border transactions, multi-currency bonds, and trade finance.
In his new role, Hill aims to align the FDIC’s regulatory policies with these advancements, ensuring that innovation is not stifled while maintaining the safety and stability of the banking sector.
The Trump Administration’s recent appointments highlight a strong commitment to fostering innovation and digital assets. With experienced leaders at the helm and a forward-thinking national strategy, the U.S. could be finally poised to take a leading role in this sector.
Jonathan McKernan – Nominated for Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
On February 11, 2025, President Trump nominated Jonathan McKernan to serve as the Director of the CFPB. McKernan, a former member of the FDIC Board, is expected to bring a measured approach to financial regulation, emphasizing consumer protections while ensuring that regulatory measures do not stifle access to credit or financial innovation.
McKernan served on the FDIC Board from 2023 to 2025, where he played a critical role in shaping policies on bank capital requirements, mergers, and the role of asset managers in the financial sector. He previously served as Counsel to the Senate Banking Committee’s Ranking Member and held senior advisory roles at the Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
A proponent of regulatory efficiency, McKernan has been vocal about the need to streamline oversight while maintaining robust consumer safeguards. He has pushed for clearer guidance on bank-fintech partnerships, advocating for a regulatory framework that fosters financial innovation without introducing excessive risk.
Jonathan Gould – Nominated for Comptroller of the Currency
President Trump nominated Jonathan Gould to serve as the Comptroller of the Currency at the OCC. Gould brings extensive experience in banking oversight, fintech policy, and risk management.
Previously, Gould was the Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) from 2018 to 2021, where he led the agency’s legal division through major regulatory reforms, including the implementation of Economic Growth Act provisions and Volcker Rule adjustments. His tenure saw critical advancements in fintech integration, including the approval of the first national bank charter for a fintech company and regulatory clarity on stablecoin reserves and crypto custody services.
Gould has been a strong advocate for refining financial regulations to keep pace with emerging risks while maintaining stability in the banking system. He has emphasized the importance of stress testing, robust supervision, and transparency in regulatory decision-making.
Trump’s Crypto Agenda – Other Key Personnel
President Trump’s crypto appointments reflect many of his forthcoming policy initiatives. Crypto policy took a lead when he issued an Executive Order on Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology, that also outlines additional key personnel that will work across agencies to drive digital asset policy.
The Executive Order creates a Digital Asset Working Group to facilitate cross-agency collaboration to streamline regulatory efforts and policy development. In addition to the inclusion of key appointees above including the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the working group also includes the Attorney General, representatives from Homeland Security, APEP, OMB, and more. This whole-of-government approach is critical to ensure that agencies are not working at cross-purposes with each other.
