# White House Considering New CFTC Chair Picks Amid Quintenz Stalemate: Bloomberg

*Author: Bankless*
*Published: Sep 19, 2025*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/white-house-considering-new-cftc-chair-picks-amid-quintenz-stalemate-bloomberg*

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The Trump administration is actively exploring backup candidates to chair the CFTC as the nomination of former a16z crypto policy head Brian Quintenz remains in limbo, [Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-18/white-house-weighs-more-candidates-for-cftc-as-nominee-stalls) reported Thursday.  

### What’s the Scoop?
- **Nomination stalled:** Quintenz, first nominated in February, has yet to be confirmed. The administration delayed a Senate Agriculture Committee vote in July but publicly reaffirmed its support later that month.
- **CFTC in limbo:** With only one active commissioner—Caroline Pham, currently serving as acting chair—the agency is operating well below its five-member mandate. Pham has said she plans to step down once a permanent chair is confirmed.
- **Industry dissent:** Prominent crypto figures Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss have opposed Quintenz’s nomination, saying he is out of step with Trump’s crypto agenda. In a recent twist, Quintenz alleged the twins lobbied against him after he refused to intervene in a Gemini complaint about CFTC staff conduct during a prior investigation.
- **Crypto in focus:** The CFTC is expected to play a central role in upcoming crypto regulation, as Congress advances legislation to expand the agency’s oversight over digital assets. The White House may now favor candidates with strong crypto policy backgrounds.