Brian Quintenz Set to Lead CFTC as Romero Plans Departure

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Brian Quintenz Set to Lead CFTC as Christy Goldsmith Romero Plans Departure

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: February 26, 2025

Key Takeaways

Christy Goldsmith Romero will step down from the CFTC once Brian Quintenz's appointment is confirmed;
Quintenz, who previously led the CFTC from 2017 to 2021, is awaiting Senate approval to take over as chair;
Romero’s exit shifts the CFTC’s political balance, which requires a new Democratic appointee.

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Brian Quintenz Set to Lead CFTC as Christy Goldsmith Romero Plans Departure

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Christy Goldsmith Romero has announced plans to step down from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

She shared her decision on February 25 with Reuters, stating that she would leave after Congress finalizes Brian Quintenz’s appointment as the agency’s new chair.

However, Quintenz's confirmation is still pending as the US Senate has yet to schedule a vote. Until then, acting chair Caroline Pham will continue leading the agency.

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He previously led the CFTC from 2017 to 2021 during President Donald Trump’s first term. His initial nomination came in 2016 under former President Barack Obama. News of Quintenz's return surfaced in a Bloomberg report on February 12, and he later confirmed his nomination on X.

With Romero’s departure, Commissioner Kristin Johnson would become the only Democrat on the five-member commission. The CFTC’s structure requires that no more than three commissioners belong to the same political party, meaning that once Quintenz takes office, another Democratic appointee will need to be selected to fill the remaining seat.

During her time at the CFTC, Romero played a key role in bringing back the technology advisory committee, which helps the agency navigate developments in the crypto industry. She also supported the lawsuit filed against Binance $2.92B and its former CEO, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, on March 27, 2023.

Meanwhile, John Gould, former chief legal officer at Bitfury, was recently nominated to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Why him? Read the full story.