Senate Sets June 10 Hearing for Trump’s CFTC Pick Quintenz
The Senate’s gearing up to grill Brian Quintenz, Trump’s choice to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, on June 10, a move that’s got everyone having an interest in prediction markets buzzing.
Hearing on the Horizon
Brian Quintenz, tapped by President Donald Trump to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), faces the Senate Agriculture Committee on June 10, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EST in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
The hearing, set to vet his return to the CFTC after serving as a commissioner from 2017 to 2021, could shape U.S. crypto, derivatives, and prediction markets rules.
Quintenz, currently heading crypto policy at Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z fund, aims to replace Rostin Behnam, who stepped down in February.
No stranger to the CFTC, Quintenz was unanimously confirmed in 2017, nominated by both Obama and Trump. He led the Technology Advisory Committee, greenlighting the first U.S.-regulated Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts.
Known for pushing “risk-calibrated” rules, he championed innovation while keeping markets fair. His pro-crypto bent, honed at a16z since 2022, aligns with Trump’s push for lighter digital asset oversight, but it’s raising eyebrows over conflicts.
Kalshi Connection Stirs Debate
Quintenz’s seat on Kalshi’s board since 2021, a CFTC-regulated prediction market platform, is a hot topic. Kalshi’s locked in a legal tussle with the CFTC over election betting contracts, though the agency recently backed off its appeal.
Quintenz holds $3.4 million in crypto and Kalshi assets but pledged to resign from Kalshi’s board, sell his stakes within 90 days of confirmation, and recuse himself from Kalshi matters for a year and a16z issues for two, unless cleared.
Early reports hinted he wouldn’t dodge broader prediction market talks, sparking chatter about bias, though he’s vowed to follow ethics rules “to the letter”.
Policy at a Crossroads
The CFTC, which oversees derivatives like crypto futures, is in flux with four commissioners set to exit by mid-2025. Quintenz’s confirmation could tip the agency 3-1 Republican, amplifying his influence.
Senators might press him on DeFi rules, spot market oversight, and SEC coordination, especially since Trump’s team wants the CFTC to regulate digital asset spot markets, a shift needing Congressional approval.
His past call for tailored crypto rules, like criticizing the SEC’s Ether stance, suggests a friendlier approach, but tribes and states worry his Kalshi ties could favor prediction markets over their gaming rights.
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