Trump Appoints Michael Selig As CFTC Chair To Lead Crypto Regulation

President Donald Trump has nominated Michael Selig to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a move aligning with the administration's goal to expand the U.S. role in digital asset regulation and make America the "crypto capital of the world." Selig, currently Chief Counsel for the SEC's Crypto Task Force and adviser to SEC Chair Paul Atkins, has extensive experience coordinating crypto policies between the SEC and CFTC, positioning him to address regulatory complexities in the crypto sector. His nomination follows the withdrawal of Trump's previous nominee, Brian Quintenz, amid industry opposition, and comes as the CFTC has been without permanent leadership for nearly a year during a government shutdown. Selig is tasked with implementing the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act to improve digital asset monitoring and is expected to foster closer collaboration between regulators and private businesses, supported by high-ranking officials like AI and crypto czar David Sacks. The administration's crypto integration is further highlighted by Trump Media's partnership with Crypto.com to launch "Truth Predict," a prediction markets feature on Truth Social, reflecting its broader digital finance ambitions. Industry leaders have praised Selig's regulatory knowledge and innovation-friendly approach, viewing him as the right choice to lead the CFTC at this critical juncture.