Quintenz Vows to Exit $3.4M Crypto Ties if Senate Confirms CFTC Role

Brian Quintenz, former CFTC commissioner and a well-known figure in the crypto policy space, is in the spotlight again. US President Donald Trump has nominated him to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. With his Senate confirmation pending, Quintenz has made his financial interests and industry connections public, drawing attention to how those links align with the agency’s current priorities.

Good to know

• Quintenz disclosed at least $3.4 million in assets.
• He currently works as the global head of crypto policy at Andreessen Horowitz.
• He has pledged to resign and divest from conflicting positions if confirmed.

According to paperwork published by the US Office of Government Ethics on May 25 and reported by Bloomberg, Quintenz revealed several key financial holdings and roles. These include involvement in crypto-focused funds and positions that intersect with two of the CFTC’s main focus areas: digital assets and prediction markets.

While serving as global head of crypto policy at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), he has interests in several investment vehicles: CNK Fund III, CNK Seed 1 Fund, and CNK IV Fund. In addition, he holds capital commitments linked to their general partners. If confirmed, he has committed to stepping down from his role at a16z.

Prediction markets and ethics steps

Quintenz also sits on the board of Kalshi, a platform offering markets on event outcomes. Kalshi recently resolved a major legal conflict with the CFTC related to election betting. Beyond board duties, Quintenz owns both stock and unvested stock options in Kalshi. He also has stakes in Next Level Derivatives, a finance and lending brokerage.

To avoid conflicts, Quintenz submitted an ethics agreement to John Einstman, the CFTC’s Designated Agency Ethics Official, on May 21. In that letter, he confirmed plans to resign from all board roles and divest assets that could create a conflict of interest. That includes giving up unvested stock options and recusing himself from any matter involving a16z for two years and Kalshi for one year.

Ongoing steps and ethical safeguards

Quintenz also pledged to follow federal ethics rules and participate in all required briefings. He will, however, continue to serve as an unpaid trustee for two family trusts, which he noted do not present any regulatory overlap.

“I will not participate personally and substantially in any particular matter in which I know that I have a financial interest directly and predictably affected by the matter,” he stated in the agreement letter.

Although the Senate has yet to confirm his appointment, Quintenz’s transparency and proactive measures suggest he is preparing for a return to the regulator he served from 2017 to 2021.