The White House is evaluating new candidates to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) amid ongoing delays in the confirmation process for Brian Quintenz, according to recent reports. On September 24, 2025, Semafor reported that former CFTC official Josh Sterling is under consideration, while Crypto in America reporter Eleanor Terrett indicated that the administration is also weighing National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Chairman Kyle Hauptman and former CFTC commissioner Jill Sommers for the role.
This shift comes weeks after Quintenz, Trump's initial nominee, expressed concerns on social media that Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss had asked President Donald Trump to "pause" his confirmation. Quintenz shared text messages revealing Winklevoss's worries about the CFTC's June 2025 complaint against Gemini, alleging investigative misconduct. Quintenz stated, "I believe these texts make it clear what they were after from me, and what I refused to promise," adding that transparency and integrity are paramount.
Jill Sommers, who served as a CFTC commissioner from 2007 to 2013, has a decade of experience at Patomak Global Partners and chairs its Derivatives Practice Group. She previously joined the FTX US Derivatives Board in 2022, advocating for regulated crypto markets. Kyle Hauptman, currently NCUA chairman, has emphasized the importance of embracing blockchain technology, noting in a September 2024 speech that stablecoins could modernize the U.S. payments system. Both candidates are viewed as pro-innovation, with backgrounds supporting digital asset integration.
Quintenz's nomination, made in February 2025, has faced repeated delays in the Senate Agriculture Committee, partly due to ethical concerns over his role at prediction market Kalshi and skepticism from crypto figures like the Winklevoss twins. Caroline Pham currently serves as acting CFTC chair, but a permanent appointment requires Senate confirmation after a presidential nomination.