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Republican CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz On Crypto Regulation | CNBC
Brian Quintenz
Commissioner, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (2017-2021)
- As CTFC commissioner, led policy decisions that promoted the integrity of the U.S. financial system
- Among the earliest leaders in Washington to recognize the value of cryptocurrency
- A leading voice in the national debate about fintech regulation, and a champion of innovation and market freedom
- Combines expertise in finance with a public policy background to analyze and translate how digital commodities are reshaping the markets
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As a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from 2017-2021, Brian Quintenz spearheaded the implementation of forward-thinking policies designed to uphold the integrity and resilience of the U.S. derivatives markets during a highly transformative period in finance. One of the sector’s most prominent voices, Quintenz was nominated by both Presidents Obama and Trump to serve as a Commissioner of the CFTC and unanimously confirmed by the Senate. He remains an advocate for narrowly tailored, risk-calibrated regulation and a champion of innovation and growth in the financial technology (fintech) space.
Drawing from his two decades as a leader in the financial markets and a political policy advisor, Quintenz’s discussions are equal parts gripping and pragmatic, and focus on the disruption and regulation of the financial markets, especially as they relate to cryptocurrencies. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, he provides audiences with a rare insider’s perspective of current and future market risk, fintech (including Bitcoin futures, distributed ledger technologies, cybersecurity, and automated trading), and international harmonization of derivatives regulations.
As commissioner of the CFTC, Quintenz headed the agency’s Technology Advisory Committee, which hosted the most comprehensive public discussions and briefings with industry leaders on policy issues related to cryptocurrency and other digital assets. It was during Quintenz’s tenure that the U.S. first began regulating futures contracts based on virtual currencies, including Bitcoin and Ether, while also expanding decentralized finance (DeFi) initiatives. He also successfully worked alongside counterparts at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on successful harmonization efforts between the CFTC and SEC to promote crypto innovation and education at the government level. Quintenz stepped down from his role as a CFTC Commissioner in 2021 and now serves as an advisory partner at Andreessen Horowitz (also known as a16z) where he provides his expertise on the Silicon Valley venture capital giant’s crypto-related investments. He is also a board member for Kalshi and Inca Digital, as well as an advisory council member for Crypto.com.
Prior to serving as a CFTC Commissioner, Quintenz was the founder and managing principal of Saeculum Capital Management, LLC. His previous roles also include outside consultant for the Global Institutional Consulting Group at Merrill Lynch, and senior associate for Hill-Townsend Capital. Before entering the finance sector, Quintenz worked on Capitol Hill for six years, serving as a senior policy advisor for Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (OH-15).
Quintez graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University with a major in public policy studies. He later received his MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where he was inducted into the Phi Beta Gamma honors society.
Speaker Video
Former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz Joins A16z, Shares Outlook on Crypto Regulations
Regulatory Purgatory: The Crypto Revolution and the U.S. Government’s Dilemma. Three months into Brian Quintenz’s tenure as a CFTC Commissioner, two exchanges listed Bitcoin futures, putting the agency at the forefront of the crypto revolution overnight. Taking audiences behind the scenes of the CFTC and bringing them into the center of debates between agencies and regulators over Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, he shares the inside story of how he became a leading voice on crypto innovation at the agency, as well as the reasons why regulators continue to be caught flat footed by the explosive growth of crypto.
As a digital commodity subject matter expert, Quintenz understands the ins and outs of cryptocurrency, as well as differing viewpoints on how best to manage its regulation as it reaches a crossroads in the market. In this talk, he explores how crypto is impacting financial markets today, its potential to reshape them in the future, and how current events in Washington could affect what he believes to be the most important financial market and wealth creation revolution in generations.
The Digital Commodity Era. A champion for innovative financial technologies and continued exploration into their potential, Quintenz provides his sought-after insights on all things cryptocurrency and how its current disruptive nature is shaping the markets for the future. Addressing hot topics such as the growth, adoption, and regulation of cryptocurrency, as well as distribution ledger technologies, decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and the cybersecurity implications, he breaks down the ins and outs of fintech in a way that audiences can make sense of and draw their own conclusions. Audience members will also receive his insider perspective on solutions for addressing the financial market’s most-pressing issues today and in the years ahead.
Figuring Out the Financial Future. In this talk, former Commissioner of the CFTC Brian Quintenz leads a future-focused discussion on the financial markets, homing in on the risks and opportunities that lie ahead for both businesses and individuals. Drawing from his years as a finance sector leader, he addresses why this is such a crucial time for our markets and the people who depend on them, while emphasizing the importance of market freedom, risk-focused regulation, and innovation to safeguard and improve the financial marketplace.
The ABCs of NFTs. On his first trip to the Middle East as a U.S. government official, former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz toured the Dubai Art Expo where a digital artwork installation caught his eye. But could this piece of digital perfection — a beautifully vivid pond filled with koi fish swimming as the artist programmed them to do — be considered art? What would the purchaser actually own? A string of code?
Three years later, the explosive growth of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) had turned the digital art world upside down and helped answer that question. Yet, we’re still in the first inning for NFTs. In this talk, Quintenz uses highly approachable language to explain what NFTs are, how they began, and how the NFT revolution could ultimately transform all retail transactions of digital intellectual property.
Gambling, Speculating, and Investing – Oh My! In this talk, former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz breaks down the regulatory issues currently surrounding various financially driven activities and the markets for them. Weaving in captivating anecdotes, like the true story behind the movie Trading Places, while also offering a behind-the-scenes look at a federal financial regulator’s reasoning for denying market contracts for speculating on NFL games, Quintenz challenges audiences’ traditional perceptions of gambling versus the value of financial market participation and its pricing information.
