The White House has withdrawn Brian Quintenz’s nomination for CFTC Chair, as the agency introduces new advisories, collaborates with the SEC, and extends compliance deadlines amid digital asset innovation and efforts to strengthen market oversight.
The White House has withdrawn the nomination of Brian Quintenz for Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a surprising move confirmed by Quintenz on September 30. This development marks a significant turn in the leadership trajectory of the agency that plays a critical role in regulating the U.S. derivatives markets.
In addition to this leadership update, the CFTC issued several important advisories and notices on the same day aimed at ensuring market stability and operational clarity amid potential government funding lapses. The CFTC reminded futures commission merchants, introducing brokers, designated contract markets, derivatives clearing organisations, and registered futures associations of their existing regulatory obligations concerning preparations for possible market disruptions during a lapse in government appropriations. This advisory reinforces preparedness without imposing new regulatory duties. Complementing this, the Commission outlined a detailed plan addressing the continuation, shutdown, and eventual resumption of operations in such an event, providing regulatory certainty to all parties engaged with the Commission.
Notably, the CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight and Division of Clearing and Risk also announced a no-action position regarding swap data reporting and recordkeeping regulations for binary options related to electricity and power markets. This followed a request from Electron Exchange DCM LLC and Electron Exchange DCO LLC, which plan to list and clear cash-settled binary options in these sectors. The no-action letters indicate that the Commission will not pursue enforcement actions against these entities or their participants for certain reporting and recordkeeping shortfalls, signalling regulatory flexibility towards emerging market instruments.
Further highlighting the agency’s commitment to investor protection, the CFTC’s Office of Customer Education and Outreach announced participation in World Investor Week 2025, a global initiative focused on investor education. Between October 6 and 12, the CFTC will proactively warn the public about prevalent scam trends and red flags via social media platforms and online webinars, underscoring its role in safeguarding retail investors.
On the regulatory coordination front, the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) convened a Joint Roundtable to discuss harmonization efforts between the two agencies. Acting Chair Caroline D. Pham emphasised ongoing work to align regulatory frameworks and rule requirements to eliminate unnecessary costs and foster innovation within fair competition parameters. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler clarified that the collaboration is focused on harmonization rather than an agency merger, which would require Congressional and Presidential approval. He highlighted specific areas for harmonisation, such as duplicative collateral requirements, reflecting a shared agenda for streamlined market oversight.
In a move to ease burdens on market entities, the CFTC extended the compliance date for the daily reporting requirements specified under Commission Regulation 39.19(c)(1) for registered derivatives clearing organisations to June 1, 2026. This postponement allows additional time for testing and compliance efforts while maintaining adherence to previous regulatory standards for the interim period.
These developments come amid broader regulatory activity, including the CFTC’s announcement of an initiative around tokenized collateral and stablecoins, reflecting its push to innovate and adapt regulatory frameworks for digital asset markets. Collectively, the recent actions and announcements underscore the CFTC’s dynamic regulatory approach in a rapidly evolving financial landscape marked by technological innovation and increased calls for regulatory clarity and harmonisation.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is current, with all events dated September 30, 2025, and October 3, 2025. The CFTC’s participation in World Investor Week 2025 is scheduled for October 6-12, 2025, indicating timely reporting. No evidence of recycled or outdated content was found. The inclusion of updated data alongside older material is noted, but the recent updates justify a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
Direct quotes from Brian Quintenz and other officials are consistent with their public statements. No discrepancies or variations in wording were identified. All quotes are attributed to their original sources, confirming authenticity.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Gibson Dunn, a reputable law firm known for its legal insights. The information is corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including CoinDesk and Reuters, enhancing its credibility.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The events described align with known developments, such as the withdrawal of Brian Quintenz’s nomination and the CFTC’s recent activities. The narrative provides specific details, including dates and direct quotes, supporting its plausibility. The language and tone are appropriate for the subject matter and region.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current, with all events dated September 30, 2025, and October 3, 2025. Direct quotes are consistent with public statements, and the information is corroborated by reputable sources. The events described align with known developments, and the language and tone are appropriate. No credibility risks were identified.
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