Michael Selig Nominated to Lead CFTC Amid Crypto Regulatory Shift
Michael Selig has been nominated to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), filling a nearly year-long leadership vacuum at the agency. His appointment comes as the CFTC grapples with operational paralysis from a government shutdown while preparing to expand its role in digital asset oversight.
Selig, currently Chief Legal Advisor of the SEC's cryptocurrency Task Force, brings rare cross-agency expertise to the position. His regulatory background spans both traditional commodities and crypto markets, including previous CFTC experience during Chris Giancarlo's chairmanship and private practice at Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
The nominee has publicly committed to making the U.S. the global crypto capital, signaling a potential policy shift toward more industry-friendly regulation. Market participants have welcomed the selection, with DeFi Education Fund's Amanda Tuminelli among early supporters.
