Brian Quintenz, a candidate for the position of Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), stated that Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, attempted to block his appointment. According to Quintenz, the conflict arose from his unwillingness to support Gemini in its dispute with the regulator.
This is reported by Finway
Conflict Between Quintenz and the Winklevoss Brothers
Quintenz released part of the correspondence with Tyler Winklevoss that took place in late July 2025. In it, the Gemini co-founder asked the CFTC chair candidate to consider the exchange’s complaint against the regulator. In June 2025, Gemini accused the CFTC of unjustified persecution, which led the company to pay a $5 million fine. According to exchange representatives, the case was based on unverified testimony from a former employee.
Quintenz responded that he was prepared to ensure an impartial review of the situation, but the final decision should remain with the agency’s approved chair:
“I am committed to conducting a fair and reasoned review of this matter, as well as the actions of the division and individuals involved, to determine whether they acted improperly. However, the consequences and resolution of this matter must clearly be left to the discretion of the approved chair.”
Pressure on CFTC Chair Appointment
Following this response, Tyler Winklevoss expressed disappointment and stated that he would discuss the situation with the President of the United States. In the correspondence, he emphasized the need for cultural reform within the regulator and expectations for actions from Quintenz in accordance with the directive from President Trump and his administration:
“Cultural reform, including addressing what has happened to us, must be the highest priority. I would like to know your thoughts on this matter and how you plan to act in accordance with the directive from President Trump and the administration to put an end to this misconduct and atone for the wrongdoing.”
According to Quintenz, after this discussion, the Winklevoss brothers approached President Trump with a request to suspend his confirmation for the position. Earlier, in February 2025, Donald Trump publicly supported Quintenz’s candidacy, who heads the cryptocurrency department at a16z. However, the U.S. Senate has yet to confirm him for the position, despite the hearings held. Currently, Commissioner Caroline Pham is serving as the acting chair of the CFTC.
Politico reported that the Winklevoss brothers are actively lobbying for the selection of another candidate, citing Quintenz’s connections in the cryptocurrency industry and his collaboration with the prediction platform Kalshi as potential conflicts of interest.
As of the publication date, Tyler Winklevoss had not commented on the situation regarding Quintenz’s statements. The correspondence suggests that the parties agreed to return to discussing Gemini’s complaint, but it is unclear whether such a meeting took place.