White House Mulls Five Pro-Crypto Candidates for CFTC Chair

- White House reportedly vetting pro-crypto candidates for CFTC chair position. - Development comes as Congress discusses major market infrastructure bill. On September 26, 2025, Cointelegraph reported that the White House is considering several pro-crypto candidates to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which plays a critical role in regulating the U.S. digital asset market. The current shortlist includes Michael Selig, Tyler Williams, Jill Sommers, Kyle Hauptman, and Josh Stirling. These candidates bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives, potentially shaping the future framework for cryptocurrencies. The candidates offer a range of expertise: * Michael Selig, chief counsel to the Crypto Task Force at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has extensive experience in digital asset compliance. * Tyler Williams, a senior counselor to the Treasury Secretary, specializes in blockchain policy. * Jill Sommers, a former CFTC commissioner, and Kyle Hauptman, chair of the National Credit Union Administration, both bring years of regulatory experience. * Josh Stirling, a seasoned lawyer with financial oversight experience, is also a contender. The search for a new CFTC chair comes at a pivotal moment, as Congress is debating a major market infrastructure bill that could expand the agency’s authority over the crypto industry. Meanwhile, some speculate about a possible merger between the CFTC and the SEC, a move that would mark a transformative shift in the regulatory landscape. This nomination process faces heightened scrutiny following the stalled confirmation of Brian Quintenz, a previous nominee under President Trump. Consequently, the crypto industry is closely watching whether the next chair will advocate for innovation-friendly policies or prioritize tighter oversight in this rapidly evolving sector. According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at $27,410 as of September 26 at 13:30 UTC, reflecting a 4.2% increase in its 24-hour trading volume. During the same period, Ethereum (ETH) was priced at $1,621, with its volume increasing by 3.7%.