Bitcoin News Today: Winklevoss Twins Lobby Trump to Withdraw CFTC Nominee Quintenz Over Policy Disputes

The Winklevoss twins, co-founders of Gemini and prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry, have reportedly lobbied President Donald Trump to withdraw Brian Quintenz as his nominee for chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). According to reports, the move was driven by concerns that Quintenz lacks the transformative vision necessary to modernize the agency in alignment with Trump’s broader crypto-focused agenda [1]. The Winklevosses, who initially supported Quintenz’s nomination in February, later advised Trump that the nominee was not the right choice for the administration’s objectives [2].

The White House has reaffirmed that Quintenz remains Trump’s nominee and expressed anticipation for his “swift confirmation.” However, the Senate Agriculture Committee canceled a scheduled hearing at the White House’s request, delaying the nomination process [3]. While some speculated that the delay could be due to potential conflicts of interest—particularly Quintenz’s previous role on the board of Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated prediction market—the Winklevosses reportedly raised additional concerns. A source indicated that the twins told Trump that Quintenz’s June testimony, in which he supported a larger CFTC budget, appeared inconsistent with the administration’s emphasis on fiscal efficiency and cost-cutting [4].

This pushback from the Winklevosses highlights the increasing influence of crypto industry leaders in shaping U.S. financial regulation. Their actions reflect a broader industry push to ensure that regulatory bodies adopt a pro-innovation stance toward digital assets. Despite Trump’s public support for crypto advancement, the Winklevosses have taken a more active role in selecting individuals they believe can champion the industry’s interests within the government [5].

The development coincides with the release of a White House report outlining a framework for federal crypto regulation. However, the report offered limited detail on key proposals such as the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve or U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, drawing criticism from analysts who argue that the administration has not clearly outlined how it plans to expand digital asset holdings in a budget-neutral manner [6].

Meanwhile, the crypto industry is facing heightened scrutiny over compliance and anti-money laundering (AML) measures. The ongoing trial of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm and the guilty pleas of Samourai Wallet co-founders highlight the administration’s willingness to pursue legal action against platforms linked to illicit finance. The White House report also called on Congress to address gaps in AML rules and to consider creating a new category of financial institutions specifically for digital assets [7].

The Winklevosses’ behind-the-scenes lobbying underscores the evolving relationship between crypto entrepreneurs, regulatory agencies, and the Trump administration. While their efforts aim to promote a pro-innovation regulatory environment, they also raise questions about the influence of private industry in shaping public policy. For now, the fate of Brian Quintenz’s nomination remains uncertain, though the White House continues to assert that he remains the president’s preferred choice for CFTC chair [7].

Source:

[1] Cryptonews - [https://cryptonews.com/news/brian-quintenz-faces-winklevoss-pushback-cftc-nomination/](https://cryptonews.com/news/brian-quintenz-faces-winklevoss-pushback-cftc-nomination/)

[2] Ground - [https://ground.news/article/tyler-and-cameron-winklevoss-asked-trump-to-drop-brian-quintenz-as-cftc-nominee](https://ground.news/article/tyler-and-cameron-winklevoss-asked-trump-to-drop-brian-quintenz-as-cftc-nominee)

[3] Politico - [https://www.politico.com/newsletters/inside-congress/2025/07/31/dems-grapple-with-trump-resistance-dilemma-00486325](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/inside-congress/2025/07/31/dems-grapple-with-trump-resistance-dilemma-00486325)

[4] BeInCrypto - [https://beincrypto.com/brian-quintenz-cftc-chair-winklevoss-lobbying-allegations/](https://beincrypto.com/brian-quintenz-cftc-chair-winklevoss-lobbying-allegations/)

[5] CoinGeek - [https://coingeek.com/white-house-report-fails-to-add-flesh-to-btc-reserve-bones/](https://coingeek.com/white-house-report-fails-to-add-flesh-to-btc-reserve-bones/)

[6] New York Post - [https://nypost.com/2025/07/31/](https://nypost.com/2025/07/31/)

[7] MSN - [https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/white-house-seeks-swift-confirmation-of-brian-quintenz-for-cftc/ar-AA1JCn3D?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/white-house-seeks-swift-confirmation-of-brian-quintenz-for-cftc/ar-AA1JCn3D?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds)