On January 8, 2025, Rostin Behnam announced his resignation as Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), effective January 20, coinciding with President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. Behnam will officially leave the Commission on February 7.
This departure marks a significant shift in the regulatory landscape, as Behnam, a key figure in advocating for stricter oversight of cryptocurrency markets, steps down amid a wave of resignations from crypto-skeptic regulators. His tenure included efforts to position the CFTC as the primary regulator for Bitcoin and to establish more robust regulations for cryptocurrency exchange-traded products.
With Behnam's resignation, speculation arises regarding his replacement, with potential candidates including current Republican Commissioners Summer Mersinger or Caroline Pham.