If you follow U.S. crypto regulation closely, this is one of those moments you don’t want to scroll past.
The Senate has officially confirmed Mike Selig as chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Travis Hill as chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The vote passed 53–43 on Thursday, bundled inside a larger package of nearly 100 Trump administration nominees.
Why does this matter? Because these two agencies sit right at the center of crypto’s future in the U.S.
Let’s start with Selig.
LATEST: 🇺🇸 The US Senate approved Mike Selig as chair of the CFTC and Travis Hill as chair of the FDIC on Thursday, both of whom are expected to advance pro-crypto policies during their tenures. pic.twitter.com/qpDvSyMJ3U
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) December 19, 2025
He’s not new to the regulatory maze. Selig has worked at both the CFTC and the SEC, which means he understands how turf wars, rulemaking, and enforcement actually work in Washington. When he was nominated in October, he made one thing clear: crypto regulation would be a priority.
He replaces earlier nominee Brian Quintenz and will serve as CFTC chair through April 2029.
That timing is important.
A bipartisan Senate bill introduced in November could dramatically expand the CFTC’s authority over crypto markets. If it passes, the CFTC would become the primary regulator for much of the digital asset space. In other words, Selig could end up shaping how crypto is supervised in the U.S. for years.
Now to the FDIC.
Travis Hill, who has been serving as acting chair, is officially stepping into the role through 2030. Hill has been vocal about one issue that has frustrated the crypto industry for years: debanking. At multiple congressional hearings, he criticized what he sees as unfair treatment of companies with crypto ties.
His confirmation follows the resignation of Martin Gruenberg, the previous Senate-confirmed FDIC chair, who stepped down in January during the transition from the Biden administration.
The FDIC’s role in crypto often flies under the radar, but it shouldn’t. The agency will help oversee stablecoin issuers and has real influence over whether banks feel comfortable offering services to crypto firms. Leadership matters here.
There’s another wrinkle. Selig will take over a CFTC that currently has just one commissioner. A wave of resignations earlier this year emptied the normally five-member commission. Acting chair Caroline Pham is expected to depart now that Selig is confirmed and will join crypto infrastructure firm MoonPay.
The industry reaction has been telling.
Coinbase’s chief policy officer, Faryar Shirzad, praised Selig’s mix of crypto knowledge and federal regulatory experience, saying it could bring clarity and fairness to U.S. markets. Cody Carbone, CEO of the Digital Chamber, called the confirmation an exciting step forward, pointing to Selig’s history with complex digital asset issues.
Put it all together, and the signal is clear.
With crypto-friendly leadership now in place at both the CFTC and FDIC, Washington appears to be shifting its tone. This doesn’t mean lighter rules. But it does suggest more defined rules, and in crypto, clarity is often more valuable than leniency.
