Chris Giancarlo, the former chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said he is leaving law to focus full time on advising cryptocurrency and fintech companies. Posting on X, Giancarlo — often called “Crypto Dad” for his early support of the sector — said he will depart law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher and retire from legal practice to advise founders, CEOs and boards of digital-asset firms, pursue public-policy research and writing, and continue nonprofit work.
Giancarlo was sworn in as a CFTC commissioner in 2014, later nominated by President Donald Trump and serving as chair from August 2017 to July 2018. During his tenure he oversaw the approval of the first U.S. Bitcoin futures markets and pushed for clearer regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies.
After leaving the agency, Giancarlo has remained active in public discussions about regulation and has provided strategic advice to industry players, including crypto bank Sygnum on global regulatory approaches and partnerships. In a March appearance on Scott Melker’s The Wolf of All Streets podcast, he downplayed concerns that stalled congressional bills such as the CLARITY Act would halt industry progress, saying the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission can still craft rules that bring clarity. He also warned that ongoing uncertainty may discourage banks from deeper engagement and emphasized the importance of U.S. financial institutions adopting modern technology.
Giancarlo’s move follows a broader pattern of former CFTC officials joining the crypto sector. In December, ex-acting CFTC chair Caroline Pham left the agency to become chief legal officer at payments firm MoonPay.
This report aims to summarize public statements and career developments. It follows Cointelegraph’s editorial approach of transparent, accurate reporting; readers are encouraged to verify details independently.