Michael Selig was sworn in on Monday as the sixteenth chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, taking the helm of the U.S. derivatives watchdog at a moment of expanding retail participation, accelerating financial innovation and pending digital asset legislation.
Selig was nominated by President Donald Trump in late October and confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week, according to the agency.
His appointment places a regulator with direct experience in digital asset policy at the center of U.S. oversight of futures, swaps and commodity-linked markets.
What Happened
In his first remarks as chairman, Selig described the current period as one of structural change for commodity and derivatives markets, citing the emergence of new technologies, platforms and products alongside rising retail activity.
He pointed to forthcoming digital asset market structure legislation as a key factor shaping the commission’s near-term agenda, positioning the CFTC as a central regulator in an evolving crypto and derivatives landscape.
Selig arrives at the CFTC with a background that bridges financial regulation and digital assets.
Most recently, he served as chief counsel to the crypto task force at the Securities and Exchange Commission and as a senior adviser to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins.
Also Read: Bitcoin’s Year-End Test: What AI Forecasts Say About A Santa Rally In that role, he was involved in efforts to develop a clearer regulatory framework for digital asset securities, reduce reliance on enforcement-driven oversight, and align regulatory approaches between the SEC and the CFTC.
He also contributed to the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, which examined ways to strengthen U.S. leadership in financial technology and digital finance.
That work placed Selig at the center of interagency discussions on how crypto markets should be supervised across regulatory boundaries.
Why It Matters
Before entering government, Selig was a partner at an international law firm, where he advised clients across derivatives and securities markets.
His practice included work with futures commission merchants, swap dealers, exchanges, clearinghouses and digital asset firms subject to CFTC oversight.
He regularly counseled clients on compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act, registration requirements, enforcement matters and complex derivatives transactions.
The appointment signals continuity with recent moves by U.S. regulators to clarify oversight of crypto-linked derivatives and related markets, even as Congress debates broader digital asset legislation.
As chairman, Selig will oversee the CFTC’s role in maintaining market integrity and financial stability while adapting regulatory frameworks to accommodate emerging technologies.
Read Next: Is Crypto Becoming Too Big For JPMorgan To Ignore?