Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, founders of crypto exchange Gemini and prominent supporters of Donald Trump, have derailed the nomination of Brian Quintenz as the next chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Their direct call to Trump just one day before the scheduled Senate vote halted the confirmation process entirely.

A Phone Call That Changed Everything

According to Politico, the twins told Trump bluntly that Quintenz was not the right fit to lead the CFTC — the agency responsible for overseeing much of the U.S. crypto market. They warned that he lacked the resolve to drive the reforms they believe are necessary and that he was too tied to the old regulatory approach.

One major point of contention was Quintenz’s support for expanding the agency’s budget to increase crypto oversight. The Winklevoss twins argued this would lead to more bureaucracy instead of meaningful progress.

Senate Vote Frozen, White House in Limbo

The pushback was strong enough that the Senate Agriculture Committee paused the vote, reportedly at the request of the White House. Though the administration has not officially withdrawn the nomination, sources say an internal battle is underway.

“Brian Quintenz remains President Trump’s nominee for CFTC Chair,” said White House spokesperson Liz Huston in a statement. She added that he is expected to help fulfill Trump’s mission of making America the global capital of crypto innovation.

From Endorsement to Rejection: What Changed?

Strikingly, the Winklevoss twins had previously praised Quintenz’s nomination. Earlier this year, Cameron called him “exactly the kind of leader CFTC needs,” while Tyler described him as “a great choice for crypto and for America.”

But everything changed after Gemini settled a $5 million case with the CFTC over allegedly misleading information tied to one of its products. The company later accused some CFTC lawyers of using the case to “build their careers by scoring a headline-making win against Gemini.”

That episode appears to have shaken the twins’ trust in the agency’s leadership — and by extension, in Quintenz himself.

The Fight for Crypto Market Control

Quintenz, who previously served as a CFTC commissioner and later worked on crypto policy at Andreessen Horowitz, had built solid backing from both traditional finance and the crypto world. But now, his establishment ties are being seen as a liability.

Historically, the CFTC regulated commodities like corn and oil. But under Trump’s new vision, it would be granted direct authority over major crypto tokens like bitcoin and ether. That makes the role of CFTC chair a pivotal position in shaping U.S. crypto regulation.

The Winklevoss twins don’t want a caretaker — they want a reformer who will clean house.

What’s Next?

Though Quintenz’s nomination remains technically active, it’s effectively frozen following the Winklevoss intervention. The big question now is whether Trump will stand his ground — or yield to pressure from some of his most influential crypto backers.

This is no longer just about one man — it’s about who gets to define the future of crypto policy in America.

#TRUMP , #USPolitics , #crypto , #Regulation , #DigitalAssets

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