CFTC appoints Amir Zaidi as chief of staff amid crypto regulatory shift

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has appointed Amir Zaidi as its new chief of staff, a leadership move that places a familiar figure back at the center of the agency as it reassesses how its regulatory framework applies to modern derivatives and digital asset markets.

The appointment was announced by CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig, marking one of the first senior staffing decisions under his leadership.

Zaidi is no stranger to the Commission. He previously served in several senior roles at the CFTC, including as director of the Division of Market Oversight, where he was responsible for supervising futures, options, and swaps markets. During that period, the agency oversaw the launch of the first CFTC-regulated bitcoin futures contracts, a development that helped bring digital assets into the scope of federally regulated derivatives markets.

In announcing the appointment, Chairman Selig highlighted Zaidi’s long-standing experience inside the agency and his familiarity with periods of rapid market change. He pointed to Zaidi’s role in guiding the Commission through complex regulatory initiatives and said that experience would be especially valuable as derivatives markets continue to evolve.

Zaid said, “I am excited to return to the CFTC and thank Chairman Selig for appointing me to this important role. Under Chairman Selig’s leadership, I look forward to providing a steady hand at the Commission during this important time. I am committed to ensuring that the Chairman’s pro-innovation agenda is successfully implemented during this period of rapid transformation in the derivatives markets.”

The timing of the appointment is notable. The CFTC is currently reassessing how older regulatory interpretations apply to today’s digital asset markets. In December, the Commission formally withdrew its 2020 interpretive guidance on certain retail commodity transactions involving digital assets, concluding that the guidance no longer reflected how these markets function in practice. The agency cited changes in trading models, technology, and market participation as reasons for stepping back from the earlier interpretation.

That decision signaled a willingness by the Commission to revisit assumptions that shaped its early approach to digital assets. Rather than relying on guidance developed during an earlier stage of market development, the CFTC indicated that a more updated regulatory perspective is needed to reflect current conditions.

Zaidi’s appointment fits into that broader recalibration. As chief of staff, he will play a central role in coordinating policy direction across the Commission, advising the Chairman on strategic priorities, and helping translate regulatory goals into day-to-day execution. While the role is largely internal, it carries significant influence over how the agency responds to market developments and regulatory pressures.

The CFTC has increasingly found itself at the center of conversations around digital asset oversight, particularly as crypto-linked derivatives continue to grow and intersect with traditional financial infrastructure. Even as lawmakers debate longer-term legislative frameworks, the Commission has emphasized its existing mandate to oversee derivatives markets and maintain market integrity, transparency, and customer protections.

At the same time, agency leadership has repeatedly stressed the importance of regulation that does not unnecessarily impede innovation. Balancing those objectives, protecting markets while allowing new technologies to develop, has become one of the defining challenges for financial regulators.

Chairman Selig, who was sworn in earlier this month, has framed his leadership around reinforcing the CFTC’s core mission while ensuring its regulatory tools remain effective in modern markets. Bringing back a senior official with direct experience overseeing previous market transitions suggests an emphasis on continuity as well as adaptability.

Leadership changes at regulatory agencies often unfold quietly, but they can shape how policy is implemented and how markets are supervised over time. With Amir Zaidi returning to the CFTC in a senior leadership role, the Commission is signaling that institutional experience will play a key role as it navigates the next phase of derivatives and digital asset regulation.