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Michael Selig secured US Senate confirmation on Dec. 18 and will soon assume office as the 15th chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The vote ends nearly a year of interim leadership at the agency.
His confirmation restores a Senate-backed chair during a period of regulatory transition. The CFTC has continued operations but delayed major policy direction while awaiting permanent leadership. Selig will replace Caroline Pham, who served as acting chair for much of 2025. For several months, Pham was also the only Senate-confirmed commissioner at the agency.
The leadership change arrives as Congress debates legislation that could expand the CFTC’s authority over spot crypto commodity markets. Could the timing reshape how digital asset markets operate in the United States?
Selig brings prior experience inside the CFTC. He began his regulatory career in 2014 as a law clerk to then-Commissioner Christopher Giancarlo, who later led the agency. After leaving the commission, Selig entered private practice. He advised trading firms, exchanges, and digital asset companies on compliance with U.S. securities and commodities laws.
Earlier this year, Selig returned to government service. He joined the Securities and Exchange Commission as chief counsel to its Crypto Task Force. In that role, he served as a senior advisor to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins. The position placed him at the center of inter-agency discussions on digital asset supervision.
During his confirmation hearing, Selig outlined a targeted enforcement strategy. He warned that pursuing minor technical violations can drain resources and push firms to operate offshore.
He stated that enforcement should focus on conduct that causes real harm. He described the CFTC’s role as remaining “a cop on the beat” against fraud and manipulation.
This approach aligns with enforcement priorities adopted under Pham. During her tenure, the agency narrowed its focus toward complex fraud and retail harm cases. The CFTC also revised investigation procedures over the past year. Those changes provided firms with more transparency and additional time during enforcement processes.
On digital assets, Selig is expected to continue efforts to bring activity into regulated US markets. The CFTC has already launched pilot programs covering tokenized collateral.
The agency has also moved forward with listing spot crypto products on regulated exchanges. These initiatives signal an effort to integrate crypto activity within existing market frameworks.
Selig has supported clearer market structure rules. He has also backed stronger coordination with the SEC, the Treasury Department, and banking regulators. His confirmation coincides with congressional debate over bills that could grant the CFTC primary oversight of spot crypto commodity markets. Such legislation would expand the agency’s role at a critical stage in crypto regulation.
With limited transition time and an active policy agenda, Selig’s early actions will draw close attention across financial markets.
Also Read: US Senate Confirms Michael Selig as New CFTC Chairman Amid Crypto Debate
Michael Selig’s Senate confirmation restores permanent leadership at the CFTC after a long interim period. His background in regulation and crypto policy signals continuity in enforcement priorities and a push to bring digital asset activity onshore. The agency now faces a potential expansion of its role as Congress weighs new crypto oversight powers.
