CFTC’s New Maestro: Selig Steps into Pham’s Crypto Ballet 🎩✨

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Ah, the grand theater of finance! Michael Selig, the erstwhile whisperer of the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, now ascends to the throne of the 16th CFTC chair, as the divine Caroline Pham pirouettes offstage to MoonPay. 🌙💃 What a spectacle! Selig inherits not merely a role, but a menagerie of crypto pilots and the looming shadow of DA legislation-a true feast for the regulatory connoisseur.

  • Selig, a man of such impeccable pedigree-former SEC Crypto Task Force sage and PWG confidant-is anointed just as Congress sharpens its quills for digital asset market structure legislation. 🖋️📜
  • Pham’s reign, a veritable carnival of innovation, bestowed upon us crypto pilots, expanded spot trading, and automated surveillance-all before she sashayed into the arms of MoonPay. 🎪🚀
  • Selig, ever the pragmatist, vows to maintain the derivatives markets’ equilibrium while taming new tech, L2 platforms, and the unruly retail masses. 🦁🎭 The CFTC, under his baton, shall be the prima ballerina of U.S. crypto policy.

On a Sunday, no less-a day typically reserved for repose-Selig was sworn in as the 16th chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 🌟✨ Acting chair Caroline Pham, after a four-year odyssey, relinquished her scepter, leaving behind a legacy of regulatory bravado.

Selig Takes the CFTC Reins: A New Act Begins

Confirmed by the Senate on December 18, Selig’s résumé reads like a who’s who of financial aristocracy: chief counsel of the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, senior advisor to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins. His coronation comes at a juncture of technological metamorphosis and congressional intrigue. 🦋📜

.@CFTC Michael Selig Sworn In as 16th CFTC Chairman:

– CFTC (@CFTC) December 22, 2025

Pham’s tenure was a symphony of regulatory initiatives. The Crypto Sprint, launched in January, birthed spot crypto trading on CFTC-registered exchanges and a pilot program where Bitcoin, Ether, and USDC danced as collateral. 🎶💰

“To lead the CFTC during such a historic moment has been the honor of a lifetime,” Pham declared, her farewell dripping with gravitas. “I tip my hat to the CFTC’s indefatigable staff for their Herculean efforts in restoring order and basics.” 🏛️🎩

Under her watch, the agency unveiled its first automated market surveillance system, a marvel that slashed costs by $50 million annually. Regulatory relief measures unlocked billions, and pilot programs breathed life into energy market liquidity. 🕵️‍♂️💼

Pham’s no-action relief to prediction market darlings-Polymarket US, LedgerX, PredictIt, and Gemini Titan-was a masterstroke, demanding transparency and collateralization while easing the regulatory noose. 🎯🔍

“A new chapter dawns for the CFTC,” Selig proclaimed, his voice resonating with purpose. “Novel technologies, retail fervor, and congressional whims converge-a trifecta of opportunity. The CFTC shall be the beacon of U.S. crypto policy.” 📚🚀

Selig’s private sector sojourn includes a partnership at an international law firm, where he championed derivatives and securities matters, representing a coterie of financial luminaries. 🏢⚖️

At the SEC, he crafted regulatory frameworks for digital asset securities and harmonized oversight between the SEC and CFTC. His quill also graced the President’s Working Group report on digital financial technology. 📜✍️

“Under my aegis, the CFTC shall conquer these frontiers, ensuring tomorrow’s innovations bear the stamp ‘Made in America,’” Selig declared, his vision as grand as it is audacious. “Stability and security shall be our watchwords.” 🌟🇺🇸

Pham, ever the wanderer, joins MoonPay as chief legal officer and chief administrative officer, steering its stablecoin odyssey. Her departure follows a trend of CFTC alumni embracing the crypto cosmos. 🌙🚀

“Selig’s arrival is a triumph,” Pham enthused. “His pragmatism and wit shall ensure the CFTC strikes the perfect balance between innovation and integrity.” 🎭⚖️

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2025-12-23 13:58