CFTC Taps Crypto Leaders for Global Advisory Panels

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has appointed leading crypto executives to its Global Markets Advisory Committee (GMAC) and Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee (DAMS), further integrating industry expertise into digital asset policymaking.

New members include Katherine Minarik of Uniswap Labs, Avery Ching of Aptos Labs, James J. Hill of BNY, and Ben Sherwin of Chainlink Labs. JPMorgan’s Scott Lucas was named co-chair of DAMS alongside Franklin Templeton’s Sandy Kaul, replacing Caroline Butler. Both highlighted the importance of clear frameworks and consumer protections for digital markets.

DAMS was established to advise on blockchain, tokenization, and decentralized finance. The appointments come under Acting CFTC Chair Caroline D. Pham, who launched a “Crypto Sprint” earlier this year to advance regulatory recommendations from the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets.

The developments align with Wall Street’s growing interest in tokenization, with BNY Mellon and Goldman Sachs partnering to tokenize money-market funds, while JPMorgan explores blockchain-based lending and settlement.

Legislative progress is also advancing. President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act, while the House has passed bills on crypto market structure and banning a CBDC, now pending Senate review.

A revised Responsible Financial Innovation Act of 2025 aims to clarify the SEC-CFTC divide, proposing a Joint Advisory Committee on Digital Assets and protections for DeFi developers. It also redefines airdrops, staking rewards, and DePIN tokens as “gratuitous distributions,” not securities.

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CFTC, Crypto Adoption