The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has appointed Amir Zaidi as chief of staff, with Chair Michael Selig announcing the move as the agency takes on a larger role in digital asset oversight. Zaidi is returning to the regulator after previously helping oversee the launch of Bitcoin futures in the United States.
Zaidi previously worked on the first federally regulated Bitcoin futures product
Agency records show Zaidi served at the CFTC from 2010 to 2019. During that period, he took part in the rollout of Bitcoin futures, described in the report as the first federally regulated cryptocurrency product in the U.S. He also led the Division of Market Oversight, where he supervised contract certification and deployment.
In a statement, Michael Selig pointed to Zaidi’s background and his role in launching Bitcoin futures contracts, describing him as instrumental in that effort. Before rejoining the CFTC, Zaidi worked as global head of compliance at a major broker-dealer, according to his professional background.
Appointment comes as Congress considers a broader CFTC role in crypto
The personnel change lands at a time when digital asset market-structure legislation is moving through Congress. Proposals under consideration would give the CFTC added authority over cryptocurrency markets and derivatives, potentially widening the agency’s responsibilities across crypto products and trading venues.
According to the announcement, Zaidi said he would focus on encouraging innovation while maintaining regulatory oversight during what he called a period of market transformation. The report also notes that digital asset products have seen wider mainstream adoption in recent years, while industry participants continue to call for clearer rules as crypto becomes more connected with traditional financial markets.