[WASHINGTON] – Amir Zaidi, the veteran policymaker instrumental in establishing the regulatory framework for U.S. Bitcoin futures, has officially returned to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as Chief of Staff following a six-year tenure in the private sector.
This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for U.S. digital asset regulation. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig praised Zaidi’s return, emphasizing that his deep expertise will bring immense value to the commission as Congress prepares to submit landmark digital asset market structure legislation to the President.
A Regulatory Veteran Returns
Zaidi is no stranger to the CFTC, having served the agency from 2010 to 2019. During his final two years, he served as the Director of the Division of Market Oversight.
During that tenure, his most notable achievement was overseeing and driving the regulatory policy for the Bitcoin futures market. Under his guidance, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) successfully launched regulated Bitcoin futures products in late 2017—a move widely regarded as a critical step in bringing cryptocurrency assets into mainstream financial markets.
Prior to his return to the CFTC, Zaidi served as the Global Head of Compliance and Governance at TP ICAP, a world-leading interdealer broker. His experience at a financial giant has provided him with a unique perspective on regulatory compliance from the viewpoint of market participants.
Navigating a Rapidly Evolving Market
In a statement, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig noted that facing a rapidly evolving commodities market and an increasingly complex fintech landscape requires a regulator with forward-looking vision.
"With Congress poised to deliver digital asset market structure legislation to the President's desk, Zaidi's experience will be instrumental in crafting regulations that fit these fast-developing commodity markets," Selig stated.
Industry insiders view Zaidi's return as a signal that the CFTC is strengthening its capabilities in regulating both cryptocurrency derivatives and spot markets, suggesting a more rigorous and practical regulatory framework for digital assets in the near future.
