Catenaa, Tuesday, December 23, 2025- Michael S. Selig was sworn in Monday as the 16th chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), taking office as lawmakers advance digital asset legislation and retail participation in derivatives markets reaches record levels.
Selig was nominated by President Donald Trump in October and confirmed by the US Senate on December 18.
He assumes leadership of the CFTC as emerging technologies, new trading platforms and crypto-linked products expand the agency’s regulatory scope.
The CFTC said Selig brings experience across agriculture, energy, financial and digital asset markets that fall under its oversight. Before his appointment, Selig served as chief counsel to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force and as senior adviser to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins.
In that role, Selig worked on developing a regulatory framework for digital asset securities, aligning oversight between the SEC and CFTC, and updating agency rules to address new technologies.
He also participated in the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, contributing to a report focused on strengthening US leadership in digital financial technology.
Earlier in his career, Selig was a partner at an international law firm, advising clients on derivatives and securities regulation.
His practice included representing futures commission merchants, swap dealers, trading advisers, exchanges, clearing organizations and digital asset firms on compliance, registration and enforcement matters.
The CFTC said Selig’s appointment comes as Congress moves closer to passing legislation that would define market structure for digital assets, potentially expanding the agency’s role in crypto oversight.
Selig earned his law degree from George Washington University Law School and his undergraduate degree from Florida State University.
