Outgoing Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero has voiced deep concern over the agency’s rapidly dwindling leadership, warning that a thinning pool of commissioners threatens the effectiveness and balance of future crypto regulations.
Speaking during a fireside chat at the Brookings Institution, Goldsmith Romero described the mass departure of top CFTC officials as “not a great situation” — particularly as the agency continues to grapple with the evolving digital asset space. With her own resignation effective May 31 and several other commissioners exiting soon, the CFTC could temporarily be led by just one person.
“If you have one person determining what the rules should be, you lose the benefit of this back-and-forth, this push-and-pull of perspectives,”
she said.
“It does a disservice to regulation.”
The commissioner’s remarks come amid an unprecedented turnover. Republican Commissioner Summer Mersinger is stepping down on May 30 to take over as CEO of the Blockchain Association, a crypto industry lobbying group. Democrat Commissioner Kristin Johnson has also announced plans to depart before 2026. Meanwhile, Acting Chair Caroline Pham has said she may move to the private sector if former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz is confirmed to head the agency — a nomination currently under consideration.
If these departures proceed as expected, Quintenz could be left as the CFTC’s sole commissioner — a troubling prospect for a five-member body designed to represent bipartisan interests, with no more than three members from the same party.
Goldsmith Romero emphasized the importance of diversity in opinion among commissioners, particularly as Congress considers expanding the CFTC’s authority over crypto markets.
During her tenure, Goldsmith Romero often championed investor protection and pushed for basic regulatory standards for crypto exchanges — such as mandatory registration, customer fund segregation, and clearer retail protections. Drawing from her experience at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), she advocated for a framework where crypto investors understand both their rights and risks.
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