CFTC chair Rostin Behnam to resign on Trump’s inauguration day

Rostin Behnam, chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, will resign on January 20, the same day as Donald Trump’s inauguration as America’s 47th President.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission chair Rostin Behnam has announced his resignation from the regulatory watchdog, just two weeks before President Donald Trump is set to be sworn in.

During his tenure, the CFTC pushed for comprehensive digital asset policies aimed at supporting industry growth. The agency also classified cryptocurrency leaders Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) commodities, while the Securities and Exchange Commission under outgoing chair Gary Gensler refrained from clarifying Ether’s regulatory status.

Behnam has repeatedly warned about regulatory gaps in digital assets and Bitcoin, calling for greater oversight of political betting contracts and platforms. His concerns remain a key focus as he prepares to step down.

Behnam previously steered the CFTC during court clashes with platforms like Kalshi, a regulated prediction market open to U.S. users.

Rostin Behnam’s exit constitutes a proverbial “mixed bag”

Despite his opposition to Kalshi and political betting markets, citing concerns about potential manipulation, Behnam’s exit from the CFTC may generate mixed reactions within the crypto community.

Some of his decisions as CFTC chair became rallying points for crypto advocates, who viewed him as more open to the industry compared to other regulators. In contrast, figures like SEC Chair Gary Gensler and Federal Reserve board member Michael Barr were regarded as textbook enemies of crypto.

Digital asset leaders have agreed with Behnam’s view that blockchain operations need clearer regulations to encourage innovation and business growth in the U.S.

Behnam also argued that the CFTC was well-equipped to oversee digital asset markets, despite its smaller budget compared to the SEC. A bipartisan bill, known as FIT21, proposed sharing crypto regulatory responsibilities between the CFTC and SEC. Under the bill’s terms, the CFTC would be the primary regulator for crypto exchanges and brokers.