Crypto bank Sygnum appoints former CFTC Chair Christopher Giancarlo to advisory council

Former U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Christopher Giancarlo has joined Swiss crypto bank Sygnum as a senior policy advisor.

Giancarlo, who led the CFTC from 2017 to 2019, will be advising Sygnum on global regulatory developments and strategic partnerships, the company said in a May 27 announcement.

His appointment comes as institutional interest in digital assets continues to rise, with growing regulatory clarity in key markets. 

Giancarlo will join Sygnum’s Advisory Council, a 12-member body that seats other industry leaders such as BlackRock Vice Chair Philipp Hildebrand and MIT’s Alexander Lipton.

Sygnum, based in Switzerland and Singapore, is one of the world’s first regulated digital asset banks. It achieved unicorn status earlier this year after raising $58 million in a funding round and continues to expand its institutional services across major global markets.

At Sygnum, Giancarlo will contribute his regulatory experience and international policy insights to support the firm’s expansion and engagement with both public and private sector stakeholders. 

He is expected to play a key role in shaping the bank’s approach to strategic growth initiatives, including M&A and cross-border collaboration, according to Sygnum Co-Founder and Group CEO Mathias Imbach.

“His deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, financial market infrastructure, and public policy, as well as his extensive network, particularly in the US, will be invaluable as we continue our growth journey,” Imbach said.

During his tenure at the CFTC, Giancarlo oversaw the approval of the first U.S. Bitcoin futures contracts and gained a reputation for supporting innovation in financial markets. He earned the nickname “crypto dad” for his pro-crypto stance and his advocacy for balanced regulation during congressional testimony.

Following his time in public office, Giancarlo has remained active in the digital asset space. He has previously joined the board of directors at Paxos, a regulated stablecoin issuer, and served as an advisor to investment firm CoinFund and crypto lender BlockFi.

He also consulted for fintech firm Digital Asset, focusing on tokenization and distributed ledger technologies.

The former CFTC chair was also a vocal participant during the White House Digital Asset Summit, held earlier this year, and was also a potential contender for President Donald Trump’s Crypto Czar role.