Bitcoin futures key driver returns! CFTC appoints Amir as Chief of Staff, becoming a policy hub

CFTC new chairman immediately recalls key Bitcoin futures advocate Amir Zaidi, indicating that US crypto regulation expansion is imminent, with institutionalization accelerating, and pointing toward congressional legislative processes.

Key figure behind Bitcoin futures returns, CFTC leadership first to set the tone

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced its first wave of important personnel appointments under new Chairman Michael Selig. Amir Zaidi, a senior official who led the development of regulated Bitcoin futures in the U.S., has confirmed his return as Chief of Staff.

CFTC announced this appointment on Tuesday (12/31). Selig emphasized in a statement that Zaidi’s extensive experience within the commission was a key factor in this decision.

Image source: CFTC Amir Zaidi, a senior official who led the birth of regulated Bitcoin futures in the U.S., confirmed to return as CFTC Chief of Staff.

This personnel arrangement comes at a time when the U.S. Congress is actively pushing forward the “Digital Asset Market Structure Act,” with multiple draft bills proposing to grant CFTC greater oversight authority over the crypto markets. It is widely believed that Selig’s decision to bring back a familiar veteran in crypto derivatives early in his term signals that CFTC is laying the groundwork for its upcoming regulatory role.

From Bitcoin futures in 2017 to the core of market regulation, Zaidi’s historical role

Zaidi is not new to the core power of CFTC. He served at CFTC from 2010 to 2019, holding multiple senior positions, and in the later part of his tenure, he was Director of the Division of Market Oversight, responsible for supervising futures, options, and swap markets.

Most notably, during 2017, he led policies that facilitated the launch of the first federally regulated Bitcoin futures contracts in the U.S., marking a significant milestone for crypto assets to enter the mainstream derivatives system.

At that time, Bitcoin was still highly controversial, with regulatory attitudes leaning conservative. The launch of Bitcoin futures on compliant exchanges like CBOE was seen as a symbol of “institutional recognition,” and set regulatory precedents for subsequent crypto financial products. Selig specifically highlighted Zaidi’s role in this historic moment in his announcement, calling him the “key driver behind the historic launch of Bitcoin futures.”

Regulatory authority set to expand, Chief of Staff becomes policy hub

This return as Chief of Staff means Zaidi will not only handle a single business area but will become the central figure for coordination and policy planning within CFTC. The role involves cross-departmental coordination, setting policy pace, and supporting chairman decisions, which is especially critical as the agency approaches a period of regulatory expansion.

Currently, multiple bills under review in Congress aim to clarify CFTC’s statutory authority over certain spot crypto markets, digital asset derivatives, and trading platforms. Selig posted on X** stating**** that as relevant legislation matures, the commission needs an “immediate combat-ready” leadership team to respond to the rapidly evolving derivatives and digital asset markets.**

Image source: X/@MichaelSelig CFTC new Chairman Michael Selig posts welcoming Amir Zaidi back

Zaidi also stated in his announcement that he will provide a “steady hand” during this period of rapid market transformation and ensure that the pro-innovation regulatory approach promoted by the chairman is implemented in actual policies and administrative operations.

Crypto regulation climate shifts, US policy landscape reshuffles

Zaidi’s return to CFTC coincides with a broader shift in the US crypto regulatory atmosphere. Selig has publicly expressed support for the current administration’s policy to “strengthen the US as a global hub for crypto and financial innovation.” Meanwhile, under new SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the SEC has also noticeably softened its stance against the crypto industry, approving multiple crypto ETFs and gradually resolving some legal disputes.

Against this backdrop, CFTC is seen as a key player in the future digital asset regulatory framework. Zaidi’s re-emergence symbolizes that regulators are choosing individuals who are “familiar with the market and understand the historical context of crypto finance” to face the next phase of institutionalization. As US digital asset regulation gradually takes shape, the return of this Bitcoin futures behind-the-scenes advocate may once again influence the boundaries between crypto markets and traditional finance.