Amir Zaidi, architect of US Bitcoin futures, returns to CFTC as chief of staff
Amir Zaidi, the policy official who helped architect regulated Bitcoin futures in the US, has returned to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission as chief of staff after a six-year absence. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig announced Zaidi’s appointment, noting his prior role (2010–2019) including two years as director of the Division of Market Oversight when CFTC-regulated bitcoin futures launched on the CBOE in 2017. Zaidi most recently served as head of global compliance at TP ICAP. His return comes as Congress prepares to send digital-asset market-structure legislation to the president and as US regulators — including a crypto-friendly CFTC under Selig and a more accommodating SEC under Paul Atkins — signal greater regulatory clarity for crypto markets. The appointment is viewed as bolstering the CFTC’s expertise ahead of new rules for digital assets and may influence market structure, oversight, and institutional product approvals.
Bullish
Zaidi’s return is likely to be perceived positively by markets because he was instrumental in establishing regulated Bitcoin futures in 2017 and brings deep market oversight experience. His appointment signals that the CFTC will have seasoned leadership while Congress advances digital-asset market-structure legislation, increasing the probability of clearer, tradeable regulatory frameworks and faster approval or integration of regulated products. Historically, appointments of experienced, crypto-aware regulators (and subsequent regulatory clarity) have supported asset inflows and product launches — for example, regulated futures launches in 2017 and later ETF approvals correlated with higher institutional participation and price support. Short-term impact: modest positive sentiment and reduced headline uncertainty, which can lift risk appetite for crypto assets and related derivatives. Volatility may remain around legislative milestones and rule drafts. Long-term impact: stronger institutional adoption and deeper derivatives markets if the CFTC crafts predictable, fit-for-purpose rules, which is bullish for liquidity and price discovery. Risks remain — regulatory disagreements between agencies or restrictive rule details could temper gains — but overall the appointment tilts toward constructive regulatory outcomes.