Catenaa, Sunday, March 23, 2025-Venture capital firm a16z Crypto has appointed Miles Jennings as its new head of policy, replacing Brian Quintenz, who is set to leave the role as he awaits Senate confirmation to become the next US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chair.
Chris Dixon, a founding general partner at a16z Crypto, announced the move Tuesday, highlighting Jennings’ contributions since 2021 in shaping the firm’s policy positions.
Jennings, who has served as a16z Crypto’s general counsel for over three years, was previously a partner at law firm Latham & Watkins. His appointment comes as Washington intensifies its focus on cryptocurrency policy, with lawmakers working on stablecoin and market structure bills that could be signed into law by the end of the year.
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has seen lawmakers push forward various crypto-related initiatives, including efforts to roll back Biden-era tax rules and investigations into debanking. Last week, a stablecoin bill advanced toward a full Senate vote.
Quintenz, who was nominated by Trump in February to lead the CFTC, previously served as a commissioner at the derivatives regulator from 2017 to 2021. During his tenure, he oversaw the approval of the first US-regulated Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts.
The CFTC plays a key role in overseeing cryptocurrency markets, and Quintenz’s confirmation would place him at the forefront of shaping regulatory policy.
Meanwhile, Jennings’ transition to head of policy at a16z is seen as the firm’s continued engagement in Washington’s changing crypto landscape.
