Catenaa, Friday, May 30, 20265-Kristin Johnson, a Democratic commissioner on the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said Wednesday she will leave her post by year’s end, becoming the fourth commissioner in recent days to announce plans to exit the agency.
Johnson’s planned departure marks a sweeping leadership shakeup at the CFTC, which oversees derivatives and commodities markets and is increasingly involved in regulating digital assets. In a statement, Johnson said she has informed President Donald Trump of her decision and expressed confidence in the agency’s continued mission to uphold market integrity.
Her exit follows that of fellow Democratic commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero, who said she will depart at the end of May. Republican commissioner Caroline Pham will step down once the Senate confirms Trump’s nominee for CFTC chair, Brian Quintenz.
Summer Mersinger, also a Republican, was the first to announce her resignation to become CEO of the Blockchain Association.
Johnson has been vocal about the need for immediate regulatory clarity on crypto asset custody and has urged the agency to engage stakeholders through roundtables to develop digital asset policy.
She has also expressed concerns about decentralized finance and the implications of artificial intelligence on financial regulation.
With four vacancies now pending, the president will need to nominate replacements, who must be confirmed by the Senate. By law, no more than three commissioners can belong to the same political party.
