CoinFund, a blockchain-focused investment firm with the goal of shaping the global transition to digital assets, is has announced that J. Christopher Giancarlo, the former Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (‘CFTC’) will join CoinFund as a Strategic Advisor. In addition to his former role as Chairman of the CFTC, Giancarlo is a respected market commentator and author. His support and advocacy for cryptocurrencies has led him to be commonly referred to as ‘CryptoDad’.
Speaking on the appointment, Jake Brukhman, CoinFund’s founder and CEO, said “It is a distinct honor to work with Chris as CoinFund’s strategic advisor. As crypto regulation and legislation is being formed in real-time in the United States, Chris stands out as one of the most authoritative experts and commentators when it comes to Web3 and crypto adoption, as well as capital market structure.”
CoinFund’s President, Christopher Perkins, added “Chris was a driving force in supporting innovation at the CFTC, and continues to serve as a trailblazer and advocate for thoughtful crypto and web3 policy in the United States. With his track record, market reputation, and credentials, he will bring great value to CoinFund, our founders, and our portfolio of investments.”
Chris Giancarlo, commenting on his appointment: “I am delighted to join the CoinFund team. They have been company builders and a strong partner to founders since their inception and have been helping to drive digital asset adoption in capital markets. I look forward to working with the management team as they help this new asset class achieve mainstream adoption.”
Giancarlo was first nominated as a CFTC Commissioner by President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed in June 2014. He was subsequently nominated as CFTC Chairman and again unanimously confirmed in August 2017. He departed the CFTC in July 2019 following the expiration of his five-year term.
Giancarlo’s term is remembered for the CFTC’s support of the first bitcoin derivatives products in 2017, an early iteration of today’s bitcoin futures ETFs. Giancarlo is also respected in the international regulatory community as being an advocate for cryptocurrencies. Giancarlo’s recent book ‘CryptoDad: The Fight for the Future of Money’ depicts his reckoning with the future of the global economy and puts forward the fight for a Digital Dollar.
Before entering public service, Giancarlo served as Executive Vice President of financial services firm GFI Group Inc., leading its private equity funding and subsequent initial public offering, and as Executive Vice President & U.S. Counsel of Fenics Software.
Giancarlo currently holds a number of positions: Senior Counsel at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP since January 2020, Co-Founder of The Digital Dollar Foundation (DigitalDollarProject.org) since January 2020, and Board Member at American Financial Exchange, LLC since October 2019. He now brings his years of experience, knowledge and expertise to serve as a strategic advisor to CoinFund. Giancarlo will advise CoinFund on matters of policy.
