Former CFTC commissioner Brian Quintenz has accused Gemini co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss of attempting to influence his return to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as its next chairman. Quintenz shared the allegations in a detailed X (formerly Twitter) post on September 9, offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes interactions surrounding his stalled confirmation.
The Allegations
Quintenz claims the Winklevoss twins pressed him about the CFTC’s 2022 lawsuit against Gemini, questioning how he would align with President Trump’s administration to end what they called “lawfare” a term they use to describe the use of legal action to harm competitors.
In a text message exchange dated July 24, Tyler Winklevoss specifically asked Quintenz how he planned to “make amends” and ensure that future enforcement actions would be handled differently. Tyler even offered to “raise the issue with the President himself” if he sensed resistance to Quintenz’s position within the White House.
Quintenz responded by saying he could not make any promises, explaining that decisions should be left to a fully confirmed chair after Senate approval. Shortly after their exchange, however, the White House asked the Senate Agriculture Committee to pause his nomination, leaving his confirmation stalled.
Gemini’s Long-Running Dispute with the CFTC
The tension between Gemini and the CFTC goes back to June 2022, when the agency sued the exchange over allegations that it made false or misleading statements during its 2017 attempt to launch the first U.S.-regulated Bitcoin futures contract. Gemini has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the matter.
The exchange’s ongoing battle with the CFTC also includes a 13-page complaint filed with the CFTC’s Office of Inspector General in June 2025, which accused the agency’s enforcement division of “misusing the deliberative process privilege” and pursuing the lawsuit despite discovering that the investigation stemmed from a false whistleblower.
In the complaint, Gemini alleges that the CFTC’s lawyers sought a “selfish high-profile win” by targeting the exchange rather than the actual wrongdoers. The complaint argues that the CFTC’s actions wasted millions of taxpayer dollars, serving personal interests rather than public good.
Public Allegations and Fallout
Gemini’s leaders, including Tyler Winklevoss, have publicly amplified these claims, with Tyler sharing the letter online and accusing the CFTC of “seven years of lawfare trophy hunting.” He’s called for broad cultural reform within the agency.
However, neither Tyler nor Cameron Winklevoss have yet to respond publicly to Quintenz’s accusations. Similarly, the CFTC has not made any public statements about the matter, leaving the issue unresolved as Gemini plans for a Nasdaq listing.
What’s at Stake
As the fight between Gemini and the CFTC continues, it’s clear that the regulatory landscape for crypto is under intense scrutiny. With both sides locked in a bitter dispute, it’s uncertain how the outcome will affect Gemini’s operations or broader regulatory approaches to digital assets.
Quintenz’s stalled confirmation is just one chapter in a much larger battle over how cryptocurrencies should be regulated in the U.S., and the next steps could have significant implications for the crypto industry as a whole.
