Christopher Giancarlo, the former Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has been appointed as a senior policy advisor at Swiss-based crypto bank Sygnum. The announcement, made on May 27, marks a significant move for both the digital asset industry and one of the world’s first regulated crypto banks.
Giancarlo, often dubbed “Crypto Dad” for his pro-innovation stance during his CFTC tenure from 2017 to 2019, will join Sygnum’s 12-member Advisory Council. The council includes influential figures such as BlackRock Vice Chair Philipp Hildebrand and MIT’s Alexander Lipton, placing Giancarlo among global leaders shaping the future of finance.
Sygnum said Giancarlo’s role will center on guiding the firm through global regulatory developments and forming strategic partnerships across key markets. As digital asset adoption surges among institutions, Giancarlo’s insights are expected to strengthen the bank’s public and private sector engagement, while supporting regulatory compliance and innovation.
“His deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, financial market infrastructure, and public policy, as well as his extensive network, particularly in the US, will be invaluable as we continue our growth journey,” said Mathias Imbach, Sygnum Co-Founder and Group CEO.
Giancarlo will also help shape Sygnum’s long-term growth strategy, including mergers and acquisitions and international expansion initiatives.
Sygnum, headquartered in Switzerland and Singapore, recently reached unicorn status following a $58 million funding round. The bank is known for offering institutional-grade digital asset services, including tokenization, staking, and custody. It recently expanded its collateral services by accepting staked SOL for fiat loans.
During his leadership at the CFTC, Giancarlo approved the first U.S. Bitcoin futures contracts and advocated for a forward-looking approach to digital assets. Since leaving public office, he has remained a vocal figure in crypto policy and innovation circles, advising firms such as Paxos, CoinFund, and BlockFi, and consulting on tokenization initiatives at fintech firm Digital Asset.
Earlier this year, he was an active participant at the White House Digital Asset Summit and was reportedly considered for a key crypto advisory role in a potential second Trump administration.
Giancarlo’s addition to Sygnum’s advisory ranks reinforces the convergence between traditional finance and crypto, especially as regulatory frameworks mature globally. His appointment reflects the increasing importance of regulatory clarity and policy engagement in the next phase of digital asset adoption.
