Amir Zaidi Returns to CFTC as Chief of Staff

Amir Zaidi, the former senior Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) official, will make his return to the office as Chief of Staff. He previously played a central role in enabling regulated Bitcoin futures trading in the United States. He will make his return to the office after a six-year break. 

The CFTC announced early this morning that Amir Zaidi has rejoined the department. Chairman Michael Selig highlighted that Zaidi’s institutional knowledge and experience were vital at a critical moment for US digital asset policy. In a statement, Selig said:

“I’m grateful for his willingness to return as chief of staff and for his continued dedication and service to both the CFTC and our stakeholders. Amir was instrumental in the historic launch of CFTC-regulated bitcoin futures contracts during President Trump’s first term. With Congress poised to send digital asset market structure legislation to the President’s desk, he will bring tremendous experience and expertise to the CFTC as it develops fit-for-purpose regulations for our rapidly evolving commodity markets.”

Amir Zaidi’s Return to CFTC

Zaidi previously served at the CFTC from 2010 to 2019 in various senior roles. During his final two years, he was the Director of the Division of Market Oversight. He oversaw policies that helped pave the way for the first regulated Bitcoin futures in the USA. The launch of Bitcoin futures trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange in 2017 marked a turning point for the digital asset sector. 

At the time, Bitcoin faced widespread skepticism from regulators and traditional financial institutions. The move was widely seen as a step towards legalizing crypto within the mainstream markets. Beyond his regulatory background, Zaidi brings private-sector experience to his role as the Chief of Staff. Before returning to the CFTC, he served as the head of global compliance at broker-dealer TP ICAP, giving him firsthand insight into how regulatory decisions affect the market and its participants. 

His return comes at a time when the US crypto regulations are forming rapidly. CFTC is expected to play a significant role in overseeing digital asset markets in 2026, and its appointment signals a continuation of a more crypto-focused approach.