Michael S. Selig has been sworn in as the 16th Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). His nomination by President Donald J. Trump took place on October 27, 2025, and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 18, 2025.
In a statement following his swearing-in, Chairman Selig said, “I’m grateful for the confidence President Trump has placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the CFTC at this pivotal time. Today begins a new chapter for the CFTC. We are at a unique moment as a wide range of novel technologies, products, and platforms are emerging, retail participation in the commodity markets is at an all-time high, and Congress is poised to send digital asset market structure legislation to the President’s desk, cementing the U.S. as the Crypto Capital of the World. I welcome the vital responsibility to oversee the stability and security of America’s commodity derivatives markets during this period of rapid transformation. No agency is better suited to pioneer commonsense rules of the road for the new financial markets of America’s Golden Age than the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Under my leadership, the CFTC will conquer these great frontiers and ensure that the innovations of tomorrow are Made in America.”
Chairman Selig has experience in both public service and private practice within sectors such as agriculture, energy, finance, and digital assets that depend on CFTC-regulated markets.
Before joining the CFTC, Selig served as chief counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force and as senior advisor to SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. In these roles, he contributed to developing regulatory frameworks for digital asset securities markets and worked toward harmonizing regulations between agencies.
He also participated in drafting reports on strengthening American leadership in digital financial technology through his involvement with the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets.
Earlier in his career, Selig was a partner at an international law firm where he represented clients regulated by the CFTC—such as commercial end users and various market participants—advising them on compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Selig holds a law degree from The George Washington University Law School where he was articles editor for The George Washington Law Review; he completed his undergraduate studies at Florida State University.
