Brian Quintenz

Three months into Brian Quintenz’s tenure as a CFTC Commissioner, two exchanges listed Bitcoin futures, putting the agency at the forefront of the crypto revolution overnight. Taking audiences behind the scenes of the CFTC and bringing them into the center of debates between agencies and regulators over Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, he shares the inside story of how he became a leading voice on crypto innovation at the agency, as well as the reasons why regulators continue to be caught flat footed by the explosive growth of crypto.

As a digital commodity subject matter expert, Quintenz understands the ins and outs of cryptocurrency, as well as differing viewpoints on how best to manage its regulation as it reaches a crossroads in the market. In this talk, he explores how crypto is impacting financial markets today, its potential to reshape them in the future, and how current events in Washington could affect what he believes to be the most important financial market and wealth creation revolution in generations.

A champion for innovative financial technologies and continued exploration into their potential, Quintenz provides his sought-after insights on all things cryptocurrency and how its current disruptive nature is shaping the markets for the future. Addressing hot topics such as the growth, adoption, and regulation of cryptocurrency, as well as distribution ledger technologies, decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and the cybersecurity implications, he breaks down the ins and outs of fintech in a way that audiences can make sense of and draw their own conclusions. Audience members will also receive his insider perspective on solutions for addressing the financial market’s most-pressing issues today and in the years ahead.

In this talk, former Commissioner of the CFTC Brian Quintenz leads a future-focused discussion on the financial markets, homing in on the risks and opportunities that lie ahead for both businesses and individuals. Drawing from his years as a finance sector leader, he addresses why this is such a crucial time for our markets and the people who depend on them, while emphasizing the importance of market freedom, risk-focused regulation, and innovation to safeguard and improve the financial marketplace.

On his first trip to the Middle East as a U.S. government official, former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz toured the Dubai Art Expo where a digital artwork installation caught his eye. But could this piece of digital perfection — a beautifully vivid pond filled with koi fish swimming as the artist programmed them to do — be considered art? What would the purchaser actually own? A string of code?

Three years later, the explosive growth of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) had turned the digital art world upside down and helped answer that question. Yet, we’re still in the first inning for NFTs. In this talk, Quintenz uses highly approachable language to explain what NFTs are, how they began, and how the NFT revolution could ultimately transform all retail transactions of digital intellectual property.

In this talk, former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz breaks down the regulatory issues currently surrounding various financially driven activities and the markets for them. Weaving in captivating anecdotes, like the true story behind the movie Trading Places, while also offering a behind-the-scenes look at a federal financial regulator’s reasoning for denying market contracts for speculating on NFL games, Quintenz challenges audiences’ traditional perceptions of gambling versus the value of financial market participation and its pricing information.