Winklevoss Twins Clash with Trump: Tyler and Cameron Oppose CFTC Nominee Brian Quintenz

Bitcoin billionaires throw down the gauntlet against presidential appointment.

Regulatory Roulette

The Winklevoss twins just drew a line in the sand—publicly opposing Trump's pick for CFTC commissioner. Tyler and Cameron, never shy about regulatory battles, declared Brian Quintenz unfit to oversee crypto markets. Their objection? Alleged conflicts of interest and traditional finance ties that could stifle innovation.

Power Play

This isn't their first regulatory tango. The twins have been pushing for clearer crypto rules for years. Now they're leveraging their influence to block a nominee they view as hostile to digital assets. Because nothing says 'financial revolution' like old-school political maneuvering.

Wall Street's watching—probably while charging consulting fees for 'blockchain insights' they copied from Wikipedia.

Winklevoss brothers flex political muscle in Washington

The 44-year-old twins have poured millions into Trump’s comeback and into pro-crypto groups that want friendlier regulators. They are determined to see the CFTC steered by someone who will ease the rules on crypto. But instead of supporting Brian, a Republican with backing from many industry groups, the brothers are fighting him.

Critics were quick to call it personal. Lee Reiners, a lecturing fellow at Duke University, said, “It’s a total temper tantrum. This is about wanting revenge and wanting to punish people…It’s not necessarily about policy going forward.” The fight caught attention because Brian has been known as pro-crypto, yet the brothers still chose to go after him.

The twins have always thrived on conflict. At Harvard, they sued Mark Zuckerberg, accusing him of stealing their idea for Facebook, a story later told in “The Social Network.”

They walked away with $65 million in cash and stock. They later bet big on bitcoin, buying in 2012 when the price was below $10. In 2013, they tried to launch the first Bitcoin ETF, but the SEC blocked them.

Their exchange Gemini, founded in 2014, was supposed to cement their place in the industry. The IPO last week raised $425 million, leaving them with about 75 million shares and 94.7% of the voting power.

But after an initial pop, shares fell more than 20% and dropped below the $28 IPO price. The exchange has struggled in recent quarters, losing money while larger players like Coinbase dominate.

Trump allies build new networks as nomination stalls

The brothers are keeping their political connections close as Gemini weathers losses. Last year they gave Trump’s presidential campaign direct backing.

They also handed nearly $5 million to a pro-crypto group that spent on Congressional races. Just last month, they gave $21 million worth of bitcoin to Digital Freedom Fund, a new super PAC built to support crypto and Trump.

Trump has made his feelings known. At a bitcoin event last year, he called the twins “male models with a big, beautiful brain,” a moment that marked his turn from doubter to strong supporter of crypto.

Earlier this year, the twins teamed up with White House crypto czar David Sacks, Donald Trump Jr., and other investors to start a private D.C. club called Executive Branch. It charges a $500,000 entry fee and ongoing dues, making it one of the priciest political hangouts in town.

As for Brian, his path to the CFTC has hit a block. The WHITE House is weighing other names as confirmation slows.

On the table are Michael Selig, chief legal counsel for the SEC’s crypto task force, and Tyler Williams, who advises Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and once worked at Galaxy Digital. Both men have crypto backgrounds and are now in the mix to take the chair instead.

The Winklevoss brothers’ campaign has left Washington wondering why two of Trump’s richest allies are so determined to sink one of his nominees.

Their actions have put pressure on the White House and created another LAYER of uncertainty around who will end up controlling the CFTC at a time when crypto regulation is already at the center of national politics.

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