Former CFTC Chair ‘Crypto Dad’ Christopher Giancarlo Joins Crypto Unicorn Bank as Regulatory Strategy Advisor

Key Takeaways

• Sygnum has hired former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair J. Christopher Giancarlo.
• Giancarlo is the latest leading U.S. regulator to decamp to the crypto industry.
• Following a $58 million funding round in January, Swiss-Singaporean Sygnum is looking to expand its international footprint.

Former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair J. Christopher Giancarlo has joined Swiss crypto bank Sygnum as a Senior Policy Advisor.

The appointment reflects a growing trend of high-profile U.S. regulators transitioning toward roles in the industry as firms look to navigate a new era of American crypto policy.

‘Crypto Dad’ Christopher Giancarlo Joins Sygnum

Initially nominated to the CFTC by President Barack Obama in 2014, Giancarlo, a Republican, was selected to chair the Commission during Donald Trump’s first term.

Giancarlo’s tenure coincided with the rise of Bitcoin into the financial mainstream and the launch of the first regulated crypto derivatives products.

He is widely regarded as one of the most crypto-friendly regulators in U.S. government history and received the nickname “Crypto Dad” after a memorable appearance in front of the Senate Banking Committee in 2018.

That testimony framed crypto not as a threat, but as an opportunity, urging Congress to support innovation while pursuing strong protections against fraud and abuse.

After leaving office, Giancarlo has continued to shape the conversation through roles at the law firm Willkie Farr and Gallagher, the Chamber of Digital Commerce, and the Digital Dollar Project, a nonprofit initiative he founded to explore a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Commenting on his new role at Sygnum, he said the global digital asset industry is approaching “an inflection point in institutional adoption.”

“I look forward to contributing my regulatory knowledge, networks and perspectives to Sygnum’s growth strategy, as well as advancing the group’s mission to build new regulated bridges between the traditional and crypto economies on a global scale.”

The Growth of Crypto Banking

Founded in 2017, Sygnum Bank became operational in August 2019 when it received its Swiss banking license.

From the outset, Sygnum focused on the specific requirements of the crypto industry, with an emphasis on security, digital asset custody and regulatory compliance.

The bank achieved notable growth in recent years, even during the prolonged crypto winter of 2021–2023.

Following the collapse of Silvergate, Signature, and Silicon Valley Bank, Sygnum emerged as one of the most stable and compliant alternatives for institutional investors and digital asset firms seeking reliable banking infrastructure.

Building on its presence in the crypto hubs of Switzerland and Singapore, Sygnum raised a $58 million funding round in January to help fund international expansion. With a post-money valuation of more than $1 billion, the deal displayed investor confidence in the bank’s long-term strategy.

Meanwhile, Sygnum’s appointment of Giancarlo as an advisor reflects a renewed commitment to the American crypto sector as U.S. firms seek a steady anchor during a period of regulatory change.

New Career Opportunities for Regulators

As the agency undergoes a wave of departures, Giancarlo isn’t the only former CFTC Commissioner decamping to the crypto industry.

Summer Mersinger, a Republican Commissioner nominated by Joe Biden, recently announced her intention to step down upon the completion of her term and will take up a new role as CEO of the Blockchain Association.

Meanwhile, Brian Quintenz, who served on the CFTC between 2017 and 2021, spent time as a member of Crypto.com’s advisory board and is currently the head of policy for a16z Crypto.

Other U.S. regulators who took up roles in the crypto industry after leaving government include former CFTC Commissioner Mark Wetjen and former SEC Chair Jay Clayton.

Top financial regulators have long been recruited by Wall Street after leaving their agencies. But as demonstrated by recent appointments, investment banks, private equity firms and hedge funds must now also compete with the crypto industry for leading policy advisors.