The White House has nominated four people to fill vacant commissioner seats at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. All four have some experience with crypto policy.
The nominations were sent to the Senate on November 12, 2026. They are the first major nominations to these agencies in nearly a year.
The nominees are split evenly between Republicans and Democrats.
Who got the nod
Two nominees are slated for the CFTC, which oversees commodities and derivatives markets.
Nathan Anonick, a Republican from Virginia, would fill the seat previously held by Rostin Behnam. The term runs through June 19, 2031.
Matthew Rowland, a Democrat from Washington, DC, would replace Summer Mersinger. His term would run through April 13, 2028.
Both CFTC nominees have worked on major legislation, including the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which aims to establish clearer rules for regulating digital assets.
The other two nominees are slated for the SEC, which oversees securities markets, including stocks and bonds.
Kristin N. Johnson, a Democrat from Michigan, is a familiar figure. She previously served as a CFTC commissioner, focusing on digital asset custody and decentralized finance.
Steven Levine, a Republican from Maryland, has been nominated to the SEC seat held by Hester Peirce. The term ends June 5, 2030.
The confirmation clock
A nomination is not an appointment. All four nominees still need Senate confirmation before they can take their seats.
The SEC nominees are scheduled to appear before the Senate Banking Committee on November 19, 2026, just one week after their nominations were sent to the Senate.
Confirmation is expected before Democrats take control of the Senate in January 2027.
Why this matters for crypto
The SEC and CFTC are both run by multi-member commissions. Vacant seats can make it harder for agencies to advance rulemaking, approvals and policy changes.
The CFTC nominees’ backgrounds may be particularly relevant. Both Anonick and Rowland have worked on the Clarity Act, which focuses on determining which agency oversees different digital assets.
Johnson’s return to federal financial regulation, this time at the SEC, adds another dimension. She would bring experience at the CFTC to the rival agency.
What to watch next
The Banking Committee hearing on November 19 will be the first significant test. Senators are expected to ask the SEC nominees about their views on crypto, including whether tokens should be treated as securities and how custody rules should work.
Levine’s responses may attract the most attention. Nominated to Peirce’s seat, he will likely be asked whether he plans to continue her generally open approach to digital assets or take a different direction.
The CFTC nominees will also need to appear at hearings. Their work on the Clarity Act suggests crypto will come up there as well.
The timing is another factor. The window between now and January 2027 is narrow. If confirmations extend beyond the Senate handover, the process could become more complicated, and the agencies could remain short-handed for longer.
