The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has officially unveiled the members of its new Innovation Advisory Committee (IAC), a move that has been widely celebrated within the crypto industry. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse notably referred to the assembled group as the "Olympics crypto roster," highlighting the significant expertise gathered.

CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig announced the distinguished list of appointees on Thursday, February 12, emphasizing the committee's substantial executive power. The IAC brings together an impressive array of leaders from across the financial and technological landscapes.

Among the prominent figures from the cryptocurrency world are the CEOs of major crypto exchanges, including Brian Armstrong of Coinbase, Tyler Winklevoss of Gemini, Kris Marszalek of Crypto.com, and Arjun Sethi of Kraken. Furthermore, the committee includes key architects of decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain infrastructure, such as Hayden Adams from Uniswap Labs, Anatoly Yakovenko from Solana Labs, and Sergey Nazarov from Chainlink Labs.

These pioneers of the digital asset space will collaborate with titans of traditional finance (TradFi). The committee also features Terry Duffy, Chair & CEO of CME Group; Adena Friedman, Chair & CEO of Nasdaq; Jeff Sprecher, CEO of Intercontinental Exchange; and Frank LaSalla, CEO of DTCC.

Chairman Michael Selig described the initiative as an "energizing moment" for the CFTC. The primary focus of the IAC will be to assist the Commission in keeping pace with groundbreaking innovations, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technologies. Selig stated that "The IAC’s work will help ensure the CFTC’s decisions reflect market realities so the agency can future-proof its markets and develop clear rules of the road for the Golden Age of American Financial Markets."

The committee's composition also notably includes leaders from the prediction market and betting sectors, such as Shayne Coplan of Polymarket, Jason Robins of DraftKings, and Christian Genetski of FanDuel, underscoring a broad approach to technological innovation in financial markets.

Earlier, Galaxy CEO Mike Novogratz took to X (formerly Twitter) to commend the new Chairman, praising Selig as a "strong leader." Novogratz wrote, "Chair Selig is a strong leader at the CFTC. Pro-innovation, pro-growth, and keeping the US ahead in crypto." He further highlighted what he sees as improved collaboration between the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the CFTC, concluding that "This administration has been wonderful for the crypto industry."