CFTC Taps Harry Jung to Shape Crypto Strategy Amid Major U.S. Regulatory Shake-Up

Big changes are brewing in Washington — and crypto’s finally getting a seat at the table.

This week, Harry Jung, a former Citigroup executive and current policy advisor, was named Acting Chief of Staff at the CFTC, where he’ll help lead the agency’s digital asset strategy. The move signals a major shift as U.S. regulators begin warming up to crypto after years of friction.

The appointment was made by Caroline Pham, now Acting Chair of the CFTC, following her elevation by President Trump. Jung has worked closely with Pham in the past and brings a rare mix of Wall Street experience and regulatory chops — exactly the kind of person you’d want navigating the murky waters of crypto policy.

A Crypto-Friendly CFTC?

Jung’s new role puts him in charge of the CFTC’s approach to digital assets — and that means everything from sandbox programs to building out pilot initiatives for new tech. Pham has been pushing for more constructive engagement with Web3 for a while now, and Jung seems like the right guy to bring that vision to life.

Let’s be real: this is a big change in tone.

Under former Chair Rostin Behnam, who officially steps down on February 7, the CFTC was known for aggressive enforcement. Behnam led major actions like the $2.7 billion smackdown on Binance and even subpoenaed Coinbase for data tied to Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market.

Behnam was a strong advocate for giving the CFTC more power over Bitcoin and other digital currencies — but that era might be winding down.

Trump’s Picks Are Turning Heads

And it’s not just the CFTC. There’s a full-blown regulatory reshuffle happening across the board.

At the SEC, Trump replaced Gary Gensler (yes, that Gensler) with Mark Uyeda as Acting Chair. Uyeda’s been a vocal critic of the SEC’s past crackdown-heavy approach, especially when it came to non-fraudulent crypto projects. He’s seen as more open-minded — or at the very least, more willing to listen.

Trump also nominated Paul Atkins, a long-time pro-crypto voice, as the permanent pick for SEC Chair. Over at the FDIC, Travis Hill has taken over after Marty Gruenberg stepped down, amid growing heat over the agency’s role in what some call “Operation Choke Point 2.0” — a covert effort to pressure banks out of working with crypto firms. Even Senator Cynthia Lummis is raising questions.

In short: the guard is changing — and crypto is paying attention.

A Turning Point?

Jung’s promotion feels like part of a broader effort to rebuild trust between the crypto industry and Washington. And honestly, after years of whiplash, lawsuits, and mixed signals from regulators, it’s refreshing to see someone with both real-world finance experience and a thoughtful approach to Web3 get a leading role.

Is this the start of a new chapter for U.S. crypto regulation? Too early to say for sure. But with Jung steering the CFTC’s crypto direction and Trump-era picks stepping into top roles across agencies, the mood is starting to shift from confrontation to collaboration.

And that’s something the entire industry can feel a little hopeful about.