CFTC Policymaker Known for Bitcoin Futures Efforts Reportedly Leaving

Amir Zaidi, the director of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC’s) Division of Market Oversight (DMO), is rumored to be leaving the CFTC within weeks.

Multiple anonymous sources aware of the situation have confirmed this claim, according to a report by Bloomberg Law on Aug. 8. 

Zaidi has been the director of the CFTC’s DMO since January 2017. He is acknowledged as being responsible for creating Bitcoin (BTC) futures trading policy, as well as rewriting market regulations for over-the-counter swaps.

One source added that former DMO director Vincent McGonagle is expected to reprise his role as an acting director; McGonagle is the current deputy director of enforcement, as noted in the report.

Bitcoin futures and the CFTC

As previously reported by Cointelegraph, the CFTC confirmed at the beginning of the month that it has not approved LedgerX’s physically-settled Bitcoin futures. This seems to contradict LedgerX’s previous announcement, in which the derivatives provider claimed that its trading service was live.

However, derivatives specialist Thomas G. Thompson remarked on Twitter that LedgerX might have just launched existing swaps on their latest platform. Moreover, even if LedgerX’s trading service had not gone live, this would still be a notable development. Thompson said:

”Still important development because now retail can trade bitcoin options and swaps.”

Virtual currency derivatives 

In May, the CFTC announced that they were attempting to provide regulatory clarity for virtual currency derivatives, in order to help out exchanges and clearing houses. The statement was issued jointly by the DMO and the Division of Clearing and Risk, and detailed the apparent necessity for providing additional market surveillance, coordination with CFTC staff, large trader reporting, and DCO risk management and governance.

Zaidi commented at the time:

“CFTC staff will seek to provide additional guidance to help market participants keep pace with innovation while complying with CFTC regulations.”