CFTC officials who pressed crypto regulation questions reportedly sidelined or pushed out

A New York Times investigation published Sunday said several senior officials at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) who raised regulatory concerns about Polymarket, Crypto.com and Gemini-linked entities were later placed on administrative leave, subjected to internal probes and ultimately forced to resign. According to the report, all three companies have been accused of maintaining business ties to the Trump family. It also said then CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham and senior advisers stepped in to help the firms secure required approvals. By the end of 2025, five officials who had questioned or enforced cryptocurrency regulation were put on administrative leave and investigated internally without being told the reasons, the report said. The investigation further noted that after leaving office, Pham joined MoonPay, a crypto company with ties to Polymarket. Her senior adviser Brigitte Weyls became general counsel of Gemini Titan, the application the report said she had helped get approved. On the enforcement side, the report said the CFTC has dropped at least five cryptocurrency investigations. It added that enforcement actions fell from more than 80 during the Biden administration to two during Trump's term. A White House spokesperson denied any conflict of interest, saying, "President Trump will only act in the best interests of the American public."