CFTC commissioner appoints senior policy adviser experienced in digital asset regulation

In a Friday announcement, Pham said Keaghan Ames will be her counselor and senior policy adviser at the CFTC starting May 23. Ames worked at Credit Suisse for more than two years as vice president and head of U.S. regulatory policy, which included advising executives on digital assets regulation. He will be joining the CFTC from the Institute of International Bankers, where he has been the director of government affairs since July 2021.

Sworn in as a commissioner in April, Pham is one of five heads serving at the CFTC under chair Rostin Behnam — all of whom were appointed by United States President Joe Biden. Pham is the latest commissioner to join the CFTC following the confirmation of Christy Goldsmith Romero, Summer Mersinger and Kristin Johnson.

During Ames’ time at Credit Suisse, the firm’s digital asset arm tested end-to-end fund transactions using blockchain technology, later piloting a settlement system between itself, Paxos and Instinet. In February, the company was the victim of a massive data leak concerning its account holders, reportedly including sanctioned individuals and heads of state.

Related: CFTC commissioner appoints crypto-experienced CME Group director as chief counsel

Together with the Federal Reserve, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of the Treasury, and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the CFTC handles policy around digital asset regulation and enforcement in the United States. Cointelegraph reported in March that the government agency was seeking a $365 million budget for the next fiscal year based, in part, on the risks around digital asset custodians.

Cointelegraph reached out to Keaghan Ames, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Caroline Pham, currently serving as a commissioner at the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, has announced a former head of U.S. regulatory policy at investment banking firm Credit Suisse Securities will be joining her staff.

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