Brian Quintenz, the former U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission commissioner whose bid to lead the agency ended last year, has joined the board of directors at SUI Group Holdings. The Minnesota-based company announced Tuesday that Quintenz’s appointment took effect on Jan. 5.
The move marks a quick transition for Quintenz into a senior governance role at a publicly listed firm focused on blockchain infrastructure and institutional finance. SUI Group, which trades under the ticker SUIG, has been building its profile around the Sui ecosystem and digital asset treasury strategies.
In a statement, board chairman Marius Barnett described Quintenz as a well-regarded figure in the digital asset space, citing his background in capital markets, regulation, and financial infrastructure. Barnett said Quintenz’s decision to join the board supports the company’s long-term strategy and reflects confidence in both SUI Group and the broader Sui network.
With Quintenz’s appointment, SUI Group’s board now consists of five members. Three qualify as independent directors under Nasdaq rules. Quintenz will serve as an independent director and is expected to sit on the board’s audit committee, adding regulatory and oversight experience to the group.
The company disclosed that it held approximately 108 million SUI tokens in its treasury as of Nov. 12, underscoring its direct exposure to the digital asset it supports.
Quintenz’s new role follows a series of private sector appointments after his nomination to chair the CFTC was withdrawn in September. In December, he joined Ubyx as an advisor. The firm operates a stablecoin clearing system designed for institutional clients, including banks, fintech companies, and token issuers.
He also serves on the board of Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated prediction markets platform. Kalshi was valued at $11 billion in a funding round announced on Dec. 2, according to public disclosures.
Quintenz’s path back into the private sector comes after a high-profile but ultimately unsuccessful confirmation process. His nomination to lead the CFTC faced delays and scrutiny, including concerns over potential conflicts of interest raised by Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, as well as questions surrounding lobbying activity linked to Andreessen Horowitz, where Quintenz worked at the time. Two planned committee votes were canceled before the White House withdrew his nomination.
President Donald Trump later nominated Michael Selig to lead the CFTC. Selig, formerly chief counsel to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, was confirmed by the Senate on Dec. 18 in a 53–43 vote, as lawmakers weighed proposals to expand the CFTC’s authority over digital commodity markets.
Quintenz’s appointment at SUI Group reflects a broader trend of former regulators moving into advisory and board roles as the digital asset industry continues to mature. For SUI Group, the addition brings regulatory experience at a time when institutional interest in blockchain-based finance remains closely tied to policy and oversight.
