The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has appointed Tyler S. Badgley as General Counsel, bringing in a Treasury Department veteran to help shape regulatory policy for digital assets and emerging financial markets.
Badgley joins the CFTC from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he served as Deputy General Counsel and Executive Secretary. In his new role, he will lead efforts to develop regulatory frameworks for emerging markets and defend the agency’s authority over derivatives, according to a January 28 press release.
Chairman Michael S. Selig described the appointment as part of his broader agenda. Since being sworn in as the 16th CFTC Chair on December 22, 2025, Selig has pushed for what he calls “principles-based regulation,” favouring flexible guidelines over prescriptive rules.
Leadership restructuring
Badgley replaces Meghan Tente, who served as Acting General Counsel since January 2025. Tente will remain at the agency as a Senior Advisor focused on harmonizing CFTC regulations with those of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The reassignment comes amid persistent industry complaints about duplicative oversight from the two agencies. Market participants registered with both the CFTC and SEC have long called for streamlined compliance requirements, and Tente’s new mandate is focused on that issue.
The appointment follows Selig’s earlier selection of Amir Zaidi as Chief of Staff on December 31, 2025. Zaidi previously directed the Division of Market Oversight, where he oversaw the launch of the first federally regulated bitcoin futures contracts.
“Focused on fraud and manipulation”
Selig has outlined a distinct enforcement approach for the commission, pledging that the CFTC will act as a “cop on the beat focused on fraud and manipulation rather than technical noncompliance alone.”
The chairman has also outlined goals beyond enforcement. Upon taking office, he stated his intention to “pioneer commonsense rules of the road for the new financial markets of America’s Golden Age” and “ensure that the innovations of tomorrow are Made in America.”
Badgley’s Treasury background included high-level legal oversight and administrative management across federal financial regulation. His appointment comes as Congress considers market structure legislation for digital assets.
