Caroline D. Pham will join crypto payments firm MoonPay as Chief Legal Officer (CLO) and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) after completing her tenure as Acting Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the company announced December 17.

Pham will oversee global legal and administrative functions at MoonPay while leading the company's policy and regulatory strategy in Washington. The appointment follows a significant year of regulatory advancement under her leadership at the CFTC.

Background: Caroline Pham

Pham was unanimously elected Acting Chairman of the CFTC in January 2025, having served as a Commissioner since 2022. Before joining the agency, she worked as a Managing Director at Citigroup, where she held several leadership positions including Head of Market Structure for Strategic Initiatives.

An internationally recognized authority on financial market structure, derivatives, and emerging technology, Pham has been instrumental in shaping U.S. digital asset policy at an undeniably critical juncture for the industry.

Regulatory Achievements at The CFTC

During her first 100 days as Acting Chairman, Pham launched an ambitious modernization agenda that introduced perpetual-style futures, 24/7 and extended-hours trading capabilities, and prediction markets. She also initiated the CFTC's 12-month Crypto Sprint, designed to accelerate digital asset market development.

On December 4, Pham announced that listed spot crypto products would trade for the first time in U.S. federally regulated markets through CFTC-registered futures exchanges. The milestone represented a significant step toward establishing comprehensive digital asset infrastructure in traditional markets.

Pham further issued guidance on tokenized collateral and proposed a Digital Asset Markets Pilot Program, a regulatory sandbox launched on December 8 to foster responsible innovation in the sector.

"Caroline is one of the most influential leaders in U.S. financial regulation, helping define the future of digital assets," said Ivan Soto-Wright, Founder & CEO of MoonPay. "Her unparalleled experience, which combines regulatory expertise, traditional finance, and a deep understanding of market structure, makes her the perfect leader to guide MoonPay through our next chapter of growth and compliance excellence."

Analysis: MoonPay's Regulatory Positioning

MoonPay has positioned itself as a compliance-focused player in the digital asset space. 

The company was one of few to participate in the CFTC's CEO Forum, which brought together industry leaders to discuss the launch of the Digital Asset Markets Pilot Program.

In the second half of 2025, MoonPay secured both a New York BitLicense and New York Limited Purpose Trust Charter, joining a limited group of digital asset companies to achieve both regulatory milestones. The firm maintains money transmitter licenses across the United States and MiCA authorization in the European Union.

Founded in 2019, MoonPay now serves more than 30 million customers across 180 countries and supports over 500 enterprise clients through its platform connecting traditional payment rails with blockchain networks.

The hiring of Pham represents MoonPay's continued emphasis on regulatory expertise and institutional credibility. While specific additional hires in 2025 have not been publicly announced at this time, the appointment of a former Acting CFTC Chairman signals the company's strategic focus on strengthening its regulatory and compliance infrastructure as it scales its operations. 

Sources

• MoonPay: CFTC Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham to Join MoonPay
• PRNewswire: Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham to Join MoonPay as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administrative Officer
• Wikipedia: Caroline Pham
• CFTC: CFTC Announces Crypto CEO Forum to Launch Digital Asset Markets Pilot
• CFTC: Acting Chairman Pham Announces Launch of Digital Assets Pilot Program for Tokenized Collateral in Derivatives Markets
• CFTC: Acting Chairman Pham Announces First-Ever Listed Spot Crypto Trading on U.S. Regulated Exchanges
• CFTC: Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham
• CFTC: Acting Chairman Pham Announces CFTC Crypto Sprint

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