Christopher Giancarlo, the former chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and widely known as “crypto dad,” has joined Sygnum Bank as a senior policy adviser, the Swiss crypto bank announced on May 27.
Giancarlo, who led the CFTC from 2017 to 2019, will help guide Sygnum’s global regulatory strategy and advise on forging strategic partnerships across both public and private sectors. His appointment brings the number of Sygnum’s Advisory Council members to 12.
Sygnum, often described as the world’s first digital asset bank, has been at the forefront of institutional crypto services. The company recently achieved unicorn status following a $58 million funding round and continues to expand its footprint in key crypto hubs such as Singapore and the UAE.
In a statement, Giancarlo said he’s joining Sygnum at a pivotal moment, as institutional adoption of digital assets gains significant momentum worldwide.
Nicknamed “crypto dad” for his vocal support of blockchain technology and digital currencies, Giancarlo has long been an advocate for thoughtful crypto regulation in the U.S. In 2023, he remarked that substantial political change in Washington would be necessary to enable pro-industry legislation—a shift he believes began with Donald Trump’s presidential win last November.
The timing of Giancarlo’s move aligns with a surge in institutional interest in crypto assets. The U.S. has seen record inflows into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with $1.5 billion pouring in over just two days this month. Meanwhile, legislative progress like the Senate’s recent passage of the GENIUS Act—aimed at regulating stablecoins—has been cited as a major catalyst for further adoption.
According to a report by Fidelity Digital Assets, Bitcoin’s rally to all-time highs has reinforced its status as a legitimate institutional-grade asset, drawing increasing attention from traditional finance players.
While Sygnum continues to grow internationally, CEO Matthias Imbach recently warned that Switzerland, the bank’s home base, risks falling behind as a crypto innovation hub if it doesn’t keep pace with emerging trends and global competition.