Swiss crypto bank Sygnum is adding prominent U.S. expertise to its Advisory Council: J. Christopher Giancarlo, former Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), is joining the bank as Senior Policy Advisor.

Last year, he was among the leading contenders for a newly created role as U.S. Crypto Tsar under then President-elect Donald Trump, as reported by finews.com. Ultimately, the position went to former Paypal COO David Sacks.

U.S. Expansion in Sight?

Giancarlo, also known as «Crypto Dad» for his advocacy of digital assets before Congress, said: «I look forward to contributing my regulatory knowledge, networks and perspectives to Sygnum’s growth strategy, as well as advancing the group’s mission to build new regulated bridges between the traditional and crypto economies on a global scale.»

The appointment is noteworthy because Sygnum, despite its presence in Switzerland, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Liechtenstein, has so far adopted a notably cautious approach toward the U.S. — a jurisdiction long considered high-risk from a regulatory perspective for crypto institutions.

Joining Heavyweights Like Hildebrand

Mathias Imbach, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Sygnum, emphasized Giancarlo’s strategic value, pointing to his «deep understanding of regulation, market infrastructure, and public policy, as well as his extensive U.S. network».

Giancarlo joins a high-profile advisory team that includes Philipp Hildebrand, Vice Chair at BlackRock, and Alexander Lipton, MIT researcher and fintech entrepreneur.

The move comes as the U.S. enters a phase of potential large-scale crypto deregulation.