J. Christopher Giancarlo, better known as “CryptoDad,” has left his senior role at law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher. The former CFTC chair said he now wants to focus fully on crypto, artificial intelligence and public policy.
Giancarlo confirmed the move in a LinkedIn post. He said that after years of helping build the firm’s digital asset legal practice, he is ready for a new chapter.
He joined Willkie in 2020 and became a key figure in its crypto team. During his time there, he advised banks, fintech firms and crypto companies on regulation and digital assets.
Now, he plans to spend more time on strategic advisory work, private investments and nonprofit projects. That includes work with the Digital Dollar Project, which supports research into a possible digital version of the US dollar.
Giancarlo became well known during his time at the CFTC from 2017 to 2019. He earned the nickname “CryptoDad” because of his friendly view on blockchain and crypto, and because he pushed a “do no harm” approach to new technology.
He is also working on a new book called CryptoDad’s New Adventures: The Path to Financial Freedom in the 21st Century. The book is expected to come out in October and will look at the growth of crypto from the 2024 election into Donald Trump’s second term.
His exit comes at a time when Washington is debating new rules for stablecoins, DeFi and tokenized markets. With the US now rewriting parts of its crypto rulebook, Giancarlo looks set to play a bigger role from outside government and outside big law.
The move shows how far Giancarlo has shifted from regulator to full-time crypto advocate. He is now betting that crypto, AI and digital money will shape the next phase of finance.
