MoonPay Recruits Former CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham to Lead Legal & Policy Strategy

MoonPay is making a decisive move at the intersection of crypto, regulation, and global payments. This week, they announced that Caroline D. Pham, former Acting Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), will join MoonPay as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administrative Officer following the conclusion of her government service.
 
The appointment signals MoonPay’s next phase: scaling crypto payments globally while navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape — particularly in the United States.

From Washington to Web3

Pham brings deep regulatory and market-structure expertise to MoonPay at a pivotal moment for digital assets. She was unanimously elected Acting Chairman of the CFTC in January 2025, after serving as a Commissioner since 2022, and oversaw one of the most consequential years for U.S. crypto policy. 

During her first 100 days as Acting Chairman, Pham advanced an aggressive modernization agenda. This included pushing forward perpetual-style futures, enabling 24/7 and extended-hours trading, supporting prediction markets, and launching the CFTC’s 12-month Crypto Sprint to accelerate regulatory clarity for digital assets.

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She also issued guidance on tokenized collateral, laying the groundwork for safer and more efficient clearing and settlement in digital-asset markets. Most notably, on December 4, Pham announced that listed spot crypto products will trade for the first time in U.S. federally regulated markets via CFTC-registered futures exchanges — a landmark step aligned with the administration’s goal of positioning the U.S. as a global crypto hub. 

That regulatory experience now moves in-house.

Why MoonPay, Why Now

At MoonPay, Pham will oversee all global legal and administrative functions, while also leading the company’s policy and regulatory strategy in Washington, D.C. 

“I’m excited to join MoonPay at a pivotal moment,” Pham said, pointing to the growing role of stablecoins, crypto payments, and tokenized assets in mainstream finance. 

MoonPay CEO and co-founder Ivan Soto-Wright framed the hire as strategic: 

“Caroline is one of the most influential leaders in U.S. financial regulation, helping define the future of digital assets. Her experience across regulation, traditional finance, and market structure makes her the ideal leader to guide MoonPay through its next chapter of growth and compliance.”

Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO & Co-founder of MoonPay

A Compliance-First Trajectory

The hire builds on MoonPay’s broader regulatory momentum. In 2025, the company secured both a New York BitLicense and a New York Limited Purpose Trust Charter, placing it among a small group of digital asset firms to hold both approvals. MoonPay has also been an active participant in the CFTC’s CEO Forum, contributing directly to policy discussions shaping the future of regulated crypto markets.

With over 30 million users across 180 countries and more than 500 enterprise partners, MoonPay now sits at a critical junction: scaling global crypto payments while helping define how regulated digital finance operates in practice.

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Bringing a former CFTC Chair into the executive team makes that ambition explicit. Rather than reacting to regulation, MoonPay is positioning itself to help shape it—from the inside.