Crypto Dad

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Giancarlo Leaves Willkie Farr to Focus Full-Time on Crypto, AI

Key Highlights

  • Giancarlo leaves Willkie Farr & Gallagher and continues full-time work in digital assets, artificial intelligence, and public policy.
  • As CFTC Chair, he advocated for an impartial “do no harm” regulatory approach regarding blockchain innovations.
  • He further intends to engage in advisory positions, venture capital projects, and philanthropic activities.

J. Christopher Giancarlo, the former head of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and often called “Crypto Dad,” is retiring from his position as Senior Counsel at the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, with his last day being the end of April.

He intends to focus all his time and energy on digital currencies, artificial intelligence, studying public policy, personal investments, and charitable work.

On Monday, Giancarlo announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he is leaving his law practice after six years at Willkie Farr, where he developed their digital work. He’s pursuing new opportunities that will focus on strategy instead of daily operations.

I’m sharing some personal news: After six years leading the Digital Works group at Willkie Farr & Kirkpatrick, I’m leaving law to pursue new opportunities. I’ll be shifting my focus to strategic advisory work, rather than the daily tasks of running a practice, and will be dedicating my time to helping founders and…

— Chris Giancarlo (@giancarloMKTS) April 13, 2026

Prior to joining the company, he worked at the CFTC between 2017 and 2019. While there, he was responsible for approving the first Bitcoin futures contracts and championed a cautious, hands-off approach to regulating new blockchain technologies.

Shift to advisory and research

Giancarlo is now focusing on advising companies in the digital asset space, making private investments, and researching how cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence intersect with public policy. He also plans to dedicate time to charitable work and continue playing music with his band, Crypto Kings.

He’s leaving as hopes rise for more favorable cryptocurrency rules during a potential second Trump presidency. Giancarlo has consistently argued for clear regulations that encourage innovation while protecting the market.

Book launch

Giancarlo is writing a new book, “The New Adventures of CryptoDad: The Quest for Financial Freedom in the 21st Century,” which Wiley will publish in October 2026.

This book examines how the cryptocurrency market has evolved since the 2024 presidential election, leading to the current landscape and the concept of a connected financial world, often called the “Internet of Value.” The author’s first book, *CryptoDad: The Fight for the Future of Money*, detailed his experiences working at the CFTC to integrate digital currencies into traditional finance.

Broader context 

Now that Giancarlo has left Willkie Farr & Gallagher, he’s moving away from practicing law and will likely work more independently within the digital asset industry.

He plans to announce more specifics about his upcoming projects in the next few months. This decision arrives as the cryptocurrency world adapts to changing regulations, the growth of artificial intelligence, and greater involvement from traditional financial institutions in blockchain technology.

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2026-04-13 23:17