MoonPay, a leading player in the crypto payments sector, has announced the appointment of Caroline D. Pham as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. Pham’s transition to MoonPay comes after her tenure as Acting Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where she played a crucial role in regulatory innovation and digital asset policy during a significant year for market modernization.
An esteemed figure in the realm of financial market structure, derivatives, and emerging technology, Pham was elected unanimously as Acting Chairman of the CFTC in January 2025. Prior to this, she was sworn in as a Commissioner in 2022. Her leadership has been marked by substantial advancements in U.S. digital asset regulation, including the introduction of the CFTC Digital Asset Markets Pilot Program, a pioneer regulatory sandbox designed to promote responsible innovation, which launched on December 8, 2025.
“I’m excited to join MoonPay at a pivotal moment,” expressed Pham. At MoonPay, she will be responsible for overseeing all global legal and administrative operations, in addition to directing the company’s policy and regulatory strategies in Washington, D.C.
Ivan Soto-Wright, co-founder and CEO of MoonPay, highlighted her exceptional credentials: “Caroline is one of the most influential leaders in U.S. financial regulation, helping define the future of digital assets. Her unparalleled experience, combining regulatory expertise and a deep understanding of market structure, positions her as the ideal leader to guide MoonPay through our next chapter of growth and compliance excellence.”
During her initial 100 days as Acting Chairman, Pham set forth a modernization agenda that encompassed innovations such as perpetual-style futures, 24/7 trading options, and the CFTC’s 12-month Crypto Sprint. She also provided guidance on tokenized collateral, which has been instrumental in establishing safer and more efficient clearing and settlement practices in digital asset markets. Notably, on December 4, Pham announced that listed spot crypto products would be available for trading for the first time in U.S. federally regulated markets via CFTC-registered futures exchanges, representing a significant advancement in the U.S. crypto landscape.
Before her role with the CFTC, Pham held various leadership positions at Citigroup, including Managing Director, where she led Market Structure for Strategic Initiatives.
MoonPay has consistently set the benchmark for compliance, regulation, and governance within the digital asset ecosystem. The company was an early participant in the CFTC’s CEO Forum, a gathering aimed at facilitating discussions on the Digital Asset Markets Pilot Program’s launch. Furthermore, in the latter half of 2025, MoonPay attained both its New York BitLicense and New York Limited Purpose Trust Charter, placing it among a selective group of digital asset companies that have achieved these regulatory goals.
Founded in 2019, MoonPay facilitates transactions between fiat and digital assets for businesses and consumers alike. With over 30 million customers in 180 countries and a clientele spanning more than 500 enterprises in the crypto and fintech sectors, MoonPay’s single integration service supports on- and off-ramps, trading, crypto payments, and stablecoin infrastructure, bridging the gap between traditional payment systems and blockchain technology. The company maintains an expansive regulatory presence, with licenses including the New York BitLicense, a New York Limited Purpose Trust Charter, and various money transmitter licenses across the United States, along with MiCA authorization in the EU. MoonPay is committed to redefining how value is transferred globally.
