CFTC names two senior advisers to strengthen data innovation and Chicago oversight

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CFTC names senior advisers

Highlights

Chairman Michael S. Selig appoints Donald Battle as chief data innovation officer and J Matthew Haws as senior advisor and Chicago Regional Administrator.
Donald Battle brings SEC, FinCEN, and Crypto Task Force experience in blockchain forensics, data science, and AI to support CFTC market innovation and integrity.
J Matthew Haws, with 13 years advising global financial institutions and expertise in derivatives, will strengthen CFTC market oversight and combat fraud and manipulation.

Appointments add technology and market expertise

As announced by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Chairman Michael S. Selig appoints Donald Battle as chief data innovation officer, serving in the Division of Data and on the Innovation Task Force, and names J Matthew Haws as senior advisor in the Office of the Chairman and Chicago Regional Administrator.

Selig says Battle brings expertise in data science, blockchain forensics, programming interfaces, and AI tools that can help the agency adapt to a changing technological landscape. Battle says he previously worked with Selig on the Securities and Exchange Commission's Crypto Task Force and sees the new role as a chance to support integrity and innovation in U.S. markets.

Before joining the CFTC, Battle serves at the SEC as a senior advisor to Commissioner Hester Peirce on the Crypto Task Force and is on detail from his position as assistant director in the Enforcement Division's Data Science Group. His earlier experience also includes work as a virtual currency enforcement officer at FinCEN within the U.S. Department of Treasury, with a focus on anti-money laundering and counterterrorism obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act.

Chicago role supports broader staffing push

Selig says Haws is a key addition as the agency continues to staff up across the country, with his derivatives background expected to support the CFTC's efforts to guard markets and participants against fraud, manipulation, and other abuses. Haws says he is joining at an important moment for innovation in American financial markets and aims to help advance responsible innovation while maintaining market integrity.

Haws brings more than 13 years of experience advising global financial institutions. He most recently serves as senior legal counsel at Marex, advising the firm's U.S. derivatives and capital markets businesses on regulatory risk, governance, and compliance, and previously is a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, representing futures commission merchants, broker-dealers, and swap dealers in enforcement and litigation matters.

Our earlier coverage of Microsoft’s shareholder securities-fraud lawsuit detailed allegations that the company failed to adequately disclose slowing Azure cloud growth and the scale of AI-related infrastructure spending. We noted that the resulting sharp selloff amplified volatility and kept investors focused on how legal and regulatory pressures can quickly reshape market sentiment around major technology firms.

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