CFTC joins SEC to propose crypto rules following congressional bill delay

The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission has proposed two new regulations covering cryptocurrency activity and exchanges, CoinDesk and Cointelegraph reported. The agency is taking action alongside the Securities and Exchange Commission after Congress failed to pass the CLARITY market structure bill. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael Selig stated that the agency is acting under its existing statutory authorities at the direction of President Donald Trump. [1][3][4][5][8]

Selig told an event at Fordham Law School that the agency will advance digital asset regulation with or without legislative action from Congress, according to Cointelegraph. The two rules proposed by the derivatives regulator aim to address crypto exchanges and assets, although CoinDesk noted that a regulatory gap remains for direct spot-market trading. [1][3][4]

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is an independent agency of the United States federal government created in 1974. It regulates derivatives markets in the United States, including futures, swaps, and selected types of options. [9]

The regulatory proposals follow broader efforts by federal agencies to categorize major digital assets including Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana, as noted by Pluang. Meanwhile, advocacy group Better Markets criticized the regulatory announcements, stating that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is competing with the Securities and Exchange Commission to promote the cryptocurrency industry. [6][7]