The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced Thursday that listed spot cryptocurrency products will now be permitted to trade on registered futures exchanges. This decision signals the Trump administration's efforts to further integrate the digital asset industry. Acting Chair Caroline Pham stated, "For the first time, spot crypto products can trade on CFTC-registered exchanges—the gold standard for nearly a century, offering Americans the customer protections and market integrity they deserve."
The announcement follows President Donald Trump's push for the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to delineate cryptocurrency oversight using their existing authority, even as Congress has yet to act. Lawmakers have considered legislation granting the CFTC direct regulatory power over crypto assets not classified as securities, but the Senate has not voted on a House-passed bill.
Derivatives exchange Bitnomial Inc. also revealed plans to launch a leveraged retail spot crypto exchange under CFTC oversight on December 8. Founder Luke Hoersten noted, "Leveraged spot crypto trading can now operate under the same regulatory framework as U.S. perpetual swaps, futures, and options. Broker intermediation and clearinghouse netting eliminate counterparty risk while providing traders with capital efficiency."
The CFTC and SEC have long debated which agency should lead digital asset regulation, but Pham and SEC Chair Paul Atkins have pledged to coordinate rules. Atkins remarked in September, "Crypto is now a top priority."
In August, the CFTC sought public input on allowing futures exchanges to trade leveraged digital assets, later soliciting feedback on the president’s broader crypto regulatory agenda. However, consumer advocacy group Better Markets criticized the announcement for raising more questions than answers. Benjamin Schiffrin, its securities policy director, argued that the statement failed to specify which crypto products or exchanges qualify, potentially confusing investors. "The statement falls far short of regulatory clarity," Schiffrin said, expressing concern over Pham’s suggestion that these products would target retail investors.
During Trump’s second term, digital assets reshaped his family’s wealth through crypto-related ventures, though recent market downturns have eroded gains amid the sector’s volatility.
Comments