CFTC investigates the allowance of futures -exchanges to offer spot Bitcoin, crypto -trade

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is launching a new initiative to enable Spot -Trade of Bitcoin- and Crypto activation contracts on registered Futures, also known as designated contract markets (DCMS), acting chairman Caroline Pham announced Monday.

The step is the first step in implementing recommendations from the President’s working group on digital asset markets.

It is part of the “Crypto Sprint” initiative of the CFTC aimed at improving the clarity of the regulations, expanding supervision of crypto raw materials and deepening cooperation with the SEC to support responsible innovation.

“Under the strong leadership and the vision of President Trump, the CFTC is ahead of full speed in enabling digital assets at the federal level in coordination with the project crypto of the SEC,” Pham said in a statement.

Currently, the Spot Crypto trade and futures trade fall under separate regulatory frameworks. The SEC largely supervises the spot trade, while the CFTC arranges Futures derivatives.

By engaging Futures exchanges to include crypto contracts under the Commodity Exchange Act on DCMS, the CFTC wants to unite supervision and create a more coherent regulatory structure.

“There is a clear and simple solution that the CFTC can now implement. The Commodity Exchange Act currently requires that retail trade of raw materials with leverage, margin or financing on a DCM should be carried out,” she added.

The CFTC invites the feedback from stakeholders about the list of Spot Crypto activation contracts on designated contract markets. It will also evaluate possible implications under securities laws, in particular with regard to the framework of the SEC for trading non-security assets that may be part of an investment contract.

Public comments are open until August 18 and can be submitted via the CFTC website. All entries are published on the official website of the agency.

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