Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP officially classified as digital commodities

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has officially classified Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, Stellar, Tezos, and XRP as digital commodities. This decision marks a significant milestone in the ongoing debate over the regulatory status of major cryptocurrencies. The classification places these assets under the CFTC's supervision rather than the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The announcement came in a joint interpretive release from the SEC and CFTC on March 17, 2026. The guidance categorized 16 major digital assets into five groups: digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, stablecoins, and digital securities. Only the last category is typically treated as a security under US law.

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig presented the guidance at the DC Blockchain Summit. They clarified that the agencies were interpreting existing law rather than waiting for new legislation. The release also addressed activities like mining and staking, emphasizing that digital commodities remain subject to anti-fraud and anti-manipulation regulations.

XRP's inclusion in the commodity category is particularly noteworthy, given Ripple's lengthy legal battle with the SEC over whether its token sales constituted securities offerings. The litigation concluded in August 2025 when all appeals were dropped, paving the way for XRP's reclassification.

The CFTC is also preparing new regulations for leveraged retail trading of digital assets, with proposals under consideration for Regulation CTX and Regulation CAM. However, comprehensive market structure rules will still require congressional action.