CFTC and SEC Classify Major Cryptos as Digital Commodities

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has officially classified Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, Stellar, Tezos, and XRP as digital commodities. This move resolves years of debate within the crypto industry over the regulatory status of these assets.

The classification came from a joint interpretive release by the SEC and CFTC on March 17, 2026. The guidance categorized 16 major digital assets into five groups, with only digital securities treated as securities under US law. The announcement was made by SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig at the DC Blockchain Summit.

XRP’s inclusion is particularly notable, as Ripple had been in a lengthy legal battle with the SEC over whether its token sales were securities offerings. The litigation ended in August 2025, and the commodity classification followed shortly after.

Despite the commodity status, these assets remain under CFTC oversight for anti-fraud and anti-manipulation measures. Additionally, the CFTC is developing new regulations for leveraged retail trading of digital assets, potentially introducing frameworks like Regulation CTX and Regulation CAM.

The regulatory actions come amid stalled legislative efforts, such as the CLARITY Act, which aimed to establish a comprehensive market structure for crypto. The agencies are stepping in to fill the gap left by Congress.