CFTC Unveils New Crypto Market Regulatory Proposals

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has unveiled new proposals aimed at regulating digital asset transactions and markets. The agency announced that these rules would enable U.S. crypto exchanges to opt into a federal regulatory framework, even as lawmakers failed to pass the Clarity Act last month.

CFTC Chairman Mike Selig described the action as a crucial step in ensuring America's leadership in the crypto space. He emphasized that the new rules align with President Donald Trump's directive to establish a federal crypto asset regulatory market structure using the CFTC's existing authorities.

If approved, the regulations would permit crypto exchanges offering leveraged trades to register with the CFTC. The Clarity Act, which sought to formally divide oversight between regulators, stalled due to opposition from the banking lobby and ethical concerns among some lawmakers.

The CFTC's preliminary rulemaking notice is now open for public comment for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The agency will then review the feedback and decide whether to issue a formal proposed rule, which would undergo another comment period before any final rule is adopted.