New U.S. Crypto Bill Seeks to End Oversight Gaps With CFTC Authority
Washington finally gets serious about crypto regulation—or at least pretends to.
The proposed legislation would hand the Commodity Futures Trading Commission sweeping new powers over digital assets, aiming to patch the regulatory holes that have let crypto firms operate in legal gray areas for years.
CFTC as Crypto Sheriff
The bill positions the CFTC as the primary watchdog for spot markets, giving it authority to oversee exchanges, enforce anti-fraud rules, and demand transparency from trading platforms. Finally, someone might actually be minding the store.
Industry Relief or Regulatory Overreach?
Crypto executives are cautiously optimistic—or at least less panicked than they'd be with the SEC calling the shots. The CFTC's reputation for lighter touch regulation has Wall Street veterans nodding approvingly while consumer advocates nervously check their wallets.
Because what could possibly go wrong when you put derivatives regulators in charge of the wildest asset class since tulip bulbs?
Seven Pillars of Reform
The blueprint outlines seven guiding principles for digital asset oversight. These include clarifying how tokens are classified, updating securities rules for issuers, treating crypto exchanges with the same rigor as traditional marketplaces, and reinforcing safeguards against illicit finance.
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A dual approach is also proposed: the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) WOULD adapt existing disclosure regimes for tokenized securities, while the CFTC would be tasked with overseeing non-security digital assets.
Both agencies would gain new authority to regulate custody, margin, and potential conflicts of interest tied to crypto-native business models. Supporters argue this framework could bring long-awaited clarity while creating a balanced regulatory structure for both innovation and investor protection.
