CFTC Advances Plan to Allow Spot Crypto Trading on Regulated Exchanges

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has unveiled a landmark proposal to permit spot cryptocurrency trading on regulated futures exchanges. This initiative, aligned with the Trump administration's push for modernized digital asset regulations, stems from 18 recommendations by the Working Group on Digital Asset Markets.

Acting CFTC Chairman Caroline Pham emphasized the agency's commitment to enabling federal-level crypto trading, citing coordination with the SEC's Project Crypto. The proposal would allow Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) to list futures-style contracts tracking real-time crypto prices under Section 2(c)(2)(D) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

A 14-day public comment period seeks feedback on interactions between CFTC regulations and SEC rules. The MOVE signals accelerating institutional adoption of digital assets, with regulated exchanges poised to offer retail investors new access points to crypto markets.