The U.S. Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee (CFTC) dedicated to regulating crypto tokens not categorized as securities throughout a convention on Feb. 3.
CFTC chairman Rostin Behnam defined the regulator’s stance throughout the ABA Enterprise Legislation Part Derivatives & Futures Legislation Committee Winter Assembly.
There, Benham mentioned that there’s extra room for crypto regulation. He mentioned:
“There stays a spot in crypto money market regulation for non-security tokens, and I consider the CFTC is effectively positioned to fill this particular hole if Congress so chooses.”
Benham mentioned that the CFTC will have interaction with the most recent assembly of Congress to attain that finish. The 118th U.S. Congress started on Friday and can final for 2 years till Feb. 3, 2025. It maintains a Democratic Senate majority however introduces a Republican Home majority — one issue that might affect the CFTC’s interactions with lawmakers.
Benham highlighted varied bankruptcies and collapses in 2022 and mentioned that regulation is required to guard clients and restrict failures.
He then described the CFTC’s efforts within the crypto area. Benham famous that the CFTC’s compliance department has requested crypto derivatives platforms to show regulatory compliance. He added that the CFTC carries out common conferences with registered platforms. He additionally mentioned that one CFTC division is contemplating whether or not sure platforms that commerce crypto derivatives ought to introduce buying and selling restrictions on their staff.
Benham moreover highlighted particular CFTC circumstances from the previous 12 months, together with a landmark case against OokiDAO and a case in opposition to FTX and Alameda Research.
He famous that the CFTC has introduced ahead 69 actions involving digital belongings to this point, including that circumstances involving digital belongings made up 20% of the regulator’s 82 actions final 12 months. He referred to as these outcomes “excellent” as a result of CFTC’s “very restricted authority.”
The CFTC presently performs a extra minor position in crypto regulation than the U.S. Securities and Change Fee (SEC). The SEC dominates the world as a result of many crypto initiatives may be thought-about securities. The SEC usually penalizes crypto exchanges, lending platforms, and token gross sales and choices and takes motion in opposition to fraud.
Developments final 12 months prompt that the CFTC could gain a greater role in crypto regulation. SEC chairman Gary Gensler additionally endorsed granting a larger role to the CFTC.