The Commodity Futures Trading Commission leadership showed a fresh commitment to cooperation with the SEC at a recent fintech conference in Washington, D.C.The two regulators have fought for years over which agency should regulate cryptocurrencies, leaving crypto companies in limbo. The SEC views most digital assets as securities, while the CFTC deems cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin as commodities.
In a recent post on X, Journalist Eleanor Terrett reported that CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham emphasized the need to bridge this gap for better oversight. ” It is nice to have a White House who is vested in having crypto clarity” SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who has long advocated for more transparent crypto regulations, also supported this effort. The SEC has now established a Crypto Task Force to clarify its jurisdiction and prevent overreach.
The SEC has enforced primarily regulations, viewing most tokens as securities and going after unregistered offerings. The CFTC is regulating derivatives and commodities market fraud and is taking a more permissive approach to crypto spot markets. Legislation like FIT21 aims to clarify roles, granting the CFTC more control over decentralized assets while the SEC regulates securities-like tokens. This growing collaboration signals a push for a clearer regulatory framework for crypto exchanges.
With President Trump reinstated, regulation of crypto is moving towards more industry-friendly terms. His earlier administration preferred lighter regulation, and Republican legislators have largely supported the CFTC’s position against the SEC’s hardline approach.
This change can be seen because the major cases, such as Coinbase’s, have been closed, and Binance has newly re-entered the U.S. market based on favorable policies. Although there are no sweeping policy changes made official, emphasis is likely to move towards innovation rather than enforcement. The coming White House Crypto Summit on March 7 will further cement this pro-crypto approach, inviting industry leaders, investors, and policymakers.
