In a major step toward comprehensive federal oversight of digital assets, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced that spot cryptocurrency contracts can now be traded on federally registered exchanges.
In an announcement on August 4 via the agency’s official website, the move marks a pivotal shift in U.S. crypto regulation and is a central feature of the CFTC’s new “Crypto Sprint” initiative. The program runs in parallel with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Project Crypto, underscoring a coordinated federal push to streamline oversight in the rapidly evolving digital asset sector.
Run, don’t walk. The U.S. crypto sprint is on! @CFTC 🇺🇸🫡 https://t.co/jtQJwWNls5
— Caroline D. Pham (@CarolineDPham) August 4, 2025
Under the new framework, CFTC-registered Designated Contract Markets (DCMs), such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, are now authorized to list and facilitate trading of spot contracts for leading cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP. Unlike futures, these contracts will settle in the actual digital asset, not cash, and reflect the real-time market price — a move expected to enhance price transparency and market integrity.
CFTC Acting Chair Caroline D. Pham emphasized that the agency is exercising its existing authority under the Commodity Exchange Act, which mandates that retail trading of leveraged or margined commodities be conducted on DCMs. “There is a clear and simple solution the CFTC can implement now,” Pham stated, inviting public comments on the proposal through August 18, 2025. On June 13, Caroline Pham made it clear that crypto companies shouldn’t expect a regulatory free pass.
The agency’s public comment request focuses on potential regulatory intersections, specifically citing Part 40 of the CFTC’s rules, Section 2(c)(2)(D) of the Commodity Exchange Act, and whether elements of the SEC’s securities framework may apply to certain digital assets. A formal rulemaking process is expected in early 2026, pending feedback and further interagency collaboration.
This initiative also gives weight to a key recommendation from the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, which has long advocated for reduced regulatory fragmentation in crypto oversight. By clarifying jurisdictional boundaries and aligning with SEC efforts on security tokens, the CFTC aims to deliver a unified federal approach to digital asset regulation.
If you want to read more news articles like this, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”
