The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is taking a major step toward expanding regulated cryptocurrency trading. Acting Chair Caroline Pham confirmed that the agency is in active discussions with leading regulated exchanges to introduce spot crypto trading and leveraged digital asset products in the United States.
Pham verified a report from CoinDesk on X (formerly Twitter), simply writing “True,” confirming that the talks are indeed underway — even as other crypto policy efforts have been delayed by the ongoing government shutdown.
Major Exchanges Involved in the CFTC’s Crypto Expansion
According to reports, the CFTC is engaging with several major financial and crypto exchanges, including CME Group, Cboe Futures Exchange, ICE Futures, Coinbase Derivatives, and prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket.
These discussions focus on using existing authority under the Commodity Exchange Act to enable regulated spot and leveraged trading of top digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). This approach would allow U.S.-based investors and institutions to access crypto markets under the same federal oversight as traditional commodities — improving transparency, market integrity, and investor protection.
A Turning Point for U.S. Crypto Regulation
The move represents a significant turning point for crypto regulation in the United States. By leveraging its current regulatory powers, the CFTC aims to bring digital assets further into the mainstream financial system.
Introducing leveraged crypto trading under federal supervision could pave the way for institutional-grade access to digital assets, reduce market manipulation risks, and set a clear framework for compliant crypto products.
This proactive step highlights the CFTC’s growing role as a key regulator in the digital asset space — signaling a more structured, transparent, and secure future for U.S. crypto markets.
