CFTC launches second ‘Crypto Sprint’ to advance White House push

The US commodities regulator has launched its second “crypto sprint” to implement recommendations from the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, this time focusing on stakeholder engagement.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is seeking public input from crypto market participants on how it can better regulate spot crypto trading, the acting chair Caroline D. Pham  said  on Thursday.

“The public feedback will assist the CFTC in carefully considering relevant issues for leveraged, margined or financed retail trading on a CFTC-registered exchange,” Pham said.

  Source: Caroline D. Pham.  

The implementations are part of the agency’s efforts to help deliver President Donald Trump’s promise to “win on crypto.”

“The Trump Administration has ushered in a new dawn for crypto, and it’s up to market participants to seize this opportunity to be a part of the Golden Age of innovation.”

The CFTC invited crypto market participants to submit feedback and suggestions by Oct. 20.

Earlier this month, the commodities regulator launched its  first crypto sprint initiative  to explore enabling the trading of spot crypto asset contracts on CFTC-registered futures exchanges. It came about a week after the Trump White House  released a 166-page report  outlining policy recommendations for regulating crypto in the US.

Crypto group made 18 recommendations to CFTC

The President’s Working Group made 18 recommendations to the CFTC, two of which directly concerned the agency.

The first asked the CFTC to provide clear guidance on how cryptocurrencies could be considered commodities, how decentralized finance firms can comply with registration requirements, and which crypto activities CFTC-regulated entities can engage in.

The other standalone task for the agency was to consider how to amend rules to accommodate blockchain-based derivatives.

An additional 16 recommendations concerning the CFTC were tied up with other agencies, including the Treasury and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The CFTC’s first “crypto sprint” statement said it would  work closely with the SEC  to create a rulemaking process and use “their existing authorities to provide fulsome regulatory clarity.”

  Source: Caroline D. Phamt  

Quintenz’s nomination is still up in the air

Meanwhile, Trump’s pick for CFTC chair — Brian Quintenz — remains limbo after the White House  intervened to postpone  a Senate vote on his nomination in late July.

However, on Wednesday, several  crypto advocacy group s called for the “prompt confirmation” of Quintenz’s appointment, arguing that a permanent chair is “absolutely critical” for the commodities regulator to fulfill its crypto goals.

The CFTC is currently operating with just two commissioners: Pham and Kristin N. Johnson, who is expected to depart later this year.

Former CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam  resigned on Jan. 20, when the Trump administration took over, while Summer Mersinger and Christy Goldsmith Romero both stepped down in late May.