Washington is moving again, and this time, it’s the Commodity Futures Trading Commission taking the wheel. Even with the U.S. government still tangled in a shutdown, Acting
#CFTC Chair Caroline Pham isn’t waiting for Congress to hand her new powers. She’s already laying the groundwork for regulated spot crypto products to launch as soon as next month — a bold move that could reshape how digital assets are traded across America.
The plan is simple but groundbreaking: allow spot crypto trading — direct transactions of assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum — to occur under the same regulated structure that governs traditional commodities. In doing so, Pham is effectively sidestepping years of congressional delay and saying, “We already have the authority to do this.” That statement alone signals a quiet regulatory revolution.
Inside Washington, this development has sent ripples across the financial sector. For years, Congress has debated how to grant the CFTC full oversight over crypto spot markets, arguing that the agency’s authority was limited to derivatives. But Pham’s latest steps suggest she’s no longer waiting for permission. She’s meeting directly with major exchanges — including DCMs like Coinbase and Bitnomial — to map out the framework for leveraged spot crypto trading. That means actual Bitcoin and Ether trades, conducted on U.S. regulated venues, complete with margin, leverage, and compliance standards similar to commodities futures.
If this goes live, it would be a major step toward institutionalizing crypto trading in America. Investors and asset managers have long wanted exposure to digital assets without the gray areas of offshore exchanges or the risk of unregulated platforms. As Kris Swiatek, a digital asset lawyer, put it, having spot crypto contracts on a CFTC-regulated market could make institutions “more willing to gain or increase their crypto exposure” because they’d finally have the protections they’re used to.
It’s an especially interesting shift considering the power balance between the CFTC and the SEC. While the SEC has dominated the headlines — mostly through enforcement actions and lawsuits — the CFTC has quietly built credibility as the more pragmatic regulator. Even President Trump’s pick for the next SEC chairman, Paul Atkins, has publicly stated that most tokens are not securities, effectively handing a large share of crypto oversight to the CFTC. With Pham steering policy until Trump’s nominee Mike Selig takes over, the CFTC’s stance is clear: it’s ready to lead the next phase of crypto regulation.
Beyond the new spot products, the agency is also preparing to roll out a major update on tokenized collateral — a move that would allow stablecoins to be used in derivatives markets. This policy, expected by early next year, could become one of the most important regulatory milestones for stablecoins in the U.S. Pham has described it as a “killer app,” envisioning a future where blockchain-based collateral becomes a mainstream tool in financial markets.
Behind the policy push, Pham is also rebuilding the CFTC from the inside out. She’s reorganizing divisions, tightening budgets, and even hiring experienced legal talent from across the financial sector to bolster the agency’s enforcement arm. Her leadership has been direct, sometimes controversial, but undeniably effective. Despite limited staff and operating as a solo commissioner in what’s normally a five-person agency, she’s managed to push through significant crypto-related initiatives at a time when most of Washington is standing still.
The market impact of these changes could be massive. Allowing leveraged spot crypto trading under CFTC oversight would bridge a long-standing gap between traditional finance and digital assets. It could pull institutional liquidity back onshore, bring clarity to risk management practices, and finally give U.S. investors the regulatory confidence they’ve been asking for. Andreessen Horowitz recently called the CFTC’s move “a crucial opportunity to reverse the trend of offshoring,” emphasizing how much capital is waiting for precisely this kind of regulated access.
Of course, questions remain. How far can the CFTC really go without new legislation? And what happens when Selig takes over — will the Trump administration double down on this momentum or slow it for review? For now, all signs point to continuity. Selig, a known advocate for balanced crypto regulation, has already been coordinating with Pham on next steps and is expected to keep her trajectory intact once confirmed.
The broader message from Washington is clear: after years of uncertainty, the U.S. is finally starting to define its crypto future through action, not arguments. The CFTC’s assertiveness may not solve every regulatory question, but it’s breaking the gridlock that’s kept American crypto innovation in limbo. If these spot crypto products launch on schedule, they’ll mark one of the most significant steps toward merging the transparency of regulated finance with the innovation of digital assets.
What Pham has done — and what Selig is set to continue — is carve out a new model for how government can move faster than bureaucracy. In a city defined by stalemates, the CFTC is choosing momentum. And that shift might just be what brings the next wave of legitimacy, liquidity, and long-overdue confidence back into the heart of the U.S. crypto market.
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