- Acting US CFTC Chair Caroline Pham has said that the commission will host roundtables on several issues including digital assets.
- The acting chair aims for clear crypto market rules.
- Pham’s move comes as the Senate prepares to vote on a bill clarifying the roles of the CFTC and the SEC concerning digital assets regulations.
In a significant move to address the burgeoning complexities of prediction markets and digital assets, the Acting Chair of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Caroline Pham, has announced plans for a series of public roundtable discussions.
This initiative, outlined in a notice dated January 27, aims to delve into market issues, with a particular focus on digital assets, conflicts of interest, and prediction markets.
The announcement follows shortly after Pham’s appointment as acting chair, a position she took up after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump. Her tenure as a CFTC commissioner since April 2022 has seen her advocating for clear regulatory guidelines in the crypto market.
The exact timeline for a permanent CFTC chair nomination by Trump remains unclear, but the focus on regulatory clarity in digital assets signals the administration’s priority.
The roundtables are expected to occur over the next several months, providing a platform for dialogue with industry leaders and market participants.
Notably, this comes as part of Pham’s broader vision to ensure that the regulatory framework can keep pace with the rapid developments in the digital asset space, ensuring both innovation and investor protection.
A “back to basics” approach
Pham emphasized a “back to basics” approach, indicating that the CFTC’s strategy involves fostering a robust administrative record through studies, data analysis, expert reports, and public input.
Pham has stated that a holistic approach to evolving market trends will help to establish clear rules of the road and safeguards that will promote US economic growth and American competitiveness.
The transition in leadership at the CFTC coincides with significant changes at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where former Commissioner Paul Atkins has been nominated by Trump to replace Gary Gensler as chair.
Until Atkins’s confirmation, SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda will serve as acting chair, hinting at potential shifts in regulatory…