Bitcoin News

Three different bills have been introduced in the U.S. this year to empower the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to be the primary regulator of the crypto spot markets.

Lawmakers Want CFTC to Be Primary Regulator of Crypto Spot Markets

Three bills have been introduced in Congress so far this year to make the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) the primary regulator for crypto spot markets.

Noting that there has been a longtime debate as to whether the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the CFTC should be the primary regulator of the crypto spot markets, Kristin Smith, executive director of the Blockchain Association, told CNBC Thursday:

We now have three different bills — the one this week, the Lummis Gillibrand bill, and also the House bill, the Digital Commodity Exchange Act — that all say the CFTC is the place to go.

The “Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act of 2022” was introduced by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), John Boozman (R-AR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and John Thune (R-SD) last week. “Our bill will empower the CFTC with exclusive jurisdiction over the digital commodities spot market, which will lead to more safeguards for consumers, market integrity and innovation in the digital commodities space,” Senator Boozman commented.

In June, U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the “Responsible Financial Innovation Act,” which assigns regulatory authority over digital asset spot markets to the CFTC. The lawmakers explained: “Digital assets that meet the definition of a commodity, such as bitcoin and ether, which comprise more than half of digital asset market capitalization, will be regulated by the CFTC.”

The third bill was the “Digital Commodity Exchange Act of 2022,” introduced in April by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Tom Emmer (R-MN), and Darren Soto (D-FL). “To foster American innovation and tech job growth, Congress must establish a clear process for creating and trading digital commodities that prioritizes consumer protections, transparency, and accountability,” Rep. Khanna detailed.

“We are very excited that we have bipartisan, bicameral members of Congress that are wanting to think about and tackle these [crypto regulatory] issues,” Smith described.

Noting that the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry has jurisdiction over the CFTC, and Senator Stabenow is the chairwoman of the committee while Senator Boozman is the ranking member, Smith opined:

The fact that we have this level of senator who is thinking about this is incredibly encouraging.

Tags in this story
CFTC, cftc vs sec, Congress, crypto regulator, crypto spot markets, cryptocurrency regulator, primary regulator of crypto spot markets, regulator of crypto markets, SEC, Senators, us bills, us crypto bills, us cryptocurrency bills

Do you think the CFTC or the SEC should be the primary regulator of the crypto spot markets? Let us know in the comments section below.

Kevin Helms

A student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography.




Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

Read disclaimer

Articles You May Like

Ethereum Surges Past $2,500: What The Futures Market Signals For Traders
Ethereum To Outperform Bitcoin, Fund Managers Set $8,000 Target
Ethereum Analyst Sees Altseason Potential As BTS Is Still Outpacing ETH – Time To Buy Altcoins?
Ethereum Funding Rates Hit Key Bullish Level – Price Surge Ahead?
Ethereum Risk-To-Reward Ratio Is ‘Too Good To Pass Up’ – Top Analyst Sets $6,000 Target