CFTC Approves First Spot Crypto Trading on US Federal Exchanges

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has approved the launch of regulated spot cryptocurrency products on federally regulated markets. This decision allows companies with a Designated Contract Markets (DCM) license or designated as a Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) to offer regulated spot crypto trading.

  • This move aims to provide regulatory clarity for the crypto industry, addressing past criticism over enforcement-focused regulation.
  • The CFTC's "Crypto Sprint" program fast-tracked these developments, following recommendations from a government report on digital asset markets.
  • Chicago-based exchange Bitnomial is the first to launch a CFTC-regulated spot crypto exchange in the US.
  • Other DCM licensed entities such as Cboe, CME, LedgerX, and Crypto.com may also benefit from this new regulatory framework.
  • Traditional financial firms like Charles Schwab are considering entering the spot crypto trading market under these new regulations.