The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a joint staff statement on Tuesday announcing a coordinated effort to oversee and enable spot crypto trading in the United States.
The agencies clarified that existing law does not prevent regulated US or foreign exchanges, such as national securities exchanges (NSEs), designated contract markets (DCMs) and foreign boards of trade (FBOTs) from listing spot crypto products, including those with leverage and margin features.
The move follows the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets recommendations, which urged regulators to provide clarity and keep blockchain innovation within the United States.
“Today, the Divisions provide their view that DCMs, FBOTs, and NSEs are not prohibited from facilitating the trading of certain spot crypto asset products. Market participants are invited to engage with SEC staff or CFTC staff, as needed.”
Regulators said they are ready to review exchange filings, address questions on custody and clearing and ensure new spot markets meet standards for transparency, surveillance and investor protection. Market participants were invited to contact the SEC or CFTC with proposals and questions.
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What the SEC–CFTC statement means for spot crypto trading
While crypto exchanges such as Coinbase and Kraken already offer spot trading, the statement signals that traditional finance venues aren’t barred from listing similar products if they choose to pursue them.
Under the staff guidance, major regulated venues such as Nasdaq, the New York Stock Exchange, CME Group and Cboe Global Markets, along with certain foreign boards of trade recognized by the CFTC, may be eligible to list spot crypto products.
The staff guidance is the latest sign of how US policy on digital assets has shifted under the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Since January, both Congress and the White House have pushed for clearer rules around crypto markets, from stablecoin oversight like the Genius Act to defining the roles of the SEC and CFTC.
On July 17, the House of Representatives passed the CLARITY Act, a market structure bill for cryptocurrencies that will now be considered in the Senate.
In July, the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets released a report urging regulators to provide “regulatory clarity that best keeps blockchain-based innovation within the United States,” specifically calling for the SEC and CFTC to coordinate on spot crypto trading.
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