CFTC to draft independent crypto rules after CLARITY Act fails
CIE News ·
Following the Senate's failure to pass the CLARITY Act, the CFTC confirmed it will independently draft digital asset regulations for crypto spot exchanges and leveraged derivatives.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission confirmed on October 4, 2026, that it is proceeding with independent rulemaking for digital assets under its existing Commodity Exchange Act authority. The decision follows the failure of the Senate to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act through a cloture vote.
CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig affirmed that the agency intends to use its statutory authority to establish a market framework overseeing crypto spot exchanges and leveraged digital commodity derivatives. The initiative follows an inter-agency Memorandum of Understanding with the Securities and Exchange Commission to harmonize token definitions and establish coordinated oversight.
The regulatory push comes as federal agencies address market structure independently after the stalled legislation. According to Bitcoin.com News, SEC Chair Paul Atkins noted that regulators have taken up digital asset rulemaking following the stalled legislative process in Congress.