Caroline Pham, the newly appointed Acting Chair of the CFTC, is launching a series of public roundtables aimed at shaping market regulations, with a particular focus on cryptocurrency.
These discussions will bring together industry experts, financial institutions, and public interest groups to address evolving financial trends and regulatory challenges.
Pham emphasized that as markets evolve with new technologies, clear regulatory frameworks are essential to maintaining competitiveness while ensuring stability. The roundtables will explore issues such as digital assets, prediction markets, and conflicts of interest among financial entities. The goal is to promote transparency and public involvement in the policymaking process.
Her appointment as Acting Chair follows President Trump’s inauguration, replacing Rostin Benham. While awaiting a permanent nomination, Pham has signaled her commitment to regulatory clarity, advocating for an approach that supports responsible innovation in crypto markets. She has previously urged regulators to apply the same principles to digital assets as they do to other financial instruments.
The CFTC, which oversees crypto assets classified as commodities like Bitcoin and Ethereum, has ramped up its scrutiny of digital markets. The agency recently launched a review of sports betting futures tied to the Super Bowl and issued a subpoena to Coinbase regarding the Polymarket prediction market platform. These actions underscore the agency’s growing involvement in the crypto sector.
Pham’s initiative has sparked debate within the industry, with some welcoming the move toward clearer regulations while others remain wary of government intervention. As the roundtables take shape, they could influence how digital assets are regulated and integrated into the broader financial system.
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