CFTC Announces Crypto Industry Forum for Digital Asset Pilot Program

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced a forum for crypto industry CEOs to provide input on an upcoming digital asset pilot program.

According to the CFTC, the pilot program will explore “tokenized non-cash collateral,” which includes stablecoins and similar products.

CEOs from stablecoin issuer Circle, centralized exchanges Coinbase and Crypto.com, and blockchain firm Ripple will attend the forum.

Acting CFTC Chairman Caroline Pham said continued engagement with the crypto industry would pave the way toward fulfilling the Trump administration’s pro-crypto promises.

The pilot program, recent changes at the CFTC, and collaboration with industry executives reflect a regulatory shift under the new administration.

CFTC gets a remodel, takes new regulatory direction

The CFTC named Pham as acting chairman in January 2025 until a permanent appointee is selected by President Donald Trump and confirmed by Congress.

Following the appointment, Pham announced sweeping leadership changes at the regulatory agency, including new directors for the regulator’s market oversight and enforcement divisions.

On Jan. 27, the acting chairman announced a series of roundtables with crypto industry leaders and market participants to gather public input on digital asset market structure. Pham said:

“The CFTC will get back to basics by hosting staff roundtables that will develop a robust administrative record with studies, data, expert reports, and public input.”

“A holistic approach to evolving market trends will help to establish clear rules of the road and safeguards that will promote US economic growth,” Pham continued.

Digital asset regulation, prediction markets and potential conflicts of interest will be some of the topics for the upcoming roundtables.

On Feb. 4, acting Chairman Pham said the agency was ending “regulation by enforcement,” choosing to focus on fraud and consumer protection instead.

As part of the regulatory pivot, the agency simplified its enforcement task forces into two main groups tasked with combating fraud and helping victims of fraudulent schemes.

The financial regulator’s newly reorganized divisions will target two main buckets of fraudulent activity: retail fraud and incidents of complex fraud across asset classes.

Source: COINTELEGRAPH