CFTC Opens Public Comment on Crypto Market Framework The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has taken a formal step toward regulating digital asset markets. The agency published an Advan
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has taken a formal step toward regulating digital asset markets. The agency published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on Regulation Crypto Asset Transactions (Regulation CTX) and Regulation Crypto Asset Markets (Regulation CAM).The notice is not a proposed or final rule. The CFTC is seeking feedback before deciding whether and how to proceed with future rulemaking.
Stakeholders will have 60 days to submit comments after the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking is published in the Federal Register.Under the proposal, the CFTC is considering rules to prevent abusive practices in crypto markets and give market participants clearer guidance on regulatory requirements and industry practices.
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig framed the effort as a defining moment for US crypto policy. "Today's action is a critical step in the CFTC's ongoing efforts to ensure America remains the crypto capital of the world," Selig said, adding that "the American people deserve clarity, certainty, and consumer protections in the crypto asset markets."The chairman described the proposed regulatory structure as a three-tier system: ordinary spot exchanges would remain primarily subject to state money transmission laws, while exchanges offering leveraged or financed crypto trading would fall under CFTC oversight, and platforms offering perpetual contracts and other derivatives would also remain within the agency's jurisdiction.
On October 5, 2026, Chainlink expressed its support for the CFTC's initiatives to establish clear regulations for digital asset markets, emphasising the importance of oracles and proof of reserve in this context. The company said it looks forward to working with Chairman Selig and the Commission to strengthen US leadership as markets move onchain.
Oracles are infrastructure that delivers off-chain data onto blockchains, while proof of reserve is a method for verifying whether reserves are being held for crypto-related assets. Both sit at the core of Chainlink's product suite. Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, was appointed to the CFTC's Innovation Advisory Committee in February 2026, joining executives from Nasdaq, CME Group, and Coinbase. The committee advises the regulator on how blockchain and AI are reshaping derivatives and commodity markets.
For Chainlink and similar infrastructure providers, regulatory recognition of oracles and reserve attestation could cement their role as essential components of a compliant digital asset ecosystem.
Sources:CFTC Press Release 9307-26: Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Crypto Asset TransactionsAmerican Banker: CFTC Seeks Input on Leveraged Crypto Trading RulesThe Crypto Times: CFTC Proposes Framework for Leveraged Retail Crypto Trading Rules
