TLDR The CFTC plans to advance digital asset rules without waiting for Congress to pass the CLARITY Act. Chairman Michael Selig says the agency already has crypto market structure proposals r
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) plans to advance digital asset rules without waiting for Congress. Chairman Michael Selig said the agency already has proposals ready for crypto market structure oversight. The move could shape federal rules for spot digital commodity trading while the CLARITY Act remains under Senate review.
Selig said on August 4, 2026, that the CFTC can move ahead under its current authority. The agency has prepared proposals focused on clearer rules, market certainty, and consumer protection for digital asset activity.
He also supports one federal system instead of separate state rules. Crypto trading platforms serving users nationwide can face higher costs when each state applies different requirements. The CFTC wants a more consistent approach across the country. The agency says its proposals are ready for formal consideration.
The CLARITY Act, or H.R. 3633, passed the House in 2025. The bill would make the CFTC the main federal regulator for spot digital commodity markets. However, Senate negotiations remain unfinished, including talks linked to stablecoins.
The CFTC and Securities and Exchange Commission are also working through Project Crypto. The joint effort aims to clarify how regulators classify and treat certain digital assets before any new law takes effect.
CFTC rulemaking can provide new guidance even without the CLARITY Act. However, agency rules do not carry the same legal strength as federal legislation. Courts can review them, later administrations can reverse them, and Congress can replace them.
A federal law would provide a longer-lasting framework. For now, the CFTC plans to use its existing powers while lawmakers continue discussions over a broader crypto market structure law.
Any CFTC proposal must pass through a public notice-and-comment process. That process normally takes months because regulators must review public feedback before issuing final rules.
As a result, the agency may publish proposals soon, but full implementation will take more time. The timeline for a complete federal framework will likely stretch across several quarters rather than a few weeks.
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