Legalization of Cryptocurrency Perpetual Contracts? CFTC Chairman: Policy to be Announced Within a Month

Foreign media reports that Mike Selig, Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), stated that regulators are about to pave the way for the legalization of perpetual futures in the United States. The related policy is expected to be announced publicly in about a month. He emphasized that this will be part of multiple digital asset regulatory measures and will be coordinated with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Perpetual Futures Coming to the U.S.? CFTC Chairman Promises Policy Within a Month

Selig pointed out at an event that crypto perpetual futures have long developed outside the U.S., mainly due to regulatory uncertainties in the past, which led to liquidity and operators moving overseas. He straightforwardly said, “The previous administration pushed many companies and liquidity abroad.”

Perpetual futures are derivatives without an expiration date, often leveraged, and account for a significant share of global crypto trading volume. However, the U.S. has yet to establish a clear regulatory framework domestically. Selig stated that the CFTC is working to enable genuine professional futures products to land in the U.S. within the next month and hinted that an official announcement will be made soon.

“Project Crypto” Explores Innovative Exemptions for Crypto Industry and DeFi

On the same day, Selig appeared alongside SEC Chairman Paul Atkins. Their collaboration in the digital asset field is called “Project Crypto.” Both are exploring so-called “innovation exceptions” to allow the crypto industry to experiment under certain conditions without excessive regulatory concerns. The CFTC will develop clearer regulatory positions for decentralized finance (DeFi) developers to end years of chilling effects caused by enforcement and uncertainty.

Market Predictions Also Expected to Receive Clear Guidelines

In addition to crypto derivatives, Selig also indicated that prediction markets will soon receive clear regulatory guidance. Meanwhile, regulators are working to establish a more comprehensive formal rulemaking process, ensuring that positions are not just administrative guidelines but have long-term stability.

Currently, the regulatory authority over prediction market platforms remains contested, with both state-level gambling regulators and the federal CFTC asserting jurisdiction. Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, which deal with event-based contracts, are caught in multiple regulatory struggles. Selig said that different regulatory systems can coexist, but the CFTC will actively defend its leading role in the judicial arena.

This article, “Cryptocurrency Perpetual Futures Legalization? CFTC Chairman: Policy to be Announced Within a Month,” was first published on Chain News ABMedia.