CFTC Signals Green Light for Crypto Perpetuals

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Michael Selig says the agency is working to bring perpetual futures for cryptocurrencies to the U.S. within weeks. The move comes amid broader debates in Washington over the structure of digital asset markets and regulatory authority.

U.S. Perpetual Futures Could Launch Within Weeks

The United States may soon see fully regulated crypto perpetual futures contracts. Speaking at a panel hosted by the Milken Institute in Washington, D.C., Michael Selig, chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said the agency is working to enable “true perpetual futures” in the U.S. market “within the next month or so.”

Perpetual futures, which are derivative contracts with no expiration date, are widely traded on offshore crypto exchanges but remain unavailable in fully compliant U.S. venues. Selig suggested that prior regulatory policies had pushed liquidity overseas, adding that the new approach aims to bring innovation back under domestic oversight.

Selig also noted that guidance on crypto-linked prediction markets is expected soon, following the CFTC’s earlier remarks on its jurisdiction over event contract platforms.

The policy shift unfolds against a complicated political backdrop. Selig is currently the only Senate-confirmed commissioner at the CFTC, with four seats vacant and no announced nominations from President Donald Trump.

During the same panel, Paul Atkins, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, emphasized that broader digital asset reform depends on congressional action. Both regulators signaled that statutory clarity is needed to solidify jurisdictional boundaries and guide court interpretations.

A market structure bill currently circulating in Congress could redefine oversight responsibilities between the SEC and CFTC. Still, progress has stalled amid debates over stablecoin yield, tokenized equities, and ethics provisions.

If approved, regulated perpetual futures could significantly reshape U.S. crypto trading by repatriating derivatives volume long dominated by offshore platforms. For traders and institutions alike, the coming weeks may prove pivotal in determining whether America reclaims a meaningful share of global crypto derivatives liquidity.

FAQ 🇺🇸

• What did the CFTC announce about crypto perpetual futures?
  CFTC Chair Michael Selig said the agency is working to introduce regulated perpetual futures contracts in the United States within the next month or so.
• Why are perpetual futures important for U.S. crypto markets?

Perpetual contracts dominate global crypto derivatives trading, and offering them domestically could bring liquidity back from offshore exchanges.

• What is happening with prediction market regulation?

The CFTC is preparing guidance on event-based contracts and maintains it has exclusive jurisdiction over such platforms.

• How does Congress factor into crypto regulation?
  Lawmakers are debating a digital asset market structure bill that would clarify oversight roles between the SEC and CFTC, potentially shaping the future of U.S. crypto markets.