U.S. CFTC Chairman Announces "New Blueprint for Cryptocurrency Regulation": Collaborates with SEC to Launch Project Crypto, Bringing Clear Regulations to DeFi and Prediction Markets

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Mike Selig announced on Tuesday (3/10) that authorities are actively promoting a regulatory framework for decentralized finance (DeFi), crypto derivatives, and prediction markets. Selig also revealed that the CFTC has initiated a historic collaboration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in an effort to resolve long-standing jurisdiction disputes and bring much-needed legal clarity to the cryptocurrency industry.
(Background: CFTC Chairman Selig’s focus: opening up perpetual contracts and ending turf wars with the SEC)
(Additional context: Former CFTC Chairman stated that banks need clearer regulation more than crypto firms, but is that argument valid?)

The U.S. government is accelerating the compliance process for the cryptocurrency market. On March 10, Taipei time, CFTC Chairman Mike Selig delivered a groundbreaking new blueprint for crypto regulation at the FIA Global Clearing Markets Conference in Florida.

In his speech, Selig clearly stated that as coordination among regulatory agencies becomes tighter, the U.S. is regaining its leadership position in the global digital asset space.

Collaborating with SEC on “Project Crypto” to Resolve Inter-Agency Disputes

In recent years, the CFTC and SEC have been embroiled in jurisdictional disputes over whether “crypto assets are commodities or securities,” leaving the industry uncertain. However, Selig officially announced at the conference that he and SEC’s new Chairman Paul Atkins have launched a historic joint initiative called “Project Crypto.”

Selig emphasized that this joint effort marks the formal end of internal conflicts between the two regulators. The handshake between these two giants is expected to bring greater consistency and predictability to future crypto legislation and market rules, further reducing compliance risks for businesses operating in the U.S.

Focusing on Prediction Markets, DeFi, and Crypto Derivatives

Beyond inter-agency cooperation, Selig also detailed the CFTC’s upcoming policy priorities, targeting the three hottest and most controversial sectors in the current crypto market:

• Prediction Markets: The CFTC will issue specific guidelines to clarify how products called “event contracts” should be listed and traded under U.S. law. Additionally, the agency will initiate a formal rulemaking process to solicit public feedback, aiming to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for this rapidly growing area.
• Decentralized Finance (DeFi): DeFi has long been a regulatory headache. Selig stated that the CFTC intends to directly address this contentious issue, especially by clarifying whether “software developers and providers” trigger registration requirements under CFTC rules.
• Crypto Derivatives: For high-volume crypto perpetual contracts, the CFTC is actively developing classification standards and regulatory approaches.

Analysts note that this stance from the CFTC is highly significant. It signals a shift from past “strict enforcement” to “establishing clear rules,” offering a pathway for compliant deployment of prediction markets and DeFi projects. The details of the subsequent implementation of this policy blueprint will profoundly influence global crypto market capital flows and ecosystem development.