Key Highlights
- CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham is creating a CEO Innovation Council and wants public nominations by December 8.
- The council will help guide rules for crypto, prediction markets, 24/7 trading, and other new market technologies.
- The move comes ahead of a major Senate vote on a crypto market structure bill expected in January 2026.
Acting CFTC Chair Caroline D. Pham is looking for nominations for a new group called the CFTC CEO Innovation Council, with submissions due by December 8, 2025.
This council will include CEOs from financial and technology firms with a sole aim to help the CFTC make rules and guidance for new types of markets and technologies, especially in areas like cryptocurrency, prediction markets, and perpetual contracts.
“The U.S. is leading a new era in market structure, and the CFTC is at the forefront of this renaissance accelerated by innovation and technology.” Pham said. She explained that the council will help the agency carry out its work while keeping markets safe, active, and strong for everyone involved.
The CFTC has worked on many projects under Pham’s leadership since she took office, including the Crypto CEO Forum, perpetual contracts, and expanding trading for digital assets. The agency has also explored tokenized collateral, stablecoins, and how blockchain technology can be better used.
The Crypto sprint and the push for new rules
She also helped implement recommendations from the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, which is scheduled to continue through August 2026. This plan focuses on supporting trading of listed spot cryptocurrencies, tokenized collateral, as well as stablecoins, and creating rules that use blockchain technology in market systems.
In addition, Pham said the council will help the CTFC “hit the ground running” by engaging both the public and industry leaders. She explained that having knowledgeable leaders involved is very important to make smart and responsible rules for the future.
Members of the public can nominate CEOs for the council by sending their name, job title, company, qualifications, and ideas for topics the council should focus on. Pham noted that sending a nomination does not guarantee that a person will be chosen for the council.
The formation of this Council comes as the Senate is tentatively scheduled to vote on a crypto market structure bill in January 2026. This shows that the agency is focused on proactive preparation for new regulations.
Pham became Acting CFTC Chair on January 20, 2025. Before that, she was CFTC Commissioner from April 14, 2022, after being nominated by the President and unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
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