SEC and CFTC give green light to crypto spot trading in the US

In a joint statement, the SEC and CFTC said registered exchanges are not prohibited from launching trading in certain crypto spot products.

SEC and CFTC give green light to crypto spot trading in the US

The two top financial regulators in the United States, the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission), have issued a landmark joint statement , affirming that traditional exchanges can launch trading of certain crypto spot products, including those involving leverage, margin, and direct asset trading.

JUST IN: SEC and CFTC "to facilitate the trading of certain spot crypto asset products on registered exchanges" 🙌

Bullish! 🐂 pic.twitter.com/6kfN7wJJ3p

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) September 2, 2025

Main content of the statement

• According to the document, the types of floors allowed to be deployed include:

  • NSE (National Securities Exchanges) – national stock exchange registered with SEC.

  • DCM (Designated Contract Markets) – designated contract market regulated by CFTC.

  • FBOT (Foreign Board of Trade) – international trading floor licensed to operate in the US.
    
    

• The two agencies stressed that current law does not prohibit these exchanges from supporting crypto Spot Trading , and encouraged market participants to communicate directly with the SEC or CFTC to clarify questions.
  
  
• The initiative is part of the SEC’s Project Crypto and the CFTC’s Crypto Sprint, based on recommendations from the Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets report.
  
  
• According to the joint statement, the SEC and CFTC encourage market participants to contact their teams directly to discuss any questions or concerns. The two agencies said they are willing to work with the market and XEM allowing trading of certain crypto spot products on registered exchanges.
  
  
• The two agencies also proposed that NSE, DCM and FBOT Chia share price reference data to improve market surveillance.

Why is this news important?

• For years, the SEC and CFTC have been at odds over whether crypto is a security or a commodity . This joint statement shows that the two agencies are on the same page when it comes to defining crypto, creating a more transparent legal foundation.
  
  
• As traditional multi-trillion dollar exchanges like NYSE, Nasdaq, CBOE, CME join crypto Spot Trading , Bitcoin, Ethereum and many other digital assets will officially join the ranks of traditional stocks, bonds and commodities.
  
  
• Spot trading on major exchanges will pave the way for Capital flows from pension funds, banks and financial institutions into crypto in a more legal, transparent and secure way.
  
  
• In the first eight months of his term, the Trump administration has dismissed lawsuits against major crypto companies, signed the first stablecoin bill, and pushed for a number of industry-friendly policies. This is a new step to strengthen the ambition to turn the US into the "crypto capital" of the world.

Reaction from officials and experts

• Paul Atkins (Chairman of the SEC) commented that the most important message from this statement is that the United States needs to become a center for crypto innovation. According to him, investors must have the right to choose where to trade digital assets in a legal and transparent environment, instead of being restricted as in the past.
  
  
• Caroline D. Pham (CFTC Acting Chair) expressed pride that the CFTC could work with the SEC to create a major step forward in clarity in the legal framework. She affirmed that this will help the crypto market in the US to be less ambiguous, more accessible for both institutions and individual investors.
  
  
• Matthew Sigel (Director of Digital Asset Research at VanEck) predicts that in the very near future, major stock exchanges such as NYSE and Nasdaq will list Spot Trading for Bitcoin, Ethereum and many other assets. This means that crypto will be traded alongside traditional stocks and bonds.
  
  
• Alexander Blume (CEO, Two Prime Digital Assets) sees this as a "green light" signal from the regulator. He believes that this move will encourage traditional exchanges to boldly launch crypto products, thereby accelerating the process of making crypto a familiar part of the portfolio of public investors.
  
  
• Amanda Fischer (former SEC chief of staff under Gary Gensler) was cautious. She said the statement, while politically significant, was still “vague.” The core problem, she said, was the lack of clear regulations on oversight mechanisms, investor protection responsibilities, or how to handle disputes. Fischer warned that without detailed guidance, bringing crypto to major exchanges could increase risks rather than bring safety.

Overview

• This announcement makes it clear that crypto is no longer on the sidelines of the US financial system. Bitcoin and Ethereum trading alongside Apple stock or US Treasury bonds would be an unprecedented milestone.
  
  
• While there are still many gaps to fill in terms of oversight and compliance, the latest joint statement could be considered the biggest boost since the US approved a Bitcoin spot ETF. This move not only opens the door to new Capital flows, but also legitimizes crypto as a legitimate asset in the US economy.

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