U.S. Regulators Aim to Tighten Crypto Rules with Joint SEC-CFTC Event

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission will co-host a public event next week to address overlapping and unclear cryptocurrency rules in American markets. The session, titled “SEC–CFTC Harmonization: U.S. Financial Leadership in the Crypto Era,” is scheduled for Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern at the CFTC’s Washington headquarters. It will be open to the public and livestreamed on the SEC website.

The event will begin with opening remarks from SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins followed by remarks from CFTC Chair Michael S. Selig. A moderated discussion will follow, with the two regulators expected to discuss how the agencies can better align their approaches to digital asset oversight. Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett will moderate the session. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., and in-person attendees must register in advance, though online attendance requires no registration.

Atkins and Selig issued a joint statement ahead of the event saying the discussion will build on existing efforts to harmonize regulations and reduce uncertainty caused by legacy jurisdictional silos. They said unclear lines between what the SEC and CFTC regulate have long complicated compliance for firms operating in both securities and commodities markets.

Regulatory Coordination: Past Efforts and Future Focus

The Jan. 27 event follows a series of public coordination efforts by the two agencies. In September 2025, the SEC and CFTC held a joint roundtable focused on regulatory harmonization and clearer frameworks for crypto markets. Panelists at that session emphasized the need for clear rules to prevent firms from relocating innovation offshore and discussed topics such as 24/7 trading and innovation exemptions for decentralized finance.

That same month, the agencies issued a joint harmonization statement outlining areas where coordination might improve regulatory clarity. It noted priorities such as aligning capital and margin standards, harmonizing product definitions, and considering coordinated exemptions under existing law to allow certain digital asset activities to proceed safely.

The harmonization push reflects broader industry and legislative debates in Washington over crypto policy. The SEC and CFTC have historically operated with separate mandates — the SEC oversees securities markets while the CFTC regulates commodities and derivatives. Crypto assets often fall into both categories, prompting calls from stakeholders to clarify each agency’s role.

What the Event Could Mean for Markets

Industry observers see next week’s event as a sign of growing regulatory cooperation. Clear and aligned rules could reduce compliance costs and legal ambiguity for exchanges, traders and other digital asset firms. The discussion may also touch on emerging issues such as decentralized finance, perpetual contracts and 24/7 trading, which have been central to past coordination talks between the SEC and CFTC.

The regulators’ approach to harmonization may influence ongoing congressional efforts to codify crypto law, including bills that would define digital asset categories and clarify agency jurisdiction. A coordinated framework from the SEC and CFTC could shape how lawmakers and industry participants view federal oversight of digital markets in the years ahead.