CFTC Forwards Crypto Regulation Framework to White House Following Clarity Act Setback

Following the failure of the Clarity Act in the U.S. Senate, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has submitted a new regulatory framework to the White House for review. This proposal, titled Regulation Crypto Asset Transactions and Regulation Crypto Asset Markets, aims to establish nationwide standards for digital asset trading using existing statutory powers. The submission follows a clear signal from CFTC leadership that the agency would proceed with rulemaking regardless of legislative progress. Simultaneously, the SEC has introduced an innovation exemption allowing platforms to facilitate the trading of tokenized equities for five years without formal exchange registration. These developments represent a significant shift toward institutionalizing crypto markets through administrative action rather than new legislation. The CFTC also issued a no-action letter permitting software platforms to provide access to regulated derivatives markets under specific conditions. These coordinated efforts by U.S. regulators are critical for the RWA market, as they provide the necessary legal clarity for tokenized securities and derivatives to operate within established frameworks.