The Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Rostin Behnam, recently addressed the Senate Committee on Appropriations regarding the agency’s capability to take on additional crypto responsibilities. Behnam argued that the CFTC is well-equipped to regulate crypto commodities and fill the existing gap in regulation. He emphasized that the agency’s authority over crypto and non-traditional assets is currently limited to addressing fraud and manipulation. Despite this, Behnam stated that the CFTC brought 47 crypto cases during the 2023 fiscal year, which accounted for nearly half of the agency’s caseload.
Behnam acknowledged that if the CFTC were to gain more authority over crypto markets, it would require additional funding to effectively oversee these markets. He highlighted that existing “Know Your Customer” (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws could be applied to the crypto industry, minimizing the need to create new regulatory frameworks. However, Behnam cautioned that without adequate resources, the agency’s current trajectory in policing the unregulated crypto market could be unsustainable, leading to rampant fraud and manipulation.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who also testified at the hearing, raised concerns about the CFTC’s ability to handle additional crypto responsibilities effectively. Gensler pointed out that the SEC has nearly nine times the staff and a broader remit than the CFTC, giving it a more robust regulatory framework for overseeing the securities market, including most crypto assets. He criticized the crypto industry for non-compliance with the SEC’s disclosure-based regime, highlighting the challenges of regulating a rapidly evolving market with a multitude of crypto tokens.
The Senate hearing primarily focused on the budget allocation for both agencies, with the SEC set to receive $2.6 billion and the CFTC allocated $399 million for the 2025 fiscal year. This increased budget will enable the agencies to expand their existing duties through additional staffing and resources. Additionally, the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) could potentially grant the CFTC and SEC new authorities to regulate the crypto market more effectively. However, the bill’s passage in the Senate is not guaranteed, and alternative legislation, such as the Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act, has not progressed since its reintroduction in 2023.
While the CFTC has made significant strides in regulating the crypto market, there are challenges ahead in terms of securing additional funding, addressing gaps in regulation, and coordinating with other regulatory bodies like the SEC. The agency’s ability to handle more crypto responsibilities is contingent on increased resources, streamlined regulatory frameworks, and clear delineation of roles and authorities within the broader financial landscape. As the crypto industry continues to evolve, regulators must adapt and collaborate to maintain market integrity and protect investors from fraudulent practices.