CFTC Launches Second Crypto Sprint to Accelerate Spot Market Regulation Under Trump

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has launched its second “Crypto Sprint” initiative under the Trump administration, signaling a renewed effort to accelerate the development of regulatory frameworks for spot crypto trading. The initiative, announced in late July 2025 and with additional details released in August, aims to enhance market readiness, investor protection, and regulatory clarity in the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape. Acting Chair Caroline D. Pham has emphasized the importance of stakeholder input, opening a public comment period to gather feedback from exchanges, traders, and the general public [1].

This second Crypto Sprint follows a similar initiative in 2025 and underscores the CFTC’s role in implementing the recommendations of the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets. The group, established in January 2025, published a 166-page report in July outlining a strategic roadmap for the U.S. to maintain leadership in digital finance. The report includes 18 recommendations for the CFTC, two of which fall directly under its authority. These include issuing clearer guidance on the commodity classification of cryptocurrencies and revising rules to accommodate blockchain-based derivatives [2].

The CFTC’s approach is part of a broader government-wide effort to integrate crypto into traditional financial systems. Just days after Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, the administration issued an executive order to strengthen U.S. leadership in digital financial technology. The CFTC’s Crypto Sprint is a direct implementation of the working group’s recommendations, aiming to create a consistent and predictable regulatory environment for digital asset markets [3].

The initiative has been widely viewed as a positive development for the crypto industry, reinforcing the administration’s pro-innovation stance. Parallel efforts are underway at other federal agencies, including the SEC, which launched “Project Crypto” to modernize securities rules for digital assets. These initiatives collectively indicate a significant shift in the U.S. regulatory approach, moving away from earlier enforcement-focused strategies toward a more structured and supportive framework [4].

The CFTC’s leadership, however, remains in transition. President Trump’s nominee for CFTC chair, Brian Quintenz, is still awaiting Senate confirmation. In the interim, the agency is operating with only two commissioners—Acting Chair Pham and Kristin N. Johnson, who is expected to step down later in 2025. The lack of a permanent chair has raised concerns about the agency’s capacity to deliver on its regulatory agenda in a timely manner [5].

In Congress, the first crypto-specific federal legislation, the GENIUS Act, was signed into law in July 2025, establishing a federal framework for payment stablecoin activities. While this marks progress, broader regulatory clarity remains pending through legislation such as the CLARITY Act and the Responsible Financial Innovation Act (RFIA). These bills aim to define the regulatory roles of the SEC and CFTC, with the CFTC taking jurisdiction over spot markets. The CFTC’s Crypto Sprint is expected to inform the development of such legislation by gathering stakeholder input and evaluating oversight approaches [6].

The second Crypto Sprint is structured in three phases: initial consultations and stakeholder engagement, formal rulemaking, and long-term implementation through legislation. The CFTC has already begun the first phase by soliciting public feedback. The final phase may involve comprehensive regulatory reforms aligned with congressional mandates. While the process is likely to span several years—similar to past financial reforms like Dodd-Frank—it will provide a more stable and transparent legal environment for digital asset markets [7].

The CFTC’s actions highlight the Trump administration’s commitment to positioning the U.S. as a global leader in digital assets. By engaging with market participants and leveraging its regulatory authority, the CFTC is helping to shape a framework that supports innovation while ensuring market integrity. The initiative also reflects the government’s broader effort to modernize financial regulation and adapt to the digital transformation of capital markets [1].

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[1] CFTC Launches Second Crypto Sprint to Shape Spot ... (https://www.ainvest.com/news/cftc-launches-crypto-sprint-shape-spot-market-regulation-2508/)

[2] CFTC Kicks Off Second Crypto Sprint Under Trump (https://coinpaper.com/10659/cftc-kicks-off-second-crypto-sprint-under-trump)

[3] Davis Polk Discusses Crypto's Integration into the ... (https://clsbluesky.law.columbia.edu/2025/08/22/davis-polk-discusses-cryptos-integration-into-the-traditional-financial-system/)

[4] CFTC Launches Crypto Sprint To Deliver on Trump's ... (https://www.ccn.com/news/crypto/cftc-crypto-sprint-deliver-trumps-vision-us-leadership-digital-assets/)

[5] CFTC Launches 'Crypto Sprint' to Fast-Track Trump Digital- ... (https://thedefiant.io/news/regulation/cftc-launches-crypto-sprint-to-fast-track-trump-digital-asset-rules-c80c8f4c)

[6] CFTC Launches Crypto Sprint With Public Consultation ... (https://coinpedia.org/news/cftc-launches-crypto-sprint-with-public-consultation-open-until-october-20-2025/)

[7] CFTC kicks off expanded crypto oversight push (https://www.cryptopolitan.com/cftc-kicks-off-expanded-crypto-oversight/)