SEC and CFTC Align on DeFi Regulation and Plan Roundtable

• SEC and CFTC seek to harmonize rules for cryptocurrencies and DeFi
• Roundtable takes place on September 29 in Washington
• Agencies prioritize perpetual contracts, stablecoins, and crypto innovation

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced This week, a roundtable discussion will be held on September 29, 2025, in Washington, DC, to align regulatory strategies for decentralized finance (DeFi) and cryptocurrency-related products. The event will be open to the public and streamed live on the SEC website.

Em joint statement Released on Friday, September 5, 2025, the two agencies reinforced that the initiative seeks to “harmonize product and location definitions; simplify reporting and data standards; align capital and margin structures; and create coordinated exemptions for innovation, utilizing each agency’s existing exemption authority.”

Among the priorities highlighted are continuous (24/7) trading markets, event contracts, perpetual contracts, stablecoins, and innovation models for the decentralized finance sector. According to the entities, nothing in current legislation prevents exchanges registered in the US from listing certain spot cryptoasset products, thus encouraging market participants to engage directly with SEC and CFTC staff about their concerns.

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham said in a statement:

"It's a new day for the SEC and CFTC, and today we begin a long-awaited journey to provide the markets with the clarity they deserve. Working together, our two agencies can transform our nation's unique regulatory framework into a source of strength for market participants, investors, and all Americans."

The roundtable is part of the SEC's Crypto Project and the CFTC's Crypto Sprint, both aimed at updating regulatory frameworks in light of the rapidly evolving sector. The initiative also follows recommendations from the report of the President's Working Group on Digital Asset Markets. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve will hold a conference in October 2025 dedicated to stablecoin models and the tokenization of financial services, reinforcing the regulatory agenda that encompasses the entire digital asset market.