CFTC chair says perp trading not suitable for all assets it regulates

Michael Selig told US cotton producers that the agency’s regulatory approach to crypto perpetual futures may not be a “natural fit for traditional commodity markets, like agriculture.”

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Michael Selig on Tuesday acknowledged fundamental differences in the traditional commodity markets it has long regulated and its more recent role overseeing aspects of the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry.

He told the American Cotton Shippers Association Annual Convention that considering the agency’s roots in overseeing asset classes that range from corn to hog bellies, the perpetual contracts tied to digital assets weren’t “suitable for all asset classes, especially in products like agriculture.”

“We fully recognize and understand that 24-7 trading and the perpetual model is not a natural fit for traditional commodity markets, like agriculture, that observe limited trading hours and rely on physical delivery,” said Selig.

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