- CFTC announces the withdrawal of 2020 guidance on virtual currencies.
- CFTC calls the guidance outdated due to market developments.
- This is part of a broader policy update on digital assets.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, acting under Caroline D. Pham, withdrew its 2020 "actual delivery" guidance for virtual currencies on December 11, 2025, citing it as outdated.
This move indicates a push for modernization, reflecting substantial changes in crypto markets, though immediate financial reactions remain unquantified.
The decision was described as removing "outdated guidance" in light of developments in the crypto asset markets, highlighting the CFTC's effort to adjust regulations with market evolutions. Caroline D. Pham leads this initiative.
Regulatory and Interpretative Implications
The withdrawal has regulatory and interpretative implications, but no direct financial or market consequences have been specified. This action does not directly involve funding allocations or name specific cryptocurrencies. It primarily affects Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), given their common treatment in CFTC discussions, along with other related digital asset products.
Future Regulatory Adjustments
The CFTC's stance might incentivize future regulatory adjustments. Shifts in compliance might impact trading platforms and retail leveraging products that were previously guided by "actual delivery" parameters. As the CFTC evolves its digital asset framework, attention shifts to tokens representing rights and claims, as indicated in their recent advisory actions. These changes reflect broader digital asset modernization efforts.
"Withdrawing outdated guidance related to actual delivery of ‘virtual currencies,’ given the substantial developments in crypto asset markets." - Caroline D. Pham, CFTC Press Release