consultation discussion
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Amid a shifting regulatory climate, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is planning to embark on a series of public consultations on emerging regulatory issues.

Last week, the CFTC named commissioner Caroline Pham as its acting chair, replacing Rostin Behnam, who is scheduled to leave the agency on Feb. 7.

On Monday, Pham pledged increased transparency and public engagement from the derivatives regulator on its policy priorities.

To that end, she also signalled that the CFTC will be hosting a series of public roundtables on emerging trends in market structure, including areas such as the fledgling digital asset sector, prediction markets and conflicts of interest between affiliated firms.

“Over the next several months, the CFTC will engage with industry leaders, market participants, other market structure experts and public interest groups through open and transparent public roundtables to provide the CFTC with the best information and latest data,” the regulator said in a release.

Details about the roundtables will be provided as these sessions are developed, the regulator said.

The announcement from the CFTC follows the issuance of an executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump last week that called for greater regulatory clarity in the fledgling digital asset sector.

Recently, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also announced the creation of a task force to focus on the crypto sector, and last week it rescinded an accounting bulletin, which had prevented banks from providing custodial services for digital assets.

“The development of a clear federal regulatory framework could provide much-needed legal certainty, encouraging institutional participation and fostering innovation among established companies,” said Moody’s Ratings in a research note.

“As I have long said, the CFTC must take a forward-looking approach to shifts in market structure to ensure our markets remain vibrant and resilient while protecting all participants,” Pham said in a release.

“Innovation and new technology has created a renaissance in markets that presents new opportunities that are accessible to more people, as well as risks. The CFTC will get back to basics by hosting staff roundtables that will develop a robust administrative record with studies, data, expert reports and public input,” she added.