The Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission have rescheduled a joint public event where their chairmen will discuss regulatory harmonization efforts aimed at establishing the United States as the world's leading cryptocurrency hub.
CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig and SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins will hold the event Thursday, Jan. 29, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at CFTC headquarters in Washington. The event was originally scheduled for Jan. 27 but was moved to accommodate both agencies' schedules.
The joint appearance represents a notable shift in federal financial regulation, bringing together the two primary agencies overseeing cryptocurrency markets to discuss coordination efforts. The CFTC typically regulates cryptocurrency derivatives and commodities, while the SEC oversees securities and investment products.
"For too long, market participants have been forced to navigate regulatory boundaries that are unclear in application and misaligned in design, based solely on legacy jurisdictional silos," the chairmen said in a joint statement. "This event will build on our broader harmonization efforts to ensure that innovation takes root on American soil, under American law, and in service of American investors, consumers, and economic leadership."
The event aims to support President Trump's stated goal of making the United States the crypto capital of the world, according to the agencies. This policy objective has been a key focus of the current administration's approach to cryptocurrency regulation.
The structured agenda includes opening remarks from both chairmen followed by a fireside chat moderated by Eleanor Terrett, co-founder and host of "Crypto in America." Chairman Atkins will provide introductory remarks from 2:00 to 2:05 p.m., followed by opening comments from Chairman Selig until 2:20 p.m. The main discussion will run from 2:20 to 2:50 p.m.
The event will take place at CFTC headquarters at Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street NW, Washington. The venue has a maximum capacity of 265 people with limited standing overflow space available.
Registration for in-person attendance has closed and the event is currently oversubscribed, according to the agencies. Attendance will be first-come, first-served for those who registered in advance, and unregistered parties will not be admitted once capacity is reached.
Security protocols require all non-federal attendees to present valid state or federal photo identification for building access. Current federal employees may use their federally issued PIV cards for entry. Check-in and security screening will begin one hour before the event starts.
The CFTC will provide a live webcast of the event on its website for those unable to attend in person. This accommodation ensures broader public access to the discussion between the two regulatory leaders.
The joint event comes amid ongoing industry calls for clearer regulatory frameworks governing cryptocurrency markets. Market participants have long complained about jurisdictional uncertainties that arise when different agencies apply varying standards to similar digital asset activities.
The harmonization efforts discussed at the event could address longstanding regulatory gaps that have created compliance challenges for cryptocurrency businesses. Industry stakeholders have advocated for coordinated approaches that provide clearer guidance on which agency has primary jurisdiction over specific cryptocurrency activities.
Both agencies have taken different approaches to cryptocurrency regulation in recent years. The CFTC has generally taken a more permissive stance toward certain cryptocurrency activities, particularly those involving Bitcoin and Ethereum, which it considers commodities. The SEC has focused more heavily on enforcement actions against what it considers unregistered securities offerings.
The timing of the event reflects the Trump administration's broader push to position the United States as a leader in cryptocurrency innovation and adoption. This policy direction represents a shift from previous regulatory approaches that emphasized enforcement and compliance concerns.
The event's focus on "American law" and "American leadership" suggests the agencies are positioning regulatory harmonization as both a competitive advantage and a national security priority. Clear regulatory frameworks could attract cryptocurrency businesses to establish operations in the United States rather than seeking more permissive jurisdictions overseas.
The public nature of the event indicates both agencies' commitment to transparency in their harmonization efforts. By providing live access and structured discussion time, the regulators are demonstrating their willingness to engage openly with industry stakeholders and the general public.
The oversubscribed registration suggests significant industry interest in hearing directly from both regulatory leaders about their coordination plans. The high level of public interest reflects the importance market participants place on regulatory clarity for cryptocurrency activities.
This joint event represents one of the most visible examples of inter-agency cooperation on cryptocurrency regulation during the current administration. The collaborative approach signals a potential new era of coordinated federal oversight in the digital asset space.