The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has established a powerful 35-member Innovation Advisory Committee (IAC) to address rapidly evolving technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence in derivatives and commodity markets. Announced on February 12, 2026, in Washington, the committee draws heavy crypto firepower, featuring CEOs from Coinbase, Uniswap Labs, Ripple, Solana Labs, Gemini, and others alongside traditional finance giants.
Chairman Michael S. Selig, who sponsors the group, stressed its role in crafting “clear rules of the road” that match market realities and sustain U.S. leadership. This move signals a proactive regulatory embrace of Web3 innovation, potentially easing tensions between crypto firms and watchdogs.
The roster packs star power from the blockchain world. Hayden Adams of Uniswap Labs, Brian Armstrong of Coinbase, Brad Garlinghouse of Ripple, Anatoly Yakovenko of Solana Labs, Tyler Winklevoss of Gemini, Shayne Coplan of Polymarket, Kris Marszalek of Crypto.com, and Arjun Sethi of Kraken all made the cut.
Traditional players balance the mix, with execs from CME Group, Nasdaq, Robinhood, and a16z crypto’s Chris Dixon. Academics such as Professor Harry Crane and Professor Carla Reyes contribute scholarly input. Selig tapped Michael Passalacqua as the designated federal officer to steer operations. This blend aims to ground CFTC rules in real-world tech shifts, from DeFi protocols to tokenised assets.
The IAC evolved from the CFTC’s former Technology Advisory Committee, which Selig relaunched in late 2025 after nominations closed on January 31, 2026. It builds on his CEO Innovation Council, pulling in diverse voices from fintech, academia, and public interest groups. Selig noted breakthrough innovations demand “adaptive regulations” to modernise legacy systems without stifling growth.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has withdrawn a controversial 2024 proposal to ban event contracts tied to sports, politics, and awards, which it had deemed “contrary to the public interest.” In
In his first address, Chair Michael Selig directed staff to rescind the rule, signalling a pivot toward a new regulatory framework to promote innovation and clear standards in the multi-billion-dollar prediction market sector within the broader Web3 context.
