The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has launched a revamped Innovation Advisory Committee (IAC) with a mandate that places digital‑asset market structure, emerging technologies and next‑generation financial infrastructure firmly in scope.
Announcing the committee’s creation, Chairman Michael S. Selig said the body would help the Commission navigate the rapid evolution of products and platforms built on technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cloud computing — tools he described as “enabling the creation of entirely new products, platforms, and businesses and transforming the financial markets landscape”.
The IAC replaces the former Technology Advisory Committee and is expected to include representatives from across the financial industry, fintech, market‑infrastructure providers, academia, public‑interest groups and regulatory bodies. Selig intends to nominate participants from the CEO Innovation Council as charter members and is seeking further nominations by 31 January.
For digital‑asset firms watching for clearer US regulatory guardrails, Selig’s framing signals a more assertive approach to market‑structure design.
“Under my leadership, the Commission will develop fit‑for‑purpose market structure regulations for this new frontier of finance,” he said. He added that the IAC would be instrumental in advising on “the commercial, economic, and practical considerations of emerging products, platforms, and business models in the financial markets so that it can develop clear rules of the road for the Golden Age of American Financial Markets”.
According to its charter, the committee will advise on the impact of technological innovation across financial services, derivatives and commodity markets, including how new technologies are applied by market professionals and users. It may also recommend how the CFTC should invest in technology to strengthen surveillance and enforcement — a point of growing relevance as digital‑asset markets continue to scale.
The CFTC is inviting nominations and topic proposals from the public, with submissions required to include details of the nominee’s role, affiliation and qualifications. The Commission currently oversees five advisory committees designed to support dialogue between regulators, market participants and academics on issues affecting the integrity and competitiveness of US markets.
