The CFTC Establishes New 'Crypto and AI' Advisory Committee with Founding Members from Cryptocurrency Companies and Traditional Institutions

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Rostin Behnam announced Monday, January 13, the launch of a new Innovation Advisory Committee focused on guiding regulation of emerging technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence. The committee will replace the existing Technology Advisory Committee, with a goal of engaging top crypto industry leaders in CFTC’s regulatory processes to craft practical, forward-looking market oversight policies. It will advise the CFTC on “the business operationalization, economic benefits, and practical considerations of emerging financial products, platforms, and business models”—aiming to “set clear rules for the U.S. financial market’s golden age.” Behnam will lead the new committee as its initiator, planning to nominate 12 “CEO Innovators” as founding members. Crypto industry figures tapped include Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss, Polymarket founder Shayne Coplan, Kalshi (prediction market platform) founder Tarek Mansour, Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek, and Kraken co-founder Arjun Sethi. Executives from traditional finance are also included: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) CEO Jeff Sprecher, Cboe Global Markets CEO David Howson, and Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman.