TLDR
- The Senate Agriculture Committee is set to release crypto guidance for the CFTC, shaping future digital asset regulations.
- CFTC will regulate crypto as commodities, alongside the SEC’s role for securities, under new Senate draft guidance.
- The Senate’s crypto market structure bill emphasizes collaboration between SEC and CFTC for clearer crypto oversight.
- A bipartisan approach aims to define crypto roles, with Senate guidance expected in September, after summer recess.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture is preparing to release a draft of crypto guidance for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This guidance will outline how the CFTC should regulate the cryptocurrency industry alongside the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The move comes just a day after the Senate Banking Committee released its own draft market structure bill, signaling a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for digital assets.
Senate Committee to Release CFTC Crypto Guidance in September
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture is set to release a draft crypto guidance aimed at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This draft will define the CFTC’s role in regulating digital assets, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, which are often considered commodities.
The guidance will complement the SEC’s regulatory framework, forming a more comprehensive approach to overseeing the cryptocurrency industry. Sources suggest the draft will be released in early September, aligning with the Senate’s return from recess.
The guidance will focus on clarifying the CFTC’s regulatory authority, emphasizing its role alongside the SEC. Both agencies will work together to ensure consistent regulation, particularly in cases where digital assets blur the lines between commodities and securities.
🚨SCOOP: The @SenateAg Committee — which oversees the CFTC and serves as the other half of the @BankingGOP’s market structure effort — plans to release its discussion draft in early September, according to a person familiar with the plans.
While the Banking Committee oversees…
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) July 23, 2025
The Senate Banking Committee’s recent release of a crypto market structure bill highlights the SEC’s role, but the CFTC guidance will address the Commission’s oversight of crypto markets more directly.
The draft is expected to be bipartisan, with input from Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar. Its release will coincide with Congress’s September deadline to pass the market structure bill after the GENIUS Act’s signing.
Draft Guidance to Address Key Regulatory Concerns
The Senate Agriculture Committee’s crypto guidance is expected to address the CFTC’s jurisdiction over the cryptocurrency sector. It is anticipated that this guidance will cover several aspects of crypto regulation, including how digital assets should be classified and what rules the CFTC should enforce.
The role of the CFTC, as a key player in overseeing crypto markets, has become more important due to the growing interest in digital assets.
One significant focus of the draft will be the classification of digital assets as commodities, which would put them under the CFTC’s purview. The guidance is expected to propose a set of clear guidelines for how crypto-related entities should operate within this framework.
It will also likely detail the coordination between the SEC and CFTC to ensure regulatory clarity across both agencies. This approach reflects the growing recognition of the need for a unified regulatory structure to address the complexities of the crypto market.
Potential for Bipartisan Support and Market Structure Bill
The release of this guidance comes shortly after the Senate Banking Committee presented its own crypto market structure bill, which primarily addresses the SEC’s role in regulating digital assets. However, both the Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees are working towards a unified regulatory framework that balances the responsibilities of the SEC and CFTC.
The Senate Agriculture Committee aims for a bipartisan approach to the crypto guidance, with contributions from key figures such as Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar. The draft crypto guidance will likely be part of a broader market structure bill, which may combine both the SEC and CFTC’s efforts to regulate the industry.
Lawmakers are expected to review public feedback on the draft before finalizing the guidance. This process could lead to significant changes in how the U.S. regulates digital assets.
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