SEC-CFTC “Harmonization” Roundtable: Kraken and Crypto.com Execs Set to Tackle Unified Crypto Regulation
Cryptocurrency industry leaders from Kraken, Crypto.com, Kalshi, and Polymarket will join senior US financial regulators at a pivotal “regulatory harmonization” roundtable this Monday. Hosted by the SEC and CFTC, the event marks a major step toward resolving overlapping crypto oversight and promoting a unified regulatory approach for digital assets a move cheered by industry players and institutional investors alike.
Industry Voices to Drive Policy Discussions
The September 29 SEC-CFTC roundtable will convene at the SEC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, with discussions centered on creating a streamlined, dual-agency regulatory structure for US crypto markets. Executives from:
- Kraken and Crypto.com (major exchanges),
- Kalshi and Polymarket (prediction markets),
will join panels moderated by ex-CFTC Chair J. Christopher Giancarlo and former Commissioner Jill Sommers. The agenda covers crypto trading platform supervision, market structure, custody solutions, stablecoin regulation, DeFi protocols, and event contracts reflecting the industry’s most urgent and debated topics.
Historic Regulatory Shifts Set the Stage
This roundtable follows an intense period of policy change. Since January, both the SEC and CFTC have seen major leadership transitions SEC Chair Gary Gensler and CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam departed while Congress debates bills to finally define crypto market structure via legislation like the CLARITY Act. The House has passed its version, but the Senate has yet to act, leaving many issues unresolved for now.
In parallel, both agencies have adopted more crypto-friendly stances:
- The SEC recently dropped long-running lawsuits against big names like Coinbase, Ripple, and Kraken, while approving new generic ETF listing standards for digital assets paving the way for faster crypto ETF launches.
- The CFTC appointed crypto executives to key advisory committees and is exploring rules to allow tokenized assets and stablecoins as collateral in derivatives.
Why Regulatory Harmonization Matters for Crypto
- Both agencies have issued joint statements embracing “innovation exemptions” and safe harbors to support DeFi and spot crypto products an historic first in US financial regulation.
- Clearer, unified rules would not only reduce legal and compliance risks for exchanges but also incentivize global institutional capital to enter the US crypto market at scale.
- Acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham and SEC Chair Paul Atkins have made harmonization a priority, pledging to coordinate on new rules for event contracts, perpetuals, DeFi protocols, and custody standards.
- SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce will deliver closing remarks, signaling high-level regulatory support.
What’s Next? Potential Policy Outcomes
- Lighter compliance for exchanges: Unified requirements could lower costs, drive innovation, and diminish regulatory uncertainty for both major players and crypto startups.
- Onshoring perpetuals and derivatives: New regulations could bring exotic DeFi products back onshore, allowing SEC- and CFTC-licensed exchanges to offer them in the US.
- Safe harbors for DeFi: “Innovation exemptions” may allow secure peer-to-peer trading for spot and leveraged products, while maintaining core investor protections.
This roundtable could mark a turning point: as the SEC and CFTC move toward real alignment, the US is on the cusp of establishing itself as a global regulatory leader for crypto potentially easing the path for both innovation and investor trust.