CFTC, SEC Kick Off ‘Crypto Sprint’ Effort to Provide Regulation Clarity

On August 1, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched the “Crypto Sprint” initiative in response to the White House’s recent report on digital assets.

Operation ‘Make America the Crypto Capital of the World’ Starts With 18 Reforms

According to the official press release, CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham stated that the agency is moving quickly to carry out President Trump’s vision of making the U.S. the global hub for crypto innovation.

To achieve this, the agency will work closely with SEC Chair Paul Atkins and Commissioner Hester Peirce on Project Crypto, an initiative that was formally launched on July 31.

The SEC confirmed that Project Crypto draws from the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets, which earlier delivered a list of 18 crypto reforms.

Two of those reforms apply solely to the CFTC, while the remaining 16 require cross-agency collaboration with the SEC and other financial bodies.

The CFTC’s solo assignments focus on clarity. First, the agency has been tasked with issuing guidance on when crypto assets qualify as commodities, how DeFi platforms might register, and what activities registered firms can legally pursue with crypto.

Second, the CFTC must explore ways to adjust existing rules to better support blockchain-based derivatives. But the real weight of the Crypto Sprint lies in the 16 shared reforms. These call for deep coordination between the CFTC and SEC.

The agencies are expected to create a unified rulebook, develop a shared sandbox for innovation pilots, and align their regulatory timelines to reduce confusion for market participants.

Perhaps the boldest reform would reshape the CFTC’s authority. The White House recommends expanding its jurisdiction to oversee non-security spot markets for digital assets.

If approved, that would mark one of the most essential structural shifts in U.S. crypto oversight.

There are ongoing efforts to clarify legal boundaries. The CFTC and SEC are discussing with Congress to define their responsibilities and provide certainty to crypto projects that operate across multiple jurisdictions.

Michael Saylor’s Questions About U.S. Crypto Rules May Soon Get Answers

For industry leaders like Michael Saylor, the launch of the Crypto Sprint couldn’t have come at a better time.

During MicroStrategy’s second-quarter (Q2) earnings call on July 31, Saylor once again pushed for clear, consistent regulation in the U.S. crypto space. He argued that the lack of a formal framework continues to stifle innovation and block institutional capital from entering the market.

The path forward, in his view, lies in defining how digital assets should be classified and who gets to regulate them.

This need for clarity isn’t limited to U.S. borders.

Last week, Bolivia’s central bank signed a landmark agreement with El Salvador’s National Commission of Digital Assets. The deal recognizes crypto as an alternative to fiat. It is a bold move, and one that shows just how far the U.S. risks falling behind.

https://twitter.com/CryptooIndia/status/1950808029089218859

Saylor has long argued that clear rules unlock access and invite innovation. Recent events seem to support that claim.

For example, the GENIUS Act is a newly passed U.S. bill aimed to clarify how stablecoins should be regulated. Within days of its passage, the real market impact began to show.

Data from DeFiLlama revealed that the stablecoin market jumped from $260.7 billion to $267.9 billion between July 18 and August 4. This accounts for a $7.8 billion increase in 17 days.

The message is clear. Clarity breeds confidence, and confidence brings capital.