The Republican chairman and Democratic ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture have jointly called on President Donald Trump to nominate a full slate of commissioners for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The agency currently operates with only a single commissioner, Chairman Michael Selig, leaving it without the quorum needed for major rulemakings and decisions.
In a bipartisan letter reported by Cointelegraph, Representatives Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Angie Craig (D-MN) stressed that a fully staffed CFTC is essential to handle the regulatory overhaul that would follow the expected passage of the CLARITY Act (Commodity Futures Trading Commission Authority and Legal Certainty for Innovation in Transactions of Yield Act). The legislation would grant the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction over digital commodities like Bitcoin and Ethereum, while clarifying the Securities and Exchange Commission’s role in overseeing digital asset securities.
The push comes as the House prepares for a critical vote on the bill. Industry observers view the CLARITY Act as a potential turning point for U.S. crypto policy, offering long-sought legal certainty to market participants. However, without a full commission, the CFTC could struggle to issue timely rules, guidance, and enforcement actions, perpetuating the regulatory gray zone that has deterred institutional involvement.
The bipartisan nature of the appeal signals that cryptocurrency regulation may be one of the few areas where Congress can find common ground. For the crypto industry, the outcome will help determine whether the United States remains a competitive hub for digital asset innovation or cedes ground to jurisdictions with clearer frameworks.
