CFTC Pulls Crypto Delivery Guidance, Issues No-Action

  • CFTC pulled older crypto delivery guidance on December 11, 2025.
  • CFTC staff gave narrow no-action relief for event contract reporting rules.
  • Pham said Crypto Sprint feedback will shape what guidance comes next.

On Thursday, December 11, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced two digital assets-related moves. 

The initial announcement covered the withdrawal of older guidance tied to “actual delivery” for virtual currencies, while the second action issued staff no-action letters on swap data reporting and recordkeeping tied to certain event contract binary options.

Related: CFTC Approves BTC, ETH and USDC as Margin Collateral, 2020 Ban Withdrawn

Why the CFTC Withdrew Crypto Delivery Guidance

According to a publication on the Commission’s website, its Acting Chairman, Caroline D. Pham, who made the announcement, stated that the current administration wants to remove older guidance that adds compliance friction for crypto markets. 

Pham framed the withdrawal as part of the CFTC’s work tied to the President’s Working Group digital assets report and said the agency will weigh whether updated guidance or frequently asked questions are needed, with public input routed through the CFTC Crypto Sprint. The adjustment functions as guidance, not statute, and a future Commission can revisit the posture without Congress changing the underlying law.

How the No-Action Letters Treat Event Contract Reporting

Meanwhile, the CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight and the Division of Clearing and Risk have, on the same day, announced taking a no-action position regarding swap data reporting and recordkeeping regulations. According to the announcement, certain registered entities will henceforth be exempt from enforcement actions by the CFTC for failure to report to swap data repositories associated with binary options transactions executed on or subject to the rules of the registered entities.

Related: CFTC CEO Council Zeros In On Crypto, Tokenization And 24/7 Markets

The Commission clarified that the no-action letters apply only in narrow circumstances and are comparable to no-action letters issued for other similarly situated designated contract markets and derivatives clearing organizations.

It is worth noting that the latest rules adjustment by the CFTC aligns with the Commission’s ongoing shift in focus under the Donald Trump administration, which primarily centers on expanding its authority over the digital assets market. The movement will reduce the SEC’s role in the sector and move toward a less enforcement-heavy and more clarity-first regulatory approach.

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Source: https://coinedition.com/cftc-scraps-outdated-crypto-rules-cuts-prediction-market-data-burden/