A landmark roundtable signals a bold push to unify SEC and CFTC oversight, aligning rules, cutting red tape, and igniting a new era of market innovation.
Joint Roundtable Will Examine SEC-CFTC Coordination on Financial Oversight
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced on Sept. 5 that they will co-host a public roundtable on Sept. 29, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at SEC headquarters in Washington D.C. The event will be open to the public, webcast live, and later posted on the SEC’s website.
SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins and CFTC Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham highlighted its purpose directly:
The roundtable will be an opportunity to discuss regulatory harmonization priorities.
The two regulators tied the event to broader initiatives aimed at reducing fragmented oversight. They stated: “Tuesday’s joint staff statement on spot crypto asset products is only a first step. To the extent possible and appropriate in the public interest under existing statutes, our respective agencies should consider harmonizing product and venue definitions; streamlining reporting and data standards; aligning capital and margin frameworks; and standing up coordinated innovation exemptions using each agency’s existing exemptive authority.” This marked one of the most detailed outlines yet of how the agencies intend to move toward greater consistency in rulemaking.
Atkins and Pham also stressed the strategic significance of their coordinated approach for U.S. markets. They said:
This roundtable represents a pivotal step toward building more coherent and competitive U.S. markets.
“By working together to align our regulatory frameworks, the SEC and CFTC can reduce unnecessary barriers, enhance market efficiency, and create space for innovation to thrive. Our shared goal is to ensure that America remains the global leader in capital markets,” the regulators added. Their remarks reinforced that the roundtable is not only a discussion forum but a key milestone in shaping the future of regulatory cooperation.
