March 3, 2026, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Mike Selig announced that the agency is close to releasing policies that will allow crypto perpetual futures to be offered responsibly within the United States. Selig indicated that this guidance is expected within the next few weeks, marking a major shift intended to bring onshore a market that has historically been dominated by offshore exchanges like Binance and Bybit.
Key Details of the Announcement
Onshore Transition: Selig noted that the lack of U.S. regulation previously pushed these products offshore; the new guidance aims to promote "professional-grade" perpetual futures domestically.
Project Crypto Collaboration: The initiative is part of "Project Crypto," a joint effort between the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Chairman Paul Atkins to harmonize digital asset oversight.
Leverage Limits: Current reports suggest the framework may allow perpetual futures with up to 10x leverage under a regulated environment.
Registration Tailoring: The CFTC is exploring a new category of Designated Contract Market (DCM) registration specifically tailored for retail leveraged crypto trading.
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Broader Regulatory Context
This announcement is part of a series of near-term policy changes under the Trump administration's "future-proof" initiative. In addition to perpetual futures, the CFTC is expected to release:
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Prediction Markets: Guidance to provide a legal basis for platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi.
DeFi Developers: Regulatory frameworks and potential safe harbors for software developers.
Tokenized Collateral: Rules to enable the use of tokenized assets, including stablecoins, as collateral in 24/7 markets.
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Crypto Market Status (March 3, 2026)
Bitcoin (BTC): 68000