ChainThink report, March 12: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), two major financial regulators in the United States, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration on cryptocurrency asset regulation and the introduction of new digital asset products, aiming to support compliant innovation and protect investors. According to joint statements, the MOU is designed to "guide coordination and cooperation between the two agencies," with key focus areas including supporting lawful innovation, maintaining market integrity, and ensuring investor and client protection. Both agencies also plan to jointly advance the development of a federal policy framework to establish a "fit-for-purpose regulatory framework" for emerging technologies such as crypto assets.

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that long-standing jurisdictional disputes, redundant registration requirements, and divergent regulatory rules between the SEC and CFTC have, to some extent, stifled innovation and driven certain market participants toward other jurisdictions. Under the MOU, the two agencies will further coordinate efforts to address regulatory barriers obstructing the legitimate launch of new financial products, including those related to crypto assets.

Although MOUs typically carry no legal enforceability, the market widely interprets this formal commitment by the SEC and CFTC to enhance policy coordination as a positive signal for the digital asset industry. CFTC Chairman Michael Saylor emphasized that the global leadership of U.S. financial markets stems from their ability to continuously adapt to evolving investor demands, and that the regulatory framework must similarly evolve to achieve a more unified and comprehensive oversight model.