The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has appointed executives from prediction markets, cryptocurrency firms and major financial exchanges to a new 35-member Innovation Advisory Committee, a move that could signal a more open federal stance toward emerging trading products amid ongoing legal scrutiny.
The committee includes senior figures from prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi, as well as leaders from major sportsbooks and crypto firms, according to a statement from the regulator.
Among those named are Polymarket chief executive Shayne Coplan, Kalshi chief executive Tarek Mansour, Jason Robins of DraftKings, and Christian Genetski of FanDuel, reflecting the growing overlap between sports betting and event-based contracts.
The panel also includes executives from major financial market operators and technology firms, including Adena Friedman, chair and chief executive of Nasdaq, as well as representatives from Intercontinental Exchange, CME Group and Cboe Global Markets.
“Today marks an important and energizing moment at the CFTC as the Innovation Advisory Committee takes shape,” said CFTC chairman Michael Selig. “The IAC’s work will help ensure the CFTC’s decisions reflect market realities so the agency can future-proof its markets and develop clear rules of the road for the Golden Age of American Financial Markets.”
The committee, which launched in January and replaces the CFTC’s Technology Advisory Committee, is intended to advise the agency as innovations such as artificial intelligence and blockchain continue to transform derivatives and financial markets.
“America is home to the most transparent and well-regulated financial markets in the world, but we cannot assume that this will always be the case,” Selig said. “By bringing together participants from every corner of the marketplace, the IAC will be a major asset for the Commission as we work to modernize our rules and regulations for the innovations of today and tomorrow.”
Crypto executives make up the bulk of the committee. Of the 35 members, about 20 are tied to crypto-related companies, including Brian Armstrong of Coinbase, Brad Garlinghouse of Ripple, Tyler Winklevoss of Gemini, and Kris Marszalek of Crypto.com.
The inclusion of at least five executives from prediction markets comes as those products face mounting scrutiny at the state level. Earlier this month, New York Attorney General Letitia James said prediction markets were enabling “unregulated gambling” and exposing consumers to significant risk.
The committee will provide guidance to the CFTC on the commercial, economic and operational implications of new products, trading platforms and business models in financial markets.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/02/17/117644-cftc-appoints-prediction-market-crypto-executives-to-innovation-advisory-committee
