The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) may permit trading platforms licensed under Europe’s new MiCA framework to operate in American markets, Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham told UK lawmakers.

Speaking before the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Blockchain Technologies in London, Pham said the CFTC is examining whether MiCA-authorised venues could qualify under its long-standing cross-border recognition rules.

According to Finance Magnates, Pham stated:

“The CFTC will also explore whether trading platforms authorised under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), or similar virtual asset or crypto asset regimes, would also qualify under the CFTC’s current cross-border frameworks.”

The Acting CFTC Chair highlighted that many US crypto firms relocated abroad amid years of regulatory uncertainty, with some establishing trading venues in Europe under MiFID or preparing for MiCA authorisation.

She suggested that Europe’s MiCA regulation could, for the first time, provide a gateway for access to US participants.

“Because of the lack of US regulatory clarity and the enforcement-first approach of the past several years, many US firms established affiliates in non-US jurisdictions with clear regulations for crypto asset activities,”

she explained.

Pham also noted a “new beginning” of coordination between the SEC and CFTC.

The two agencies plan to hold a joint roundtable later this month to discuss harmonising product definitions, data standards, and innovation exemptions.

Her remarks follow the release of the Trump Administration’s digital asset roadmap, which calls for modernised banking rules, stronger stablecoin oversight, and new tools such as safe harbours and sandboxes.

The CFTC has launched a “Crypto Sprint” to solicit public feedback on listed spot crypto trading, with comments due by October 20.

Pham emphasised that regulation must remain “technology-neutral” and warned against repeating mistakes from the Dodd-Frank Act that created “regulatory moats and market fragmentation.”

Through her role at the CFTC’s Global Markets Advisory Committee, Pham has advocated pragmatic cross-border rules, suggesting alignment with regimes like MiCA, which cover capital, custody, transparency, and retail protection, to prevent further fragmentation.

US regulators have indicated openness towards cryptocurrency trading, with existing registered platforms reportedly capable of handling spot transactions under their oversight.

In a joint statement, the SEC and CFTC encouraged platforms to approach them with questions, signalling a willingness to operate within current frameworks rather than await new legislation.

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News America, based on image by wirestock via Freepik