The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, CFTC, yesterday published a request for public information on crypto-asset mechanisms and market, in particular on the crypto Ether and the Ethereum technology.
After the strong interest towards the queen of crypto, to an extent where last month also the Nasdaq had collaborated with the CFTC to clear doubts on the feasibility of introducing a bitcoin futures market within the end of the first quarter of 2019, it now seems that the crypto-asset Ethereum is under the radar.
The CFTC has already presented a request for information, the RFI, a document where it asks for information and public comments within 60 days starting from yesterday, December 11th, about the cryptocurrency Ether and its blockchain. This will allow having a complete picture in order to better understand Ethereum.
According to the official report, the RFI has been published in the Federal Register and, in addition to the specifications dedicated to the functioning of the Ethereum technology, in terms of opportunities, challenges and risks, it also requires a list of the similarities and distinctions between the cryptocurrencies Ether and Bitcoin.
The American Commission dedicated to futures contracts has created its own FinTech initiative called LabCFTC as a reference for the collection of information on new emerging technologies, such as the cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and now also Ethereum, so as to be able to gain understanding and keep pace with these evolving markets.
Is the CFTC trying to understand how Ethereum works in order to create the basis for a new ethereum futures trading market?
At the moment, there are no statements or confirmations, but given that bitcoin is the only crypto that has a regulated futures trading market, nothing excludes that the time has also come for ethereum’s futures.
An excellent opportunity also in terms of market capitalisation for the entire ethereum network that could regain from Ripple its second place in the crypto market ranking.
