Crypto World

CFTC Launches “Future-Proof” Program

Published

2 months ago

4 February 2026

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The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has launched a new program called Future-Proof to modernize its rules for crypto assets and prediction markets.

CFTC Chair Mike Selig said the agency’s current regulations were originally written for agricultural futures and are no longer suitable for today’s fast-growing crypto and financial technology markets. Selig explained that prediction markets and digital assets have expanded quickly, but clear regulations have not kept up. Crypto is now a multi-trillion-dollar global industry, and the CFTC believes updated, transparent rules are needed to protect investors while allowing innovation to grow.

Today, I am launching the “Future-Proof” initiative at the @CFTC.
We are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of American financial markets. The CFTC must be equipped to serve the markets of the future.
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Read my full op-ed in today’s @washingtonpost: https://t.co/zWAAjXt4Kg. /1
— Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) January 20, 2026

To guide this process, the agency will rely on its Innovation Advisory Committee, which will make policy recommendations on crypto, prediction markets, and other emerging asset classes. Selig also criticized the CFTC’s past approach of relying mainly on enforcement actions. Under the Future-Proof initiative, the agency wants to shift toward a balanced regulatory strategy that protects markets without slowing innovation.

CFTC Pushes for Clearer Crypto Rules

Selig has also emphasized that rules should be clear, flexible, and designed for modern financial systems. The program also recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence and blockchain in finance. These technologies now allow for 24/7 trading. For example, the New York Stock Exchange has announced plans to use blockchain for its tokenization platform, enabling round-the-clock trading of stocks and ETFs.

Looking ahead, Selig said the CFTC must prepare for broader responsibilities as the crypto market continues to expand. Under the proposed CLARITY Act, the CFTC and the SEC would share more oversight of the industry. Selig believes the CFTC is well-positioned to regulate blockchain-based assets.

This announcement follows years of tension between U.S. regulators and cryptocurrency companies. Industry leaders, including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, have argued that unclear rules in the U.S. have slowed innovation and forced some firms to move abroad. Selig said the CFTC will move away from “regulation by enforcement” and instead introduce purpose-specific rules through public consultation.

Fake Ledger Device Sold Chinese Marketplace: Research

Published

34 seconds ago

17 April 2026

NewsAdmin

China, Ledger, Hardware Wallet, Cybersecurity, Hacks

A Brazilian security researcher has warned others of the latest counterfeit Ledger device scam aimed at stealing users’ crypto.

Posting as “Past_Computer2901” on the “ledgerwallet” Reddit channel on Thursday, the security researcher said they purchased what they thought was a legitimate Ledger device for personal use, but soon realized after it arrived that it was a sophisticated counterfeit aimed at stealing user funds.

“This isn’t meant to cause panic, but rather to serve as a serious warning — I’m honestly still a bit shaken by the sheer scale of this operation,” they said.

Scammers are adopting increasingly sophisticated strategies to target users opting for self-custody, from supply chain attacks to social engineering and approval scams.

Earlier this month, more than 50 victims were tricked into revealing their seed phrases on a fake Ledger Live app that made its way to the Apple App Store via a bait-and-switch strategy. The victims lost a combined $9.5 million before Apple took down the malicious app.

How the counterfeit Ledger device scam works

The researcher said he bought the Ledger Nano S Plus from a Chinese marketplace, which was priced the same as the official Ledger store. The packaging and the listing also appeared legitimate at first.

However, when they connected the device to the genuine Ledger Live app — which was luckily already installed on their computer — it failed Ledger’s built-in “Genuine Check.”

This prompted them to pull apart the device, discovering modified hardware and firmware designed to capture and expose sensitive wallet data.

The security researcher said the scammers target first-time Ledger users, as the QR code that comes in the box would normally direct users to download a malicious version of the Ledger Live app that would show a fake “Genuine Check.”

Users continuing to follow the prompts will eventually allow scammers to obtain a user’s seed phrases and drain funds at any time.

“Stay safe out there. Only download Ledger Live from ledger.com. Only buy hardware from ledger.com,” the security researcher said.

“If your device fails the Genuine Check — stop using it immediately.”

After pulling apart the device, they discovered clear signs of tampering, including scraped chip markings and a WiFi and Bluetooth antenna embedded inside the unit.

Legitimate Ledger hardware products are designed to keep private keys fully offline.

The security researcher then looked into the firmware, putting the “chip into boot mode,” which initially identified the device as a Nano S Plus 7704 with an attached serial number.

However, once the boot sequence completed, another manufacturer’s name showed up: Espressif Systems, a publicly listed Chinese semiconductor company based in Shanghai.

Cointelegraph reached out to Espressif for comment but didn’t receive an immediate response.

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