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SEC, CFTC end years of rivalry with deal that will mean combined crypto oversight

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SEC, CFTC end years of rivalry with deal that will mean combined crypto oversight

The U.S. markets regulators are melding their operations in the places where the duties of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) overlap, and building a crypto oversight framework is listed among the core aims of a written agreement released on Wednesday.

Most of the objectives of the memorandum of understanding in combining supervision, product approvals and policy interpretations, plus coordinating enforcement actions and providing dual registration, will effect the regulated majority of the crypto sector. But the agreement also specifically listed “Providing a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for crypto assets and other emerging technologies,” as a top goal.

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins had previewed the MOU in Tuesday remarks, detailing how the agencies are offering contact information for regulated firms to call combined meetings to discuss policy matters and product applications.

“For decades, regulatory turf wars, duplicative agency registrations, and different sets of regulations between the SEC and CFTC have stifled innovation and pushed market participants to other jurisdictions,” Atkins said in a statement on Wednesday. “By aligning regulatory definitions, coordinating oversight, and facilitating seamless, secure data sharing between agencies, we will ensure our rules and regulations deliver the clarity market participants deserve.”

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The new agreement says the staff of the CFTC and SEC will meet regularly and share data on mutual interests. That includes enforcement actions, which have historically been pursued independently, sometimes leaving a crypto firm confronted with similar accusations by both agencies. If the two regulators overlap in an enforcement case, they’re agreeing to “confer on potential charges and relief, sequencing of filings, litigation strategy and public communications.”

During the previous administration, other crypto positions of the two agencies sometimes directly contradicted each other, including in how certain assets were being placed in which bucket: securities or commodities.

Now, their enthusiasm for friendly crypto rules is mutual and essentially unopposed, with the CFTC run by a sole Republican chairman on an otherwise empty five-member commission and the SEC led by Atkins and two other Republicans, with the Democrat seats kept vacant.

The chairmen of the agencies were both appointed by President Donald Trump, who arrived in office last year with a new-found enthusiasm for crypto, stemming in part from his own growing business interests. Both Atkins and CFTC Chairman Mike Selig had worked for crypto clients prior to taking their jobs.

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Crypto World

February CPI Holds at 2.4% as Oil Shock Complicates Fed Rate Outlook

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR:

  • February CPI rose 2.4% YoY with core inflation at 2.5%, remaining above the Fed’s 2% target. 
  • Monthly CPI growth slowed slightly, aided by stable vehicle prices and lower rental inflation. 
  • Rising oil prices after the Iran conflict may push March inflation higher than February levels. 
  • Weak payroll growth and higher unemployment complicate the Fed’s March 18 policy decision.

February CPI data showed stable inflation in the United States during February. The figures matched expectations and indicated slower price growth.

However, rising oil prices and weaker employment data now place the Federal Reserve in a difficult position before its March policy meeting.

February CPI Shows Cooling Trend Before Energy Shock

February CPI increased 2.4% compared with the same period last year. The figure matched January’s reading and aligned with market expectations. 

Core inflation also remained steady at 2.5%, still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation target. Monthly price growth reached 0.3% in February after a 0.2% increase in January.

Core CPI rose 0.2%, slightly lower than the previous month. Lower rental inflation and stable vehicle prices helped keep monthly increases relatively moderate.

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Some consumer categories still experienced rising costs. Grocery prices climbed 0.4% during February and rose 2.4% compared with a year earlier. 

Clothing prices also increased sharply, rising 1.3% during the same month. Energy prices moved higher during February but remained manageable. 

Gasoline prices increased 0.8% during the month yet remained lower than last year’s levels. These numbers represent conditions before the recent geopolitical conflict affected global energy markets.

Bull Theory noted the timing challenge surrounding the data release. The post stated that the Federal Reserve received the “perfect inflation report at the worst possible time.”

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Oil Price Surge and Weak Jobs Data Complicate Fed Decision

Energy markets changed rapidly after the conflict involving Iran began near the end of February. Shipping disruptions in the Persian Gulf pushed oil prices sharply higher within days. 

Energy costs, therefore, started rising after the February CPI measurement period ended.

Oil prices briefly approached $120 per barrel before falling back to near $87. 

The market remains unstable because shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz face ongoing risks. Around 20% of global oil shipments normally pass through this route.

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Fuel prices are already increasing in the United States. The national average price for regular gasoline reached about $3.58 per gallon. 

That represents an increase of roughly 20% within one month. Higher fuel costs often affect transportation, logistics, and airline travel. 

Businesses may also experience higher shipping expenses if energy prices remain elevated. Economists, therefore, expect fuel costs to influence inflation in the next report.

At the same time, labor market data shows signs of slowing. Payroll growth reached only 58,000 jobs in February, far below expectations of 126,000. 

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The unemployment rate also rose to 4.4%. The Bull Theory summarized that policymakers now face three signals: cooling inflation, weakening jobs, and rising energy costs.

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VanEck Crypto ETPs Reach 401(k) Investors via Basic Capital

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VanEck Crypto ETPs Reach 401(k) Investors via Basic Capital

VanEck has made some of its digital asset exchange-traded products (ETPs) available to 401(k) holders in the United States, signaling a push to integrate crypto-focused investments into traditional retirement accounts.

On Wednesday, the fund issuer said a selection of its digital asset ETPs will be offered through Basic Capital, a fintech platform that provides employer-sponsored 401(k) plans.

The companies did not specify which VanEck digital asset ETPs will be available on the platform. Within crypto, VanEck is best known for the VanEck Bitcoin Trust (HODL) and the VanEck Ethereum Trust (ETHV), its spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The asset manager also offers the VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (DAPP), often referred to as its “Onchain Economy” ETF, which invests in companies involved in the digital asset ecosystem. 

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VanEck expanded its crypto product lineup earlier this year by launching a spot Avalanche ETF in the United States. 

The US Department of Labor in May backtracked on previous federal guidance that discouraged 401(k) plan providers from offering crypto among their investment options.

Source: VanEck

Basic Capital was founded in 2021 and raised $25 million in a Series A funding round last year led by venture capital firms Forerunner and Lux Capital. The company’s 401(k) platform gives investors access to alternative assets beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

Related: Ethereum is very much ‘the Wall Street token,’ VanEck CEO says

Policy shift opens retirement plans to alternative assets

The move comes amid growing regulatory momentum to integrate digital assets into traditional retirement planning.

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In August, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to expand access to alternative assets in 401(k) plans, including digital assets.

The directive called on agencies such as the Treasury Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission to coordinate on potential rule changes to support the broader adoption of alternative investments in retirement accounts.

The policy shift comes as more Americans rely on workplace retirement plans to build long-term savings.

Employer-sponsored defined contribution plans held about $13.9 trillion in assets as of September, including roughly $10 trillion in 401(k) plans, according to the Investment Company Institute.

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401(k) plans are grouped under Defined Contribution (DC) plans. Source. Investment Company Institute

Separate data from Vanguard’s “How America Saves 2025” report suggests savings rates are also rising. Nearly half (45%) of participants increased their contribution rates in 2024, reflecting the growing use of automatic contribution features in employer plans.

Related: Crypto’s 2026 investment playbook: Bitcoin, stablecoin infrastructure, tokenized assets