Heath Tarbert, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has said the institution is ready to add futures of other currencies apart from Bitcoin. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is responsible for deciding whether a particular digital asset is a security or not. Tarbert has said:
"If their determination is that it’s not a security then we can start taking it under our own purview."
Bitcoin and Ethereum are currently recognized as commodities in the US, so they cannot be classified as securities. Both cryptos have their own regulated futures, which in the case of Ethereum are only available since May.
Tarbert has highlighted "it’s critically important that the United States lead in technology and especially blockchain technology:"
"I don’t think I can say that we’re a leader from the regulatory standpoint. I do think we’re a leader from the technological standpoint."
Tarbert added:
"Regulators and governors care about borders but technology doesn’t. So really for this field to reach its full potential we need international cooperation."
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