The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission just named 35 heavy hitters to a brand-new Innovation Advisory Committee, and the list reads like a who’s who of crypto and prediction markets. Executives from Polymarket, Kalshi, DraftKings, and FanDuel now sit at the table with regulators in a clear sign Washington wants fresh voices on fast-moving trading products.
This powerful lineup could shape the future of event contracts and digital assets for years.
Federal agencies rarely move fast, but the explosion of prediction markets during the 2024 election changed everything. Platforms like Polymarket handled hundreds of millions in trades on political outcomes while facing legal questions about whether those contracts count as illegal gambling or legitimate hedging tools.
CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam has pushed for clearer rules on “event contracts” for years. He launched the Innovation Advisory Committee to bring real-world experts directly into the conversation instead of letting courts decide everything.
The 35-member panel includes former regulators, academics, and now a large group of industry leaders who actually run the platforms under scrutiny.
The Standout Names Driving Headlines
The CFTC dropped the full roster on Monday, and several appointments jumped off the page:
- Shayne Coplan, CEO of Polymarket
- Tarek Mansour, CEO of Kalshi
- Jason Robins, CEO of DraftKings
- Christian Genetski, President of FanDuel
- Representatives from Coinbase, Kraken, and Robinhood
Having CEOs from Polymarket and Kalshi advise the same agency that decides if their core products are legal marks a major shift in tone from Washington.
Smaller prediction platforms like PredictIt watched from the sidelines for years while fighting costly court battles. Now their bigger rivals sit inside the room where rules get written.
What the Committee Actually Does
The group meets several times a year and gives formal recommendations straight to the five CFTC commissioners. Past advice from older panels helped shape rules on Bitcoin futures and carbon markets.
This time the focus falls squarely on:
- Event contracts tied to elections, sports, and news outcomes
- Crypto derivatives and decentralized finance products
- Ways to protect retail traders without killing innovation
Members serve two-year terms and start work immediately. The first meeting date has not been set yet.
How Wall Street and Crypto Reacted
Trading firms and crypto exchanges cheered the news. Shares of Coinbase and Robinhood rose slightly in afternoon trading after the announcement hit.
One crypto policy analyst called it “the most industry-friendly signal from the CFTC in a decade.” Sports betting giants DraftKings and FanDuel also gain a direct line to regulators at a time when states keep expanding legal gambling.
The Bigger Picture for Everyday Traders
Regular people who bet on elections or trade crypto now have executives speaking for them inside a powerful federal agency. That direct access rarely happens.
If the committee pushes for clear yes-or-no rules on event contracts, billions of dollars currently sitting on the sidelines could flow into U.S.-regulated platforms. Faster innovation and lower legal risk would follow.
On the flip side, consumer groups worry the panel leans too heavy toward industry and may downplay gambling-style risks for retail users.
The next few months will show whether this committee speeds up smart rules or simply delays tough decisions again. One thing stays certain: the people who built these markets now help write the playbook.
This bold move by the CFTC proves regulators finally recognize prediction markets and crypto have grown too big to ignore. Real change feels closer than ever for millions of traders across America.
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