As an experienced financial analyst, I strongly agree with Rostin Benham’s stance on classifying bitcoin and Ether as commodities under the purview of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The recent court ruling in a significant $120 million Ponzi scheme case that involved the use of these cryptocurrencies as commodities further solidifies this classification.


As a financial analyst, I would rephrase it as: During a Senate hearing on July 9 with the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam expressed his viewpoint that bitcoin and Ether should be classified as commodities and therefore come under the jurisdiction of his commission.

In a recent legal case, his organization took action against a fraudster from Oregon who employed cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether to deceive people. Notably, the judge in an Illinois court made a ruling that categorized Bitcoin and Ether as commodities based on this incident. This judgment serves as the latest instance of these digital assets being recognized as commodities within the legal framework.

This case is noteworthy due to a $120 million Ponzi scheme unraveled within it, generating widespread interest. The judge concurred with the CFTC’s stance, labeling other involved assets – Olympus (OHM) and KlimaDAO (KLIMA) – as commodities in this fraudulent scheme.

Benham believes now is the appropriate moment for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to assume responsibility for regulating digital assets that do not qualify as securities. In a public statement, he expressed concern that inaction on the part of regulators and the absence of clear crypto regulations could exacerbate the risks inherent in the digital asset market.

As an analyst, I firmly believe that standing idly by in the face of digital assets’ growing popularity won’t suppress public interest. Instead, it could lead to heightened risks for our financial markets and investors. Therefore, I strongly advocate for immediate federal legislation to establish a robust regulatory framework. This framework would safeguard American investors and potentially shield our financial system from future perils.

Benham elaborated on the role of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the current context, stating, “Regulatory bodies such as the CFTC were established specifically to address situations like the one we face today.” He also voiced concern over the delay in implementing crypto regulations in the US and the potential consequences of government inaction, “The misconception that regulation grants legitimacy to an asset class overlooks our fundamental duties.”

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2024-07-12 14:49