Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael S. Selig has announced the launch of the Innovation Advisory Committee (IAC), a group intended to provide expertise and recommendations on innovation in financial markets. The IAC, which was previously known as the Technology Advisory Committee, will now include representatives from various sectors such as the financial industry, regulatory bodies, technology providers, public interest groups, academia, and market infrastructure firms.
Chairman Selig will sponsor the committee and plans to nominate participants from the CEO Innovation Council as its initial members. He is also seeking additional nominations for IAC membership. Submissions must be received by January 31, 2026.
“A wide range of novel technologies are enabling the creation of entirely new products, platforms, and businesses and transforming the financial markets landscape,” Chairman Selig said. “Innovators are harnessing technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud computing to modernize legacy financial systems and build entirely new ones. Under my leadership, the Commission will develop fit-for-purpose market structure regulations for this new frontier of finance. The Innovation Advisory Committee will play a critical role in advising the Commission on the commercial, economic, and practical considerations of emerging products, platforms, and business models in the financial markets so that it can develop clear rules of the road for the Golden Age of American Financial Markets.”
According to its charter, the IAC’s main goal is to advise and make recommendations to the CFTC about technological innovation in financial services—including derivatives and commodity markets—and how these changes impact both professionals and users within those sectors. The committee may also recommend appropriate levels of investment in technology at CFTC for surveillance or enforcement needs.
The public is invited to nominate individuals for IAC membership or propose topics for consideration. Nominations should include details about each nominee’s qualifications along with contact information for both nominee and nominator. Submissions should be sent by email by January 31; submitting a nomination does not guarantee selection.
The CFTC currently oversees five advisory committees that offer advice on regulatory issues affecting U.S. market integrity and competitiveness. These committees help facilitate communication between regulators like CFTC and other stakeholders including market participants and academics.
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