CFTC Launches LabCFTC as Major Fintech Initiative

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On May 17, 2017, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC“) approved the creation of LabCFTC, which it describes as “a new initiative aimed at promoting responsible fintech innovation to improve the quality, resiliency and competitiveness of the markets the CFTC oversees.” LabCFTC will also “look to accelerate CFTC engagement with fintech and RegTech solutions that may enable the CFTC to carry out its mission responsibilities more effectively and efficiently.”

The CFTC intends for LabCFTC to be the agency’s focal point to promote fintech innovation and fair competition by making the CFTC more accessible to fintech innovators and serve as a platform to inform the CFTC’s understanding of new technologies. Moreover, the CFTC intends that LabCFTC will be an information source for the CFTC and its staff on responsible innovation that may influence policy development. For more information regarding LabCFTC click here.

The CFTC identified the following Core LabCFTC Components:

  • GuidePoint: GuidePoint is a new dedicated point of contact for fintech innovators to engage with the CFTC, learn about the CFTC’s regulatory framework and obtain feedback and information on the implementation of innovative technology ideas for the market. The CFTC believes that such feedback may include information that, particularly at an early stage, could help innovators/entities save time and money by helping them understand relevant regulations and the CFTC’s oversight approach.
  • CFTC 2.0: A new initiative to foster and help promote the adoption of new technology within the CFTC’s own mission activities through collaboration with fintech industry and CFTC market participants.

The CFTC intends that LabCFTC will facilitate:

  • Through proactive engagement with the innovator community, a better understanding in the CFTC of how new innovations interact with the regulatory and supervisory framework and identification of areas where the framework could better support responsible innovation.
  • Collaboration among the fintech industry and CFTC market participants that facilitate responsible market innovation and promote the use of technology within the CFTC; CFTC participation in studies and research that facilitate responsible innovation in the markets and promote the use of technology within the agency.
  • Cooperation with financial regulators at home and overseas.
  • Monitoring of trends and developments to ensure that CFTC’s regulatory framework supports – and does not unduly impede – responsible technological innovation.
  • Information sharing about applications of fintech, including potential use cases, benefits, risks and solutions.

Engagement with academia, students and professionals on applications of FinTech relevant in the CFTC space.