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U.S. CFTC Launches Innovation Task Force for Crypto, AI and Prediction Markets

U.S. CFTC Launches Innovation Task Force for Crypto, AI and Prediction Markets

CFTC Chair Mike Selig announced the first five members of the new task force, which will be led by senior adviser Michael Passalacqua and focus on clearer rules for several emerging technologies.

Fact Check
The core claim is directly supported by the official CFTC press release, "CFTC Announces Innovation Task Force Staff | CFTC." That source states the CFTC announced the members of the Innovation Task Force on April 10, 2026; that Michael J. Passalacqua leads it; that the task force will help develop a clear regulatory framework for crypto assets and blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, and prediction markets and event contracts; and that the initial five members are Hank Balaban, Sam Canavos, Mark Fajfar, Eugene Gonzalez IV, and Dina Moussa. The same release attributes a statement to Chairman Michael S. Selig about delivering "clear rules of the road for American innovators." Secondary reports in "CFTC unveils innovation task force members in crypto clarity push" and "CFTC expands crypto push as CLARITY Act awaits senate action" align with the press release and provide context that Selig had launched the task force earlier and appointed Passalacqua to lead it. I attempted an additional corroboration on X, but that search failed; however, the official CFTC release is sufficient primary evidence.
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Summary

CFTC Chair Mike Selig announced the first five members of the agency’s new Innovation Task Force. The group will be led by senior adviser Michael Passalacqua and is intended to help create clearer rules for U.S. innovators. According to the announcement, the task force will focus on crypto and blockchain, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, contracts, and prediction markets.

Terms & Concepts
  • CFTC: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the U.S. regulator overseeing derivatives markets, including some crypto-related products.
  • Prediction markets: Trading venues where participants buy and sell contracts tied to the outcome of future events.
  • Blockchain: A distributed digital ledger that records transactions across a network, commonly used to support cryptocurrencies and related applications.