Securities Regulation Daily Wrap Up, CFTC NEWS AND SPEECHES—Commission issues RFI aimed at identifying regulations that limit fintech innovation, (Jun 17, 2026)

By Suzanne Cosgrove

The request was made following the issuance of an Executive Order that directs federal agencies to update and streamline their rules and processes.

The CFTC has issued a Request for Information (RFI) designed to assist with identifying regulations, guidance documents, orders, no-action letters, and other items that may impede fintech firms from entering into partnerships with financial infrastructures and intermediaries regulated by the Commission, including futures commission merchants, introducing brokers, swap dealers, commodity pool operators and designated contract markets.

The RFI also seeks to pinpoint CFTC regulatory items that could be amended to streamline application processes for eligible fintech firms “in order to facilitate innovation and competition,” the Commission said.

The CFTC said in a release that the Request for Information will help the Commission to comply with its obligations under Executive Order 14405, “Integrating Financial Technology Innovation into Regulatory Frameworks,” signed on May 19, 2026. The order directs the federal government to update regulations to allow the integration of digital assets and innovative technology into traditional financial services and payment systems.

The EO instructs the federal government to “remove overly burdensome and fragmented regulations and supervisory practices that form barriers to entry and primarily benefit incumbent financial services firms.”

Within 90 days of the date of EO 14405, federal regulators are to conduct a review of existing regulations, guidance, supervisory practices, and application processes to identify those that could be updated to facilitate innovation and competition in financial products and services for fintech firms, particularly those that are small and emerging.

A fintech firm is defined by the order as a nonbank company “that uses or develops technological means to offer or support the offering of financial products or services, including, but not limited to, any application or any digital or online technology” that facilitates access to data processing for financial products or services.

The comment period for the RFI will be open for 21 days after its publication in the Federal Register. Comments may be submitted electronically through Regulations.gov.

This is CFTC Release No. 9254-26.

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