What are the new rules for crypto in 2025?
The question on every investor’s mind—what are the new rules for crypto in 2025?—is being answered in real time as U.S. regulators overhaul how they monitor and govern the fast-moving digital asset industry.
In a pivotal step, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has adopted Nasdaq’s advanced Market Surveillance platform to track manipulation, insider trading, and fraud across derivatives and digital assets. At the same time, the U.S. Treasury Department is using the newly enacted GENIUS Act to seek public input on technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain monitoring to combat crypto-related crime.
Together, these efforts signal that 2025 may be remembered as the year Washington finally put a serious regulatory framework around crypto markets.
CFTC’s Push to Become a 21st Century Regulator
On August 27, 2025, the CFTC launched Nasdaq’s surveillance technology, replacing its outdated 1990s-era system. Acting Chair Caroline D. Pham called it a turning point in transforming the agency into a “21st century regulator.”
The new system provides:
- Automated alerts for unusual activity
- Cross-market analytics spanning asset classes
- Granular order book tracking for trade-by-trade scrutiny
- Scalable architecture to handle volatility surges
Nasdaq Market Surveillance is already used by 50+ global exchanges and 20 international regulators—including major stock and derivatives markets—making its adoption by the CFTC a milestone in aligning crypto oversight with traditional finance.
According to Tal Cohen, Nasdaq President, the partnership highlights how regulators need tools that adapt to “rapid regulatory evolution and emerging asset classes.”
Read more about Nasdaq Market Surveillance
Why Stricter Oversight Is Urgent
Fraud, wash trading, and pump-and-dump schemes have plagued crypto markets for years. A Chainalysis report estimated that $2.57 billion in trading volume was linked to wash trading in 2025 alone, largely concentrated among a handful of actors.
Meanwhile, Global Ledger research found that crypto criminals can move stolen funds within four seconds, while laundering is often completed in under three minutes—long before public disclosures or exchange defenses kick in.
This speed of illicit activity poses a direct challenge to regulators, who have historically lacked real-time tools. By deploying Nasdaq’s system, the CFTC hopes to finally close that gap.
Treasury’s GENIUS Act and AI-Driven Compliance
Parallel to the CFTC’s surveillance upgrade, the U.S. Treasury is rolling out the GENIUS Act, which opened a 60-day public comment period on August 19, 2025.
The initiative seeks input on advanced tools such as:
- AI-powered monitoring systems
- Blockchain forensics
- Digital identity verification
- Open APIs for financial institutions
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the effort “essential” for safeguarding U.S. leadership in digital assets and expanding regulated stablecoins worldwide.
Read the Treasury’s call for comments
Political and Regulatory Uncertainty
Despite progress, leadership uncertainty looms over the CFTC. Commissioner Kristin Johnson is set to depart in September, leaving Pham as the only sitting member of what is normally a five-person commission.
Reports suggest Pham may also exit once Brian Quintenz—President Trump’s nominee and former CFTC commissioner—is confirmed. Insiders have linked her to a potential role at crypto payments firm MoonPay, adding another layer of intrigue.
Meanwhile, Congress is still debating the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, which could expand the CFTC’s authority to cover spot crypto markets—a move long urged by the White House.
The Rising Stakes of Regulation in 2025
The urgency of new rules for crypto in 2025 is underscored by rising hacks. In the first half of the year alone, $3 billion was stolen across 119 incidents. The CFTC’s surveillance sprint and the Treasury’s GENIUS Act are responses to a digital economy where criminal tactics evolve faster than enforcement.
Washington’s message is clear: crypto will no longer be left in regulatory limbo.
FAQs: What are the new rules for crypto in 2025?
Q1: What are the new rules for crypto in 2025 from the CFTC?
The CFTC has adopted Nasdaq’s Market Surveillance platform to monitor fraud, manipulation, and insider trading across crypto and derivatives markets.
Q2: How does the Treasury’s GENIUS Act affect crypto in 2025?
The GENIUS Act is pushing AI, blockchain monitoring, and identity verification tools to combat money laundering and improve digital asset oversight.
Q3: Will the new crypto rules in 2025 impact investors?
Yes. Stricter surveillance and possible expansion of CFTC authority mean exchanges will face tighter compliance, which could reduce fraud but increase reporting burdens.
Q4: Are these 2025 crypto rules final?
Not yet. Many initiatives are still in public consultation or pending Congressional approval, but the regulatory direction is clearly toward stronger oversight.
Conclusion: The Future of U.S. Crypto Oversight
So, what are the new rules for crypto in 2025? The answer lies in a coordinated push by the CFTC and Treasury to bring Wall Street-grade surveillance to crypto markets. From Nasdaq-powered monitoring to AI-driven compliance under the GENIUS Act, regulators are making clear that the era of light-touch crypto oversight is ending.
Looking forward, the decisive factor will be whether Congress expands the CFTC’s authority to spot markets, and whether regulators can keep pace with the lightning speed of illicit crypto activity. One thing is certain: 2025 marks a turning point in the U.S. government’s effort to finally bring order to digital assets.
