Regulation
CFTC Appoints Dr. Ted Kaouk as First Chief AI Officer

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced the appointment of Dr. Ted Kaouk as its first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer. As Dr. Kaouk is now acting as the Chief Data Officer and Director of the Division of Data at the CFTC, he will broaden his duties to oversee the development and execution of the CFTC’s overall data and artificial intelligence strategy.
This progress is intended to enhance oversight, surveillance, and enforcement, as well as other segments of the derivatives market in which the CFTC operates.
The CFTC now has a “Chief AI Officer”
What a time to be alive pic.twitter.com/fXZHz7eZzv
— M.B. (@741trey) May 1, 2024
Chairman Rostin Behnam highlighted the importance of advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence in evolving the operational systems of the CFTC. In Chairman Behnam’s words, Dr. Kaouk’s deep technical knowledge and prior successful leadership are critical for driving the CFTC’s initiatives at this current time. The inclusion of AI into the agency’s activities is anticipated to upgrade sets of skills, cultivate data utilized culture, and use AI for innovation within financial market rules.
Background and Expertise of Dr. Ted Kaouk
Prior to being at CFTC, Dr. Kaouk occupied positions in different government agencies. He was the Chief Data Officer at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where his role was to develop the first federal government-wide human capital data strategy.
Among his accomplishments is the creation of the first enterprise data analytics and AI platform at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Kaouk’s leadership was also evident in his position as the first Chair of the Federal Chief Data Officers Council, which he led from its creation in 2020 until January 2024.
Dr. Kaouk’s professional journey began as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, after which he went on to pursue his education in renowned academic centers. He received his undergraduate degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, his master’s degree from the University of Virginia, and his PhD is from the University of Maryland, College Park.
AI Day and the Future of AI in Financial Regulation
In line with the announcement of Dr. Kaouk’s new role, the Commission’s Technology Advisory Committee (TAC), held under the sponsorship of Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero, has released the agenda for the upcoming “AI Day.” This event will be held at the CFTC’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, where the responsible introduction of AI in regulated financial services will be discussed. The day’s sessions will also involve input from AI experts across different sectors, including government regulators and the private sector.
“AI Day” Agenda Announced for May 2 @CFTC Technology Advisory Committee Meeting: https://t.co/r2WTmf7GY5
— CFTC (@CFTC) May 1, 2024
The workshops will address a few important topics, among which is Sunayna Tuteja, the Chief Innovation Officer of the Federal Reserve Board, presenting the role of AI in driving responsible innovation at the Federal Reserve. Additional presentations will concern market automation, the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, and the U.S. Treasury Department’s report on AI in financial sector cyber security. The purpose of these discussions is to reflect on the application and regulation of AI equipment in the financial markets.
Concurrently, the AI Day event encourages public participation either in person or through a live webcast available on the CFTC’s official website. This initiative is a part of the TAC’s continuous endeavor to create the ground for informed conversations about the challenges of AI technologies at the interface of technology, law, and policy.
Read Also: Bitcoin (BTC) Now Worth Fewer Than 25 Ounces: Peter Schiff
The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
Ripple Drops Its Cross Appeal Against The US SEC

Ripple has dropped its cross-appeal against the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) following the latter’s decision to drop its case against the crypto firm last week. The firm’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Stuart Alderoty, also revealed what will happen with the $125 million penalty the Court awarded against them.
Ripple Drops Cross Appeal Against The US SEC
In an X post, Ripple’s CLO, Stuart Alderoty, revealed that his firm has now agreed to drop its cross-appeal against the US SEC after the Commission decided to drop the appeal without conditions.
This development officially ends the long-running legal battle between the crypto firm and the SEC, as the latter has also agreed to drop the Ripple lawsuit in its entirety.
Alderoty also revealed what will happen to the monetary judgment, which Judge Analisa Torres awarded against the crypto firm. He stated that the Commission will keep $50 million of the $125 million fine, which is already in an interest-bearing escrow in cash, while Ripple will collect the balance of $75 million.
Meanwhile, the US SEC will ask the Court to lift the standard injunction it imposed against the crypto firm at the Commission’s request. This move is subject to the Commission vote, the drafting of final documents, and routine court processes.
Significance Of This Development
Besides ending the Ripple lawsuit, the SEC’s agreement to request that the Court drop the standard injunction against the crypto firm paves the way for a surge in XRP’s adoption since the company can now proceed to carry on its on-demand liquidity (ODL) sales as usual.
Legal experts had predicted that Ripple was holding out on settlement to get the Commission to lower the fine and request the Court to drop the injunction. As such, these developments undoubtedly represent a massive victory for the firm.
CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently discussed the company’s future. He predicted that their US operations would grow in the coming months following the end of the lawsuit and thanks to imminent crypto legislation.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
Brad Garlinghouse Discusses Ripple’s Future, Crypto Legislation & Blockchain Technology As Lawsuit Ends

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently discussed what is next for his firm and how crypto legislation could also positively impact the crypto industry’s trajectory and the future of blockchain technology. This comes just days after the US SEC agreed to drop the long-running Ripple lawsuit.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Reveals What As SEC Drops Lawsuit
In a FOX Business interview, Brad Garlinghouse discussed what next for his firm following the SEC’s decision to drop the Ripple lawsuit. He noted that about 95% of the company’s customers are overseas, as the lawsuit hindered their US operations.
However, he suggested that will likely change moving forward as they grow their operations in the country. Garlinghouse remarked that they have already been witnessing domestic interest since US President Donald Trump took office. The Ripple CEO revealed they have signed more deals since then than in the six months preceding Trump’s inauguration.
The company is expected to grow further in the US after the SEC agreed to drop the Ripple lawsuit. Brad Garlinghouse predicts that his firm’s innovative technology will play out over the next ten to twenty years in terms of how it integrates and rewires the US financial structure in terms of payments, real estate, and securities transactions.
The Ripple CEO again took time to highlight how Trump’s crypto-related executive orders, especially the creation of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile, have created a more friendly environment for crypto firms in the US.
He noted that financial institutions are now more open to crypto technology. As CoinGape reported, the OCC has cleared Federal Banks to engage in crypto activities.
On Stablecoin Legislation & Its Impact
Brad Garlinghouse commended the efforts of legislators like Senator Cynthia Lummis and Rep French Hill to provide regulatory clarity. These lawmakers are championing the market structure and stablecoin bills to create a regulatory framework that will guide crypto firms. Senator Lummis also recently reintroduced the Bitcoin Act to codify Trump’s vision of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The Ripple CEO welcomed the idea of regulatory clarity, stating that it would reassure customers that they can engage with them in good faith. He remarked that these customers would feel more comfortable using their technologies without fear of regulators attacking them. Garlinghouse added that this would also enable more job creation, innovation, and capital formation in the US.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
US SEC To Shift Attention From Crypto Enforcement To Traditional Cases: Details

A change of guard at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is powering a shift away from cryptocurrency enforcement. Under new leadership, the US SEC is narrowing its focus on traditional securities cases driven by a handful of factors.
US SEC Turns Its Gaze Away From Crypto Enforcement
According to a Reuters report, the US SEC is bringing down the curtain on its five-year rampage against the cryptocurrency industry. Going forward, the Commission will focus its resources on traditional cases involving corporate and individual securities fraud.
The SEC’s interim Enforcement Director Sam Waldon revealed that the Commission will give priority to individual cases. During the Gary Gensler administration, the SEC directed the bulk of its resources toward crypto enforcement against industry giants.
With Gensler out of the picture and new brass coming on board, the SEC is changing its stance. Paul Atkins is set to face a nomination hearing at Capitol Hill this week, signaling a breath of fresh air for the Commission.
For starters, a string of case dismissals against cryptocurrency companies, particularly the Ripple SEC case, accentuates a change in strategy. Furthermore, declarations that memecoins are not securities and exempting Proof-of-Work mining from securities obligations underscores the point.
Securities Watchdog Does Not Have The Numbers To Sustain Crypto Enforcement
Apart from new leadership, a key factor in the Commission’s changing stance lies in its dwindling staff strength. The SEC is recovering from a gale of exodus following plans by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to reduce the government’s workforce.
“Creativity is probably not where we want to be,” said Waldon, hinting at a steep drop in employee numbers.
A restructuring of the defunct Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit and the launch of a Crypto Task Force signals a change in direction. The Crypto Task Force is pursuing roundtables with ecosystem players rather than regulation by enforcement that characterized the SEC.
The SEC has to respond to a FOIA request filed by Coinbase seeking clarity over the financial implications of its five-year enforcement over the cryptocurrency industry.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
-
Market21 hours ago
Ethereum Price Back Above $2,000—Breakout or Just a Temporary Bounce?
-
Market20 hours ago
Bitcoin Price Breaks Out with First Spot ETF Inflows in A Month
-
Altcoin20 hours ago
Is Ethena Price At Risk? Trump’s World Liberty Financial Sells 184K ENA Sparking Concerns
-
Altcoin24 hours ago
Analyst Predicts XRP Price Could Surge Above $1400 as Bull Flag Breaks
-
Market15 hours ago
Bitcoin Price Dips After Rally—Is This the Perfect Entry Point?
-
Altcoin15 hours ago
Can Chainlink (LINK) Price Hit $44 Amid This Crucial Partnership?
-
Market19 hours ago
Solana (SOL) Gains Capped—Breaking $150 Won’t Be Easy
-
Altcoin19 hours ago
Cronos Is Scam Allegations Appear After Trump CryptoCom Deal, Will CRO Price Crash?
✓ Share: