Sponsors (2)
The bill speeds experiments and access to novel tools for the Commission and financial-market participants—potentially improving cybersecurity and innovation—but does so by expanding flexible transaction authorities and outside contributions, which raises procurement, accountability, and conflict‑of‑interest risks while being temporary and rulemaking‑dependent.
Financial institutions and tech workers gain structured, ongoing R&D and demonstration programs to evaluate emerging technologies and cybersecurity risks, improving the Commission’s and market participants' ability to test and harden systems.
Taxpayers and state governments benefit from formal plans and reporting that increase transparency and congressional oversight of experiments, outside contributions, and the Commission’s use of other-transaction authority.
Financial institutions and tech workers can access novel tools, data, and partner-contributed resources more quickly because the Commission may accept non-monetary contributions and use flexible other-transaction authorities (through 10/1/2031), shortening delays compared with standard procurement.
Using other-transaction authority may bypass customary procurement safeguards, raising accountability, competition, and fair‑process concerns for taxpayers and state governments.
Taxpayers and regulated firms face increased risk of conflicts of interest or perceived endorsements when the Commission accepts outside contributions or non‑contract transactions if controls are inadequate.
The short sunset date (until Oct 1, 2031) and reliance on agency rulemaking could produce uneven implementation, temporary gaps in oversight, or inconsistent standards that create uncertainty for financial firms and taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands the CFTC's research mandate into ongoing R&D and demonstration programs, adds cybersecurity and systemic-risk focus, and authorizes non-contract research agreements and non-monetary contributions.
Official title: To modernize the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to conduct research, development, demonstration, and information programs.
Introduced December 10, 2025 by Austin Scott · Last progress December 10, 2025
Expands the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s authorized research and information activities into ongoing research, development, demonstration, and information programs focused on emerging technologies, cybersecurity, data security, and systemic risk. It authorizes the Commission to adopt R&D plans by rule or order, use non-contract transaction authority for research activities, and accept certain non-monetary contributions to support those programs. The bill broadens the prior, narrower mandate (limited to feasibility studies and information dissemination) to include active experimentation environments, educational materials, and targeted adaptation of regulatory administration. It also requires written policies and conditions for using non-contract authorities and handling contributions.