Code & Chain · Signal Desk

CFTC Staff: Self-Custody Wallets Can Offer Compliant Perpetual Contracts Without Broker License

Original sourceUnchained

Summary

CFTC staff issued Staff Letter No. 26-25, giving non-broker developers of 'passive software,' including self-custody wallets, a path to offer compliant derivatives trading without registering as brokers, and extending prior relief granted to Phantom Technologies to qualifying similar providers. The…

Key points

  • For wallets and developers seeking to offer regulated derivatives without obtaining a broker license, this letter defines feasible conditions and compliance red lines.
  • It opens the distribution path for regulated derivatives to self-custody wallets, potentially changing the entry structure for US retail derivatives trading.
  • Wallet developers can design compliant order-routing features but must bear joint liability, disclosure, and marketing compliance costs; users will encounter regulated derivatives more often through wallets.

Editorial note

This page is Code & Chain's editorial summary of public sources. It may be prepared with AI assistance and published through an automated workflow. Refer to the original sources; this content is not investment, legal, or tax advice.