CFTC Could Use Nasdaq Surveillance to Better Track Crypto Transactions, Potentially Affecting Bitcoin Markets

• Nasdaq’s Market Surveillance replaces legacy tools to monitor crypto and derivatives in real time.

• Platform is already used by about 50 exchanges and nearly two dozen international regulators.

• Policymaking context: the CLARITY Act (House-passed) would classify most crypto as commodities, expanding CFTC remit.

Meta description: CFTC crypto surveillance upgrades with Nasdaq Market Surveillance to detect market abuse across digital assets—read the implications and next steps.

What is the CFTC crypto surveillance upgrade?

CFTC crypto surveillance refers to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s new adoption of Nasdaq’s Market Surveillance platform to monitor digital-asset and prediction-market trading in finer detail. The move replaces a “’90s-era legacy system” and aims to detect manipulation faster across continuous, 24/7 markets.

How will Nasdaq’s Market Surveillance improve detection of market abuse?

The platform consolidates data across dozens of asset classes and applies analytics proven on traditional derivatives. Short, automated alerts and cross-market correlation tools give regulators earlier visibility into suspicious patterns. Nasdaq says the system adapts to event-based markets, including prediction markets, mirroring derivatives risk profiles.

Why is this change happening now?

Markets have evolved: continuous trading hours and 24/7 digital infrastructure require more sophisticated surveillance. The CFTC cited rapid product and market innovation and a recent White House crypto report recommending stronger data reporting and surveillance for non-security digital assets as drivers for the upgrade.

What policy context is shaping the upgrade?

The CLARITY Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, seeks to assign most cryptocurrencies to commodities jurisdiction, which would expand the CFTC’s regulatory responsibilities. A recent White House report recommended reporting obligations for venues handling non-security digital assets, prompting the CFTC’s “crypto sprint.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How will surveillance affect exchanges and intermediaries?

Regulated venues and intermediaries may face new reporting requirements and closer scrutiny. The White House report recommends market-data reporting for non-security digital assets, which could translate into operational obligations for crypto exchanges and prediction markets.

Did market participants comment on the surveillance tech?

A Nasdaq spokesperson noted that prediction markets operate similarly to derivatives and that the surveillance technology can be adapted across event‑based markets. The CFTC emphasized the need for modern tools to counter faster, more complex market structures.

Key Takeaways

• Modernization: CFTC is replacing legacy surveillance with Nasdaq’s platform to address 24/7 digital trading.
• Policy alignment: White House and House-passed CLARITY Act developments are expanding surveillance expectations.
• Market impact: Exchanges and intermediaries may face increased reporting and compliance obligations.

How to prepare for stronger surveillance (HowTo)

Steps exchanges and intermediaries can take to comply and cooperate with enhanced regulatory surveillance:

1. Assess current market-data capture and ensure logs are complete and timestamped to high precision.
2. Adopt or integrate analytics tools that support cross-market correlation and anomaly detection.
3. Establish clear reporting channels to regulators and update compliance policies to reflect any new obligations.

Conclusion

The CFTC’s adoption of Nasdaq Market Surveillance signals a major step toward modernizing oversight of crypto and related event-based markets. Stakeholders should prioritize data integrity, analytics integration, and compliance readiness as regulatory expectations evolve. COINOTAG will monitor developments and provide updates as policy and implementation progress.

Published: 2025-08-27 | Updated: 2025-08-27 | Author: COINOTAG