Mike Selig: The CFTC's New Rules for Crypto

CFTC Chairman Mike Selig joins me in his first long-form interview since his agency proposed major new rules for crypto exchanges this week. With the Clarity Act dead in Congress, they're building the framework anyway, and he explains what it covers, what it doesn't, and why he thinks it outlasts this administration. Topics: What the new rules actually change for anyone who owns or trades digital assets Whether these rules could have prevented FTX, and what he says would have been different How the CFTC polices manipulation without turning into surveillance Where meme coins landed in the new classification, and why that decides whether they can be listed Whether owning Bitcoin is a bet for or against America His answer to the critic who compared crypto to cocaine What still has to happen before you can borrow against Bitcoin at scale Follow CFTC Chairman Mike Selig on X https://x.com/ChairmanSelig ---- Order Natalie's new book "Bitcoin is For Everyone," a simple introduction to Bitcoin and what’s broken in our current financial system: https://amzn.to/3WzFzfU ---- Borrow against your Bitcoin without selling it. Ledn offers Bitcoin-backed loans built for serious holders, with rates that get lower as your loan size increases. With Ledn's custodied loan product, your Bitcoin is held in custody and not lent out. Ledn has operated through multiple market cycles without a loss of client assets and publishes Proof of Reserves so you can verify what they hold. Get 0.25% off your first loan at ledn.io/natalie. Terms apply — see the site for details. ---- Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ: BTDR) powers AI and Bitcoin mining infrastructure with 3 GW of secured global energy — and owns the entire stack, from equipment manufacturing to data centers to proprietary orchestration software. Learn more at https://www.bitdeer.com. ---- Explore Bitcoin mining as part of your tax and alternative investment strategy. Own the equipment. Keep 100% of the Bitcoin it produces. Fully managed in the U.S. Learn more and get 1 month of free hosting: AbundantMines.com/Natalie ---- Bitgo is the digital asset infrastructure company trusted by institutions worldwide for regulated, insured custody, trading, settlement, and liquidity. BitGo now offers that same institutional-grade, insured qualified custodian to individuals—completely free! Learn more at https://www.bitgo.com/natalie ---- Learn about multisig self-custody without a seed phrase. Download Bitkey Today and use my promo code STORIES to get 10% off the new Bitkey. This episode has been sponsored by Bitkey: https://bitkey.world/STORIES ---- Master Bitcoin self-custody and gain peace of mind with 1-on-1 training: https://www.thebitcoinway.com/natalie?utm_source=partner-natalie&utm_medium=podcast ---- With BitcoinIRA, you can invest in bitcoin 24/7 inside a tax-advantaged IRA. Choose a Traditional IRA to defer taxes, or a Roth IRA for tax-free withdrawals later. Take control of your future with BitcoinIRA: https://www.bitcoinira.com/natalie ---- Natalie's Upcoming Events: The Sovereign Summit is coming to Miami in February 2027. Get discounted passes using code HODL: https://thesovereignsummit.com The best time to plan for Bitcoin 2027 is right now. Early bird tickets are live — grab the lowest pricing available and use code HODL for 10% off: https://tickets.b.tc/event/bitcoin-2027?promoCodeTask=apply&promoCodeInput=HODL ---- Extra Services to Consider: One of the best decisions I made for both my heath and my bank account was joining CrowdHealth years ago. I never spend more than $200 on health coverage through my CrowdHealth plan and all my health events have been crowd-funded. Get started with a discounted plan at my link. : www.joincrowdhealth.com/natalie ABOUT COIN STORIES & THE NEWS BLOCK Natalie Brunell's content features conversations with leading voices in Bitcoin, economics, finance, and technology, exploring the future of money and how it impacts our lives. CONNECT WITH NATALIE Read Bitcoin is for Everyone: https://www.talkingbitcoin.com/freechapters Subscribe to the free newsletter: https://thenewsblock.substack.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nataliebrunell Watch on Rumble: https://rumble.com/NatBrunell Follow Natalie on X: https://www.x.com/natbrunell Website: https://www.talkingbitcoin.com PARTNERSHIPS & INQUIRIES Interested in sponsoring Coin Stories? Contact [email protected] DISCLAIMER This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Guest views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Natalie Brunell or the show. Paid partnerships, sponsorships, and affiliate relationships are disclosed where applicable. Natalie Brunell may earn commissions from purchases or sign-ups through certain links, at no additional cost to you. Always conduct your own research before making financial decisions.