The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have officially resumed standard operations after a 43-day government shutdown concluded late Wednesday. Both regulatory bodies confirmed that staff would return to work the day following the enactment of appropriations legislation, which restored federal funding. The prolonged suspension had significantly impacted regulatory oversight, delaying key decisions, investigations, and public guidance critical to maintaining orderly financial and digital asset markets. Market participants and legal experts have expressed relief at the agencies’ reactivation, anticipating accelerated review of pending filings, enforcement actions, and policy clarifications. The interruption underscored the vulnerabilities in regulatory continuity during funding lapses, particularly as the SEC oversees securities offerings and the CFTC monitors derivatives, including cryptocurrency futures. Resuming full capacity is expected to alleviate backlogs and reinforce market confidence, though the long-term effects of the hiatus on ongoing cases and emerging financial products remain under assessment.
