CFTC 在库币法律战中将以太坊、莱特币归类为商品

商品期货交易委员会 (CFTC) 将以太坊 (ETH) 和莱特币 (LTC) 归类为商品，并在最近针对 KuCoin 的法庭文件中将它们与比特币 (BTC) 联系起来。在 SEC 内部关于以太坊因其权益证明机制的潜在安全状态的持续讨论中，这种分类具有重要意义。

CFTC Classifies Ethereum and Litecoin as Commodities

CFTC 将以太坊和莱特币归类为商品

In a significant development for the digital asset industry, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has designated Ethereum (ETH) and Litecoin (LTC) as commodities, along with Bitcoin (BTC). This determination emerged in the CFTC's recent court filing against KuCoin, a cryptocurrency exchange facing legal challenges from US authorities.

作为数字资产行业的一项重大发展，商品期货交易委员会（CFTC）已将以太坊（ETH）和莱特币（LTC）以及比特币（BTC）指定为商品。这一决定出现在 CFTC 最近针对 KuCoin 的法庭文件中，KuCoin 是一家面临美国当局法律挑战的加密货币交易所。

KuCoin Faces Indictments and Enforcement Actions

KuCoin面临起诉和执法行动

On March 26, 2024, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York indicted Chun Gan and Ke Tang, the co-founders of KuCoin, for allegedly violating licensing laws and provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act. Additionally, the CFTC filed a civil enforcement action against the exchange, alleging its failure to register as a digital asset derivatives exchange and its non-compliance with know-your-customer (KYC) requirements.

2024年3月26日，美国纽约南区检察官办公室起诉KuCoin联合创始人Chun Gan和Ke Tang涉嫌违反许可法和《银行保密法》规定。此外，美国商品期货交易委员会对该交易所提起民事执法行动，指控其未能注册为数字资产衍生品交易所，且不遵守“了解你的客户”(KYC) 要求。

Outflows of Ethereum and EVM Assets

以太坊和EVM资产流出

As a result of these legal proceedings, KuCoin has reported significant outflows of Ethereum and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) assets, with a cumulative decline of over 15% in assets held by the exchange as of 9:00 AM UTC on Wednesday, March 27.

由于这些法律诉讼，KuCoin 报告以太坊和以太坊虚拟机 (EVM) 资产大量外流，截至 UTC 时间 3 月 27 日星期三上午 9:00，该交易所持有的资产累计下降超过 15% 。

CFTC's Commodity Designation for Ethereum and Litecoin

CFTC 对以太坊和莱特币的商品指定

Notably, in its complaint against KuCoin, the CFTC explicitly referred to Ethereum and Litecoin as commodities within the context of the case. The agency's filing states that "KuCoin solicited and accepted orders, accepted property to margin, and operated a facility for the trading of futures, swaps, and leveraged, margined, or financed retail transactions involving digital assets that are commodities including bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), and Litecoin (LTC)."

值得注意的是，在对 KuCoin 的投诉中，CFTC 明确将以太坊和莱特币视为案件中的商品。该机构的文件指出，“KuCoin 征求并接受订单，接受保证金财产，并运营期货、掉期交易以及涉及数字资产（包括比特币（BTC）等商品）的杠杆、保证金或融资零售交易的设施，以太币 (ETH) 和莱特币 (LTC)。”

Implications for Ethereum Amid SEC Investigation

SEC 调查对以太坊的影响

This classification by the CFTC stands in contrast to ongoing discussions within the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the potential classification of Ethereum as a security. SEC Chair Gary Gensler has expressed concerns that Ethereum's proof-of-stake (PoS) mechanism may bring it under the purview of securities laws.

CFTC 的这种分类与美国证券交易委员会 (SEC) 内部正在进行的有关以太坊作为证券的潜在分类的讨论形成鲜明对比。美国证券交易委员会 (SEC) 主席加里·詹斯勒 (Gary Gensler) 表示担心以太坊的权益证明 (PoS) 机制可能会将其纳入证券法的管辖范围。

The CFTC's designation of Ethereum as a commodity could provide a countervailing perspective, potentially strengthening the argument that Ethereum is not a security under US law. This could boost confidence within the cryptocurrency community and provide a potential defense against any future SEC enforcement actions targeting Ethereum.

美国商品期货交易委员会将以太坊指定为商品可能会提供相反的观点，可能会强化以太坊不是美国法律规定的证券的论点。这可以增强加密货币社区的信心，并为未来 SEC 针对以太坊的任何执法行动提供潜在的防御。

Legal Implications for KuCoin

KuCoin的法律影响

The CFTC's classification of Ethereum and Litecoin as commodities could have implications for KuCoin's legal defense. The exchange may argue that its actions were in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, given that the assets it traded were considered commodities by the CFTC.

美国商品期货交易委员会将以太坊和莱特币归类为商品可能会对库币的法律辩护产生影响。鉴于其交易的资产被商品期货交易委员会视为商品，交易所可能会辩称其行为符合适用的法律和法规。

Impact on Digital Asset Industry

对数字资产行业的影响

The CFTC's designation of Ethereum and Litecoin as commodities is a significant development that could shape the regulatory landscape for digital assets in the United States. It may provide a clearer framework for the classification of digital assets and facilitate increased regulatory certainty for the industry moving forward.

美国商品期货交易委员会将以太坊和莱特币指定为商品是一项重大进展，可能会影响美国数字资产的监管格局。它可以为数字资产的分类提供更清晰的框架，并有助于提高行业发展的监管确定性。