U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael Selig advocates for blockchain as a critical tool to verify AI-generated content and combat misinformation. In a podcast appearance, Selig emphasized a “minimum effective dose” regulatory approach for AI in financial markets, focusing on actors rather than software developers. His comments highlight growing efforts to use cryptographic proofs and timestamps for content authenticity.
Michael Selig, chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, stated that blockchain technology is essential for distinguishing authentic media from synthetic outputs. He made these remarks during an appearance on The Pomp Podcast, addressing concerns over AI-generated memes in markets.
Selig told host Anthony Pompliano, “The private markets have solutions — blockchain technology is a great one. If you can timestamp things and make sure there’s an identifier for each meme or AI generated posts, you can verify if it’s real or generated by AI… Having these technologies here in the US is critical.” He contended that U.S. leadership in crypto is vital, adding that “you can’t have AI without blockchain.”
On regulating AI agents in finance, Selig expressed concern about over-regulation stifling innovation. He stated, “I’m taking a very much minimum effective dose of regulation approach, where we’re… making sure that we’re regulating the actors… and not the software developers.” The CFTC is assessing how AI models are used, with enforcement focused on financial market participants.
This reflects a broader push to use blockchain for content verification, including proof-of-personhood systems. Sam Altman’s Worldcoin project, for instance, uses its World ID protocol for this purpose, though it has drawn criticism over privacy risks.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has also proposed using cryptography and blockchain for verifiable online systems. These developments coincide with U.S. policymakers weighing broader AI regulation, including a recent national framework from the Trump administration.
