<p>Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) chairman Heath Tarbert remarked Thursday that the crypto market could see the launch of ether (ETH)-based futures contracts.</p> <p>“We have seen bitcoin futures, both cash-settled as well as physically-delivered. My guess is we are going to see ether futures as well,” Tarbert <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-01-30/cftc-to-revamp-oil-speculation-rule-video">told</a> Bloomberg in an interview on Thursday.</p> <p>The chairman first discussed ether futures in October, when he <a href="https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/42786/cftc-chair-says-eth-is-a-commodity-and-anticipates-derivatives-to-trade-in-the-u-s-soon">said</a> he “absolutely” believes the futures tied to the ethereum-based token could trade in the next six to 12 months.</p> <p>Tarbert further said in Thursday's interview that he wants the U.S. "to lead" in the advancement of blockchain technology and digital assets.</p> <p>“I want to encourage innovation and it's interesting because commodities are what we regulate, particularly derivatives on commodities,” he remarked.</p> <p>Tarbert reiterated that bitcoin and ether are commodities and fall under the CFTC’s jurisdiction. He <a href="https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/52916/its-unclear-whether-xrp-is-security-or-commodity-says-cftc-chairman">said</a> in a past interview that it is "unclear" whether the digital asset XRP is a security or a commodity.</p>