Head of U.S. derivatives regulator urges key crypto role for agency

FILE PHOTO: Rostin Behnam testifies before a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing on his nomination to be chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., October 27, 2021. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

(Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission told lawmakers on Wednesday his agency should take on a leading role in policing cryptocurrency.

Testifying before the Senate Agriculture Committee, CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam said there was an urgent need for Congress to grant additional authority and resources to his agency to better monitor the rapidly growing digital currency market.