On August 20, as industry giants begin to accept compute power as a tradable asset, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is publicly soliciting opinions on compute futures contracts. Several exchanges, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), Intercontinental Exchange, and emerging fintech company Architect Financial Technologies, have announced plans to launch related contracts pending regulatory approval. These exchanges stated that establishing a compute futures market would help end users and speculators hedge against risks related to energy shortages or other issues that could impact the technological advancements of AI developers. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig stated in a statement on Wednesday, "Without a robust compute derivatives market, the U.S. cannot win the AI race. This public input is the first step in establishing clear rules for the U.S. compute market." One of the issues raised in the CFTC's request for comments is how compute futures differ from other types of derivatives or underlying commodities currently regulated by the agency. If compute futures are allowed to be listed on CFTC-regulated exchanges, it may be necessary to further standardize various variables affecting compute prices, including price indices used for settlement references.