Ripple's CTO Emeritus, David Schwartz, discussed the distinction between commodities and securities in a recent X conversation. The debate centered on whether assets traded on platforms like Polymarket qualify as commodities under insider trading laws.
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Ripple CTO Emeritus, David Schwartz, recently joined a discussion on X pertaining to what qualifies as a commodity.
The discussion began on X when a user asked how insider trading charges could apply in a case involving Polymarket. "Polymarket doesn't sell securities," the X user added. The point was that if the platform doesn't deal in securities, how could insider trading laws even come into play?
Another X user pushed back, noting that there are insider trading rules for commodities. Still unconvinced, the initial X user responded by asking whether the asset in question (trading on Polymarket) could even qualify as a commodity.
"I don't get how this would be a commodity either. Commodity is defined as goods and articles and all services, rights, and interests in which contracts for future delivery are presently or in the future dealt in," the X user said, citing 7 USC 1a(9).
This qualifies as a right or interest to a future delivery because it is a conditional entitlement to a particular quantity of a particular good in the future traded on an exchange pursuant to a standardized contract.
— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) April 28, 2026
Ripple CTO Emeritus, David Schwartz, joined the discussion, sharing his perspective on what defines a commodity. "This qualifies as a right or interest to a future delivery because it is a conditional entitlement to a particular quantity of a particular good in the future traded on an exchange pursuant to a standardized contract," Schwartz stated.
The discussion on what qualifies as commodities or securities remains important as it can determine which regulatory agency has oversight and what rules might apply to trading activity.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), joined by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), gave an interpretation to clarify how federal securities laws could apply to certain crypto assets and transactions involving crypto assets in March.
Most crypto assets are not securities themselves, according to the SEC, ending an uncertainty that has persisted for more than a decade and giving crypto market users the much-needed clarity on how the Commission views crypto assets under federal securities laws.
David Schwartz explained that commodities can be defined as rights or interests in goods and services traded under standardized contracts.
Insider trading laws can apply to commodities, as noted in the discussion about Polymarket, which does not sell securities.
Under 7 USC 1a(9), a commodity is defined as goods and articles, including rights and interests in future delivery contracts.
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