Derivatives, Legislative and Regulatory Weekly Update (October 31, 2025)
Client Alert | October 31, 2025
From the Derivatives Practice Group: This week, President Trump nominated Michael Selig for the role of CFTC Chairman.
New Developments
White House Nominates Michael Selig for CFTC Chairman. On October 25, President Trump nominated Michael Selig, chief counsel for the SEC’s crypto task force, for the role of CFTC Chairman. [NEW]
New Developments Outside the U.S.
Cyber Risk and Digital Resilience Will Drive the Agenda of ESMA’s Union Strategic Supervisory Priorities for 2026. On October 24, ESMA welcomed the strong initial engagement by National Competent Authorities on cyber risk and digital resilience and calls for continued efforts on the Union Strategic Supervisory Priorities. ESMA said it promoted cyber and digital resilience as a strategic supervisory priority starting January 2025 in direct alignment with the entry into application of the Digital Operational Resilience Act. According to ESMA, this allows enhanced coordination of EU supervisors’ efforts toward strengthening firms’ ICT risk management and improves the digital resilience of the EU securities market. [NEW]
ESMA Finds EU Carbon Markets Functioning Smoothly in New Report. On October 22, ESMA published its annual market report on EU carbon markets. Looking at the data for 2024, ESMA has not identified any significant issue in the integrity or transparency of EU carbon markets. Emission allowance auctions and secondary markets trading dynamics remain largely unchanged, with the market organized in a way that facilitates the flow of allowances from financial intermediaries to non-financial firms with compliance obligations. The analysis of trading and derivatives positions in the non-financial sector further highlights that the market accommodates different acquisition strategies, reflecting the different needs and capabilities of participants.
ESMA Publishes Implementing Rules on Loan-originating AIFs. On October 21, ESMA published the draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) on open-ended loan-originating AIFs (OE LO AIFs). The draft rules determine the requirements with which LO AIFs must comply to maintain an open-ended structure. Those requirements include a sound liquidity management system, the availability of liquid assets and stress testing, as well as an appropriate redemption policy having regard to the liquidity profile of OE LO AIFs. The RTS also set out a list of factors AIFMs shall consider to determine the redemption policy and assess the liquidity of OE LO AIFs.
ESMA Publishes Second Consolidated Report on Sanctions. On October 16, ESMA published its second consolidated report on sanctions and measures imposed in Member States in 2024. Building on this report, ESMA will further foster discussions between national securities markets authorities on the effective and consistent implementation of capital markets rules and continue working towards ensuring that similar breaches lead to similar enforcement outcomes across the EU, irrespective of where they have been initiated.
ESAs’ Joint Committee Publishes Work Program for 2026. On October 16, the Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) presented its 2026 Work Program, outlining key areas of collaboration for the coming year. The Program aims to strengthen the financial system’s digital operational resilience, ensure the continued protection of consumers, and identify risks that could undermine financial stability.
New Industry-Led Developments
ISDA Opens General Adherence Phase for the ISDA 2025 – 2002 Equity Derivatives Definitions Protocol. On October 27, ISDA opened the general adherence phase for its 2025 – 2002 Equity Derivatives Definitions (Versionable Edition) Protocol. The protocol enables adherents to amend the terms of their equity derivatives master confirmation agreements to incorporate the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (Versionable Edition) in place of the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions, with an effective date of October 26, 2026. [NEW]
ISDA Publishes Paper on Derivatives Markets. On October 24, ISDA published a paper titled “Ensuring Safe, Efficient Derivatives Markets: Policy Ideas to Enhance Market Liquidity and Risk Management.” ISDA said that it has identified several recommendations for consideration by policymakers, market participants, and others as part of its mission to foster safe and efficient derivatives markets to facilitate effective risk management for all users of derivatives products. [NEW]
ISDA Comments on US Treasury Regulations under Executive Order 14219. On October 23, ISDA’s North American Tax Working Group (NATWG) submitted comments in response to the US Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service statement regarding taxpayer recommendations on regulations identified under Executive Order 14219: “Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the US President’s Department of Government Efficiency Deregulatory Initiative.” In its response, the NATWG proposed to (1) modify the regulations under Section 871(m)3 and preserve the current framework under Notice 2024-44, and (2) withdraw the proposed regulations that would treat “basket contracts” as “listed transactions” within the meaning of Section 6011. [NEW]
ISDA and Trade Associations Call on the EC to Delay Application of Third-Country CCP Reporting under EMIR 3.0. On October 21, ISDA and nine other trade associations – the Alternative Investment Management Association, the European Association of Co-operative Banks, the European Association of Corporate Treasurers, the European Banking Federation, the European Fund and Asset Management Association, the European Principal Traders Association, the European Venues and Intermediaries Association, FIA and the Managed Funds Association – wrote to the European Commission (EC) to ask that it provide guidance that counterparties are not required to report information on clearing activity on third-country central counterparties (CCPs) under Article 7d of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR 3.0) until the corresponding regulatory technical standards and implementing technical standards are applicable.
IOSCO Reviews Implementation of Recommendations for Crypto and Digital Asset Markets. On October 16, IOSCO published its report on its Thematic Review Assessing the Implementation of IOSCO Recommendations for Crypto and Digital Asset Markets. In recognition of the rapid development and growth of crypto-asset markets, IOSCO and other relevant bodies, including the Financial Stability Board, have developed comprehensive policy frameworks for the regulation and oversight of crypto-assets and global stablecoins.
ISDA Publishes New Report that Shows the Importance of Derivatives to Japan’s Asset Management Ambitions. On October 16, ISDA published a report drawing on discussions with 20 senior asset managers based in Japan. The report revealed that reducing barriers in the market would enable them to utilize derivatives more efficiently, which, in turn, could enhance Japan’s competitiveness in the global market.
ISDA Expands Digital Regulatory Reporting Solution to Cover Hong Kong’s Revised Reporting Rules. On October 15, ISDA has expanded its Digital Regulatory Reporting solution to support revised derivatives reporting rules in Hong Kong, enabling in-scope firms to implement the changes cost-effectively and accurately. The amendments from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission came into effect on September 29.
The following Gibson Dunn attorneys assisted in preparing this update: Jeffrey Steiner, Adam Lapidus, Marc Aaron Takagaki, Hayden McGovern, Karin Thrasher, and Alice Wang*.
Gibson Dunn’s lawyers are available to assist in addressing any questions you may have regarding these developments. Please contact the Gibson Dunn lawyer with whom you usually work, any member of the firm’s Derivatives practice group, or the following practice leaders and authors:
Jeffrey L. Steiner, Washington, D.C. (202.887.3632, jsteiner@gibsondunn.com)
Michael D. Bopp, Washington, D.C. (202.955.8256, mbopp@gibsondunn.com)
Michelle M. Kirschner, London (+44 (0)20 7071.4212, mkirschner@gibsondunn.com)
Darius Mehraban, New York (212.351.2428, dmehraban@gibsondunn.com)
Jason J. Cabral, New York (212.351.6267, jcabral@gibsondunn.com)
Adam Lapidus, New York (212.351.3869, alapidus@gibsondunn.com )
Stephanie L. Brooker, Washington, D.C. (202.887.3502, sbrooker@gibsondunn.com)
William R. Hallatt, Hong Kong (+852 2214 3836, whallatt@gibsondunn.com )
David P. Burns, Washington, D.C. (202.887.3786, dburns@gibsondunn.com)
Marc Aaron Takagaki, New York (212.351.4028, mtakagaki@gibsondunn.com )
Hayden K. McGovern, Dallas (214.698.3142, hmcgovern@gibsondunn.com)
Karin Thrasher, Washington, D.C. (202.887.3712, kthrasher@gibsondunn.com)
Alice Yiqian Wang, Washington, D.C. (202.777.9587, awang@gibsondunn.com)
*Alice Wang, a law clerk in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, is not admitted to practice law.
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