Uniswap Founder Warns CFTC That US Crypto Builders Are Moving Overseas

Uniswap founder Hayden Adams warned at the CFTC’s inaugural Innovation Advisory Committee meeting that regulatory uncertainty in the United States is pushing crypto builders and developers overseas.

The comments came during an August 20 panel discussion, not an enforcement proceeding and not binding testimony. Still, the message matters because it captures one of the industry’s longest-running complaints: US crypto policy has been too unclear for builders trying to launch products, hire teams, and raise capital domestically.

That concern is not new.

What is different now is the setting. The complaint is being made directly in front of US market regulators as policymakers continue to debate crypto market structure, token rules, DeFi oversight, and agency boundaries.

TL;DR

• Hayden Adams participated in the CFTC’s inaugural Innovation Advisory Committee meeting.
• He warned that US regulatory uncertainty is pushing crypto builders overseas.
• The comments were part of a panel discussion, not a formal enforcement action.

Why The CFTC Setting Matters

The CFTC has become central to the US crypto policy debate.

For years, the industry has argued that the SEC and CFTC need clearer jurisdictional boundaries. Some digital assets may fall under securities laws, while others may be treated more like commodities. The lack of clear rules has created uncertainty for exchanges, DeFi protocols, token issuers, investors, and developers.