# tZERO Wins CFTC Approval to Operate Regulated Derivatives Exchange By Riza Dagoc Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/55238 Published: 2026-11-12T10:24:55.000Z Updated: 2026-11-12T10:24:55.000Z Section: Regulation > The designation joins an Oct. 16 clearing registration and satisfies a condition in tZERO’s Oct. 31 merger agreement with FG Imperii. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved tZERO DCM, LLC as a designated contract market, giving tZERO Group regulated capacity to offer derivatives trading alongside its clearing operations. The designation authorizes tZERO DCM to operate a regulated derivatives exchange. The CFTC registered a separate tZERO unit, tZERO DCO, LLC, as a derivatives clearing organization on Oct. 16. Together, the two entities support derivatives trading and clearing through regulated operations. Both registrations are to be incorporated into tZERO’s infrastructure-as-a-service business, which is developing trading and clearing services for financial institutions and other market participants. The approvals satisfy a condition for the first contingent consideration milestone in the Oct. 31 agreement tied to [tZERO’s proposed merger with FG Imperii](). The company’s existing regulated securities infrastructure includes a broker-dealer, an alternative trading system, digital asset securities custody, transfer agency, and clearing and settlement services. ## Links in this article - [tZERO’s proposed merger with FG Imperii](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/46665)