Commodity Futures Trading Commission Research and Development Modernization Act of 2025

This bill modernizes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) authority to conduct research on emerging technologies affecting financial markets. It requires the CFTC to establish programs studying how new technologies impact cybersecurity, market operations, and regulations, and to develop educational materials for market participants. The bill permits the CFTC to use streamlined "other transaction" agreements (bypassing standard procurement rules) and accept non-monetary contributions like data access or facilities for research, with strict safeguards against conflicts of interest. All such activities must be reported annually to congressional agriculture committees, and the authority expires in 2031. The bill directly affects the CFTC's research operations and indirectly impacts market participants through enhanced regulatory understanding.