On June 3, the CFTC awarded over $4.5 million to an anonymous whistleblower who provided information and industry expertise as part of an enforcement action. The CFTC noted that the award highlighted the pivotal role whistleblowers play in maintaining the integrity of the futures markets. Ian McGinley, the CFTC’s Director of Enforcement, commended the whistleblower for their extensive cooperation with the enforcement staff. Additionally, Brian Young, who leads the CFTC’s Whistleblower Office, emphasized that the award program is open to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

The CFTC noted this award solidified the CFTC Whistleblower Program’s impact since its inception in 2014. With approximately $370 million awarded to date, the program has been instrumental in numerous enforcement actions that have resulted in over $3.2 billion in sanctions. The program was funded entirely by monetary sanctions paid by violators of the Commodity Exchange Act, ensuring no funds are taken from harmed customers.