The Commodity Futures Trading 

Commission (CFTC) is the 

federal government agency that 

regulates the commodity futures, 

commodity options, and swaps 

trading markets. To help fight 

fraud, Congress established the 

CFTC Customer Protection Fund 

(the Fund) in 2010 and the 

agency created a new Office of 

Consumer Outreach (the Office) 

in 2011.

ContaCt us

if you have questions, are aware of suspicious 

activities, or believe you have been defrauded, 

please let the CFtC know immediately. Call the 

CFtC or visit www.cftc.gov/tiporComplaint.

Commodity Futures 

trading Commission 

Commodity Futures trading Commission

1155 21st Street, NW

Washington, DC 20581

866.366.2382 (Consumer Hotline)

202.418.5514 (TTY)

consumers@cftc.gov

www.cftc.gov/consumerprotection 

Commodity Futures trading Commission 
overview oF the CFtC

 Congress created the CFTC in 1974 as an 

independent agency with the mandate to regulate commodity futures and option markets in 

the United States.

 In 1974, the majority of futures trading took 

place in the agricultural sector. The agency’s 

mandate has been renewed and expanded 

several times since then, most recently by the 

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 

Protection Act. The futures industry has 

become increasingly varied over time. It now 

encompasses a vast array of highly complex 

financial futures contracts.

 The CFTC’s mission is to protect market users and the public from fraud, manipulation, 

abusive practices and systemic risk related to 

derivatives that are subject to the Commodity 

Exchange Act. The CFTC also fosters open, 

competitive, and financially sound markets.

 The CFTC investigates and prosecutes alleged 

violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and 

CFTC regulations.

 The CFTC has the important role of enabling 

futures markets to help determine accurate 

prices for commodities needed to operate 

such things as farms, banks and companies.

 The CFTC has five commissioners appointed by 

the President, with the advice and consent of 

the Senate, to serve staggered five-year terms.

 The President, with the consent of the Senate, 

designates one of the commissioners to serve 

as Chairman. No more than three commissioners, at any one time, may be from the same 

political party.

how the CFtC helps the eConomy

 The CFTC assures the economic utility of the 

futures, swaps, and options markets by en-

couraging their competitiveness and efficiency, 

protecting market participants against fraud, 

manipulation, and abusive trading practices, 

and by ensuring the financial integrity of the 

clearing process.

 The CFTC conducts daily market surveillance. 

In an emergency, the CFTC can order an 

exchange to take specific action or to restore 

orderliness in any futures contract being traded.

how the CFtC helps Consumers

the CFtC Customer protection Fund

 The Fund consists entirely of monetary sanctions 

the CFTC levies and collects in enforcement 

actions.

 No taxpayer money is included in the Fund.

 The CFTC can use the Fund to administer a 

Whistleblower program and to conduct consumer education initiatives.

 The Fund allows the CFTC to maintain a 

permanent staff which solely focuses on antifraud educational and social marketing efforts.

the office of Consumer outreach

 In 2011, the CFTC established the Office of 

Consumer Outreach.

 The Office administers the CFTC’s public 

education initiatives.

 The Office’s top priority is developing a longterm, anti-fraud outreach campaign grounded 

upon research-based audience segmentation 

and social marketing principles.

 The Office is actively involved with ongoing 

federal financial literacy efforts, including 

participating as a member of the Financial 

Literacy and Education Commission.

 The Office is seeking out areas of collaboration 

with entities such as state banking, insurance, 

and securities regulators, as well as self-regulatory organizations for the financial markets, 

and consumer organizations.

regulation of Futures professionals

 Companies and individuals who handle customer funds or give trading advice must apply 

for registration through the National Futures 

Association, a self-regulatory organization approved by the CFTC.

 The CFTC seeks to protect customers by 

requiring:

 Market risks and past performance be 

disclosed to prospective customers

 Customer funds be kept in accounts separate from the firm’s funds for its own use

 Customer accounts be adjusted to reflect each 

trading day’s current market value at close

 The CFTC monitors registrant supervision 

systems, internal controls, and sales practice 

compliance programs.