55 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10055

BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

Submission No. 23-70

May 16, 2023

Mr. Christopher J. Kirkpatrick

Secretary of the Commission

Office of the Secretariat

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Three Lafayette Centre

1155 21st Street, NW

Washington, DC 20581

Re: Extension of ICE Futures U.S. Brent & WTI Options Liquidity Provider Program

Submission Pursuant to Section 5c(c)(1) of the Act and Regulation 40.6

Dear Mr. Kirkpatrick:

Pursuant to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) Regulation 40.6(a), ICE 

Futures U.S., Inc. (“IFUS” or “Exchange”) hereby submits, by written certification, notice that 

the Exchange is extending the term of the ICE Futures U.S. Brent & WTI Options Liquidity 

Provider Program (“Program”) through May 31, 2025. The Program, which was launched on 

February 22, 2018, with the listing of Brent & WTI options contracts, was scheduled to terminate 

on May 31, 2023 (see ICE Futures U.S. Submission No. 22-221). However, the Exchange 

believes that the Program will continue to help tighten markets and build interest in the covered 

products and is, therefore, extending the Program for an additional two-year term, provided, 

however, that the Exchange in its sole discretion may cancel the Program prior to that time. 

The Exchange certifies that the Program complies with the requirements of the 

Commodity Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. In particular, 

the Program complies with Core Principle 4 (Monitoring of Trading), Core Principle 9 

(Execution of Transactions) and Core Principle 12 (Protection of Market Participants). The 

Program does not impact order execution priority or otherwise give participants any execution 

preference or advantage. In addition, the Exchange’s Market Regulation Department actively 

monitors for trading abuses using electronic exception reports and will take appropriate action 

against any participants engaging in market abuses. 
The Exchange is not aware of any opposing views with regard to the extension of the 

Program, which will become effective on June 1, 2023, and further certifies that, concurrent with 

this filing, a copy of this submission was posted on the Exchange’s website at 

(https://www.theice.com/futures-us/regulation#rule-filings). 

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact me at 212-748-4021 

or at jason.fusco@theice.com.

Sincerely,

Jason V. Fusco

Assistant General Counsel

Enc.

cc: Division of Market Oversight
EXHIBIT A

[PARAGRAPHS REDACTED]

ICE Futures U.S. Brent & WTI Options Liquidity Provider Program

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Program is to attract and incentivize participants to trade ICE Futures U.S. Brent and 

WTI Average Price Options, Calendar Spread Options and Brent-WTI Spread Options contracts to

increase liquidity in the products; this enhanced liquidity will benefit all participants in the marketplace.

Product Scope

All ICE Futures U.S. Brent and WTI Average Price Options, Calendar Spread Options, Brent-WTI 

Spread Options and European Style Options contracts traded.

Eligible Participants

[REDACTED]

Program Term

The term of the program shall end on May 31, 202[3]5. 

Obligations

Participants agree to provide the Exchange with information acceptable to the Exchange detailing 

Participants’ trading activity under the program, and the Exchange may require an additional third party 

verification report.

Program Incentives

[REDACTED]

Monitoring and Termination of Status

The Exchange shall monitor trading activity and Participants’ performance and shall retain the right to 

revoke Participants’ status if it concludes from review that a Program Participant no longer meets the 

eligibility requirements of this Program.