CFTC Clarifies Five Major Enforcement Priorities: "Cracking Down" on Insider Trading and Market Manipulation in Prediction Markets

Odaily News: David I. Miller, the head of enforcement at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), stated in a speech at New York University School of Law that future enforcement efforts will focus on five key areas, including insider trading, market manipulation, market abuse, retail fraud, and anti-money laundering (AML) and KYC violations. The CFTC explicitly stated that insider trading regulations also apply to prediction markets, and trading based on material non-public information will be considered illegal and will be "actively investigated and prosecuted."

Regarding the regulatory direction, the CFTC emphasized moving away from the model of "regulation by enforcement" and shifting focus to core violations such as fraud and manipulation. Simultaneously, it plans to introduce a new cooperation policy offering leniency or even exemption pathways for institutions that proactively conduct self-investigations, cooperate with inquiries, and complete rectifications. Furthermore, the CFTC stated it will strengthen collaboration with exchanges and judicial authorities, prioritizing the crackdown on energy market manipulation and fraudulent activities utilizing new technologies such as AI.