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CFTC, DOJ, Focus on Pig Butchering in First Fraud Disruption Conference

Pig Butchering is a term that references a fairly common scam in which fraudsters target an individual, gain their confidence, and convince them to forward funds to an account where the con person and funds then disappear. Frequently, crypto is involved, as it is easy… Read More

CFTC Commissioner Welcomes Supreme Court SEC v. Jarkesy Decision

While there are crickets at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a Commissioner at the Commodities Futures Trading Commission has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision this week in SEC v. Jarkesy. CFTC Commissioner Caroline Pham has issued the following statement on the ruling: “As I’ve said… Read More

US CFTC Appoints First Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Schedules AI Day

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has scheduled an “AI Day” for today (May 2, 2024). In advance of this gathering, the CFTC has appointed its first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.  CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam has selected Dr. Ted Kaouk for the new role. Currently,… Read More

CFTC Commissioner Caroline Pham Claims Regulatory Agency Could Be Infringing on the SEC’s Authority in KuCoin Case

Caroline Pham from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has been critical of the actions of her own regulatory agency, noting that the CFTC could be interfering on its partner agency in the recent charges it made against digital currency exchange KuCoin this past week…. Read More

CFTC Tech Advisory Committee Meeting to Address Blockchain, AI, More

On Monday, January 8, 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) will hold a meeting to discuss several topics of note. According to the Agenda, the CFTC TAC will cover the use of Artificial Intelligence [AI], blockchain in regard to DeFi, and… Read More

French Autorite des Marches Financiers and US CFTC Announce Cooperation on Supervised Firms

The French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF)and the US Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have signed an MOU [memorandum of understanding] to collaborate on supervised firms. The AMF regulates securities as well while the CFTC is focused on commodities and futures. As financial services have… Read More

CFTC Orders Utah Man to Pay $2.5 Million for “Leveraged Bitcoin Fraud”

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has ordered that Jacob Orvida, a Utah man, pay restitution and a penalty of $2.5 million for allegations of fraud in a leveraged Bitcoin ploy. According to the CFTC, Orvida solicited investors to join a commodity pool to trade… Read More

US Commodity Futures Trading Commission Targets Three DeFi Providers, Coinfund Says Regulation by Enforcement is Catastrophic

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced charges targeting three DeFi, or decentralized finance, operations yesterday. These included Deridex, ZeroX, and Opyn. The CFTC alleges the offering of illegal derivatives trading. The CFTC charged Deridex and Opyn with failing to register as a swap… Read More

US CFTC Commissioner Says it is Time for a Regulatory Sanbox, Calls for Digital Asset Pilot

At a speech delivered to the pro-market Cato Institute, CFTC Commissioner Caroline Pham has called for a Regulatory Sandbox. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) pioneered the Sandbox concept. The approach was to allow innovative Fintech firms to test products and services under the watchful… Read More

CFTC Files Complaint Against Fundsz Alleging Crypto Fraud

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed charges against four individuals as well as an unincorporated entity called Fundsz. The complaint charges them with fraudulent solicitation from clients to purportedly trade in cryptocurrencies and precious metals. Filed in District Court in Florida, the following… Read More

Husband – Wife Team Hit with Fraud Charges by CFTC Alleging Digital Asset Scam Called Blessings of God Thru Crypto

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed charges against Michael and Amanda Griffis of Clarksville, Tennessee, according to a statement issued by the Commission. The complaint charges the defendants with defrauding over 100 people and failing to register with the CFTC in connection with a… Read More

CFTC Settles Charges Against Two for Bitcoin Fraud, Guilty Pleas in Criminal Courts

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed and simultaneously settled charges regarding a multi-million dollar Bitcoin fraud, according to a release. Randy Craig Levine, formerly of Coral Gables, Florida, and Philip Reichenthal of Homestead, Florida, have been charged with engaging in a deceptive and fraudulent… Read More

CFTC Adds Members of its Global Markets Advisory Committee, Subcommittees; Uniswap, Polygon Team Reps Included

CFTC Commissioner Caroline D. Pham, sponsor of the Global Markets Advisory Committee (GMAC), announced new members and leadership of the GMAC and its Subcommittees on Global Market Structure, Technical Issues, and Digital Asset Markets. CFTC announces their new Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee – Members from… Read More

Ohio Man Ordered to Pay More than $50 Million for Bogus Digital Asset Trading Scam

Michael Ackerman, from Alliance, Ohio, has been ordered to pay over $50 million for a bogus digital asset trading scam. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has received a default judgment regarding Ackerman from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York…. Read More

Pig Butchering Scam Target of CFTC Enforcement Action

Another Pig Butchering scam is in the news again. “Sha Zhu Pan” or “Pig Butchering” is a romance plot designed to fleece the funds of the unsuspecting. In this case, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed an enforcement action against Cunwen Zhu and… Read More

CFTC Issues Staff Advisory on Digital Assets and Clearing, Commissioner Johnson Calls for Rulemaking on Crypto

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued a staff advisory on the expansion of Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) clearing of digital assets. The advisory was said to be driven by the rising interest of DCOs to provide services in regard to crypto. The Advisory… Read More

CFTC Files Charges Regarding Digital Asset, Bitcoin Fraud

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed an enforcement action in the US District Court for the Central District of California against David Carmona, Juan Arellano Parra, Moses Valdez, David Brend, and Marco A. Ruiz Ochoa, who were all doing business as a company… Read More

CFTC Pursues Bogus Entities Claiming to be Registered with the Commission

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced it has filed charges against 14 entities for fraudulently claiming to be registered with the CFTC as futures commission merchants (FCM) and retail foreign exchange dealers (RFED). The bogus platforms claimed to be located in the United Kingdom,… Read More

CFTC Charges Binance, Founder Changpeng Zhao, Others with “Numerous Violations” in Civil Enforcement Act

Zhao Changpeng

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed charges against Binance, founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao (known as CZ), and former Chief Compliance Officer Samuel Lim with “numerous violations” of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and other regulations. Filed in the U.S. District Court for… Read More

CFTC Joins SEC, DOJ in Filing Charges Against Caroline Ellison, Former Alameda CEO, Gary Wang, Co-Founder of FTX

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has joined both the SEC and US Department of Justice in filing fraud charges against Caroline Ellison, former Alameda CEO, and Gary Wang, FTX co-founder and former CTO. The CFTC initially filed the fraud action on December 13 against… Read More

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