CFTC Grants 10 Whistleblower Awards Totaling Over $150M

The CFTC granted 10 whistleblower awards totaling more than $150 million to individuals who provided original information that led to successful enforcement actions.

The awards, issued between July and September 2026, recognize whistleblowers who assisted the Commission and other authorities. Consistent with confidentiality protections under Commodity Exchange Act Section 23 ("Commodity whistleblower incentives and protection"), the CFTC did not disclose the specific enforcement actions or the exact award amounts.

Under the program, established by Dodd-Frank Section 748, eligible whistleblowers may receive between 10 and 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected. The awards are paid from the Customer Protection Fund, which the CFTC says is funded entirely through monetary sanctions paid by violators.

Since issuing its first award in 2014, the CFTC has awarded more than $580 million to whistleblowers. The agency said those awards are tied to enforcement actions that resulted in more than $5.1 billion in monetary sanctions.

CFTC General Counsel Tyler Badgley said the Whistleblower Program is having a record year under new leadership. Despite inheriting a substantial backlog, he said, the office has moved to process awards promptly and efficiently.