Regulatory news and audio briefings from financial regulators worldwide — financial crime, AML, sanctions, fraud, digital assets and compliance

CFTC adopts 30% presumption for whistleblower awards of $5 million or less

The CFTC has finalised a rule creating a rebuttable 30 percent presumption for whistleblower awards at or below $5 million, aligning its framework with the SEC's. This segment covers what the presumption changes for claims processing, how much discretion the Commission retains, and why the agency frames it as cross-agency harmonisation worth a few minutes of attention.

• A 30 percent presumption applies to whistleblower awards of $5 million or less, subject to Commission discretion and its analysis of relevant regulatory factors.
• The rule is modelled on the SEC's rule 21F-6(c), which the CFTC frames as advancing harmonisation between the two agencies.
• The final rule takes effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.