CFTC fines exceed $4.3 billion for the year, with cryptocurrency enforcement doubling

share
CFTC fines exceed $4.3 billion for the year, with cryptocurrency enforcement doubling

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) released its enforcement results for the 2023 fiscal year, demonstrating that despite the criticisms faced by SEC Chairman Gary Gensler in the crypto space, the enforcement efforts of the CFTC are equally robust.

CFTC Takes 96 Enforcement Actions, Fines Exceed $43 Billion

The CFTC's Division of Enforcement (DOE) initiated 96 enforcement actions in 2023, including significant violations involving digital assets, fraud in the derivatives markets, resulting in fines exceeding $43 billion.

Enforcement Actions Related to Digital Assets: 47 Cases

  • Binance, CZ

  • Leveraged platform Ooki DAO

  • Derivatives trading platform Digitex

  • Opyn, ZeroEx, and Deridex protocols

  • Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky

  • DeFi platform Mango attacker: Avraham Eisenber

  • Independent lawsuits by SBF, Gary Wang, Caroline Ellison, and Nishad Singh

Traditional Finance Also Fined, But Crypto Enforcement Doubles

In fact, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and HSBC are also on the enforcement and resolution list for 2023.

The proportion of crypto enforcement doubled from 20% in 2022 to 49%.

The announcement also emphasizes the importance of whistleblowers in enforcement, with the CFTC approving 7 whistleblower award applications in 2023, totaling approximately $16 million in rewards. Since the initiation of the whistleblower program, a total of nearly $3.5 billion in awards has been granted.

CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam stated that the agency will continue to take all necessary actions to protect American consumers.