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Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig told House lawmakers the agency will pursue anyone committing fraud or insider trading in prediction markets with “the full force of the law.”
Selig appeared before the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday as the agency faces mounting pressure over fast-growing event contract platforms and suspicious trades tied to political announcements.
Prediction Markets Under the CFTC Microscope
Selig told the committee that the Commodity Exchange Act grants the CFTC “very broad, exclusive jurisdiction” over commodity derivatives.
The chairman said he inherited a wave of self-certified event contracts from the prior administration, when “the floodgates really opened.”
The agency has since issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to set clearer standards for prediction market contracts.
Selig described a multi-layered oversight system. Designated contract markets serve as self-regulatory organizations and act as the first line of defense.
The CFTC reviews every contract self-certification and retains authority to reject listings. The agency also sued multiple states that attempted to apply gambling laws to licensed prediction market operators.
Lawmakers Press on $500 Million Oil Trades
Rep. McGovern raised a specific incident from March 23, when someone placed roughly $500 million in oil and equities futures trades minutes before President Trump posted about ceasefire talks on Truth Social.
The trades bet oil prices would drop and equities would rally.
“We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to fraud, abuse of trading practices and manipulation, and anyone who engages in that behavior will face the full force of the law,” said Selig, chair of the CFTC.
Selig declined to confirm or deny any active investigation, stating that doing so would hinder enforcement efforts.
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CFTC-SEC Crypto Push and Solo Rulemaking
Beyond enforcement, Selig highlighted the agency’s role in shaping crypto policy. The CFTC and SEC signed a Memorandum of Understanding in March to coordinate on digital asset oversight, stablecoins, and tokenized collateral.
Selig said the two agencies had “failed to work well together” for too long and that the MOU would establish open communication on surveillance and policymaking.
Ranking Member Craig pressed Selig on whether he would pause rulemaking while serving as the CFTC’s only sitting commissioner. Selig refused.
He told the committee that investor protections and market safeguards could not wait for additional nominees.
The coming weeks may reveal whether that stance draws further congressional pushback or accelerates the prediction market framework the industry has been waiting for.
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The post CFTC Chair Selig Vows To Stop Prediction Market Fraud appeared first on BeInCrypto.
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