Why did the CFTC issue this concept release?
Lily Fisher
Updated on February 18, 2026
Why did the CFTC issue this concept release?
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today issued a “concept release” seeking public comments to assist it in reexamining its approach to the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market. Recent industry estimates peg the notional value of outstanding OTC derivatives contracts at over $28 trillion worldwide.
What happened to the attempt by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to regulate derivatives in May 1998?
The stated mission of the CFTC is to promote the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the U.S. derivatives markets through sound regulation….Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, D.C. |
| Employees | 668 (2018) |
| Agency executive | Rostin Behnam, Acting Chairman |
| Website |
What is CFTC report?
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) publishes the Commitments of Traders (COT) reports to help the public understand market dynamics. The COT reports are based on position data supplied by reporting firms (FCMs, clearing members, foreign brokers and exchanges).
What categories are outlined by the CFTC?
The Disaggregated COT report increases transparency from the legacy COT reports by separating traders into the following four categories of traders: Producer/Merchant/Processor/User; Swap Dealers; Managed Money; and Other Reportables.
Are derivatives OTC?
Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives are contracts that are traded (and privately negotiated) directly between two parties, without going through an exchange or other intermediary. Products such as swaps, forward rate agreements, exotic options – and other exotic derivatives – are almost always traded in this way.
Does the CFTC have jurisdiction over all activity that violates the commodity Exchange Act?
The CFTC has exclusive jurisdiction over, among others, any transaction “for the contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery,” with certain exceptions. Consequently, commodities are generally subject to the regulatory requirements of the CEA.
What does the CFTC do?
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission protects the public from fraud, manipulation, and abusive practices related to the sale of commodity and financial futures and options, and to fosters open, competitive, and financially sound futures and option markets.
How do you read a CFTC report?
How to Access the COT Reports
- Go to
- Select Market Reports.
- Select Commitments of Traders.
- The next page will allow you to view the COT Reports with choices to filter the data by the following, as well as choose whether you would like to view the data in a long or short format:
What is the role of the CFTC?
The mission of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is to promote the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the U.S. derivatives markets through sound regulation. In carrying out this mission, the Commission polices the derivatives markets for various abuses and works to ensure the protection of customer funds.
Who invented derivatives?
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Calculus, known in its early history as infinitesimal calculus, is a mathematical discipline focused on limits, continuity, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz independently developed the theory of infinitesimal calculus in the later 17th century.
What is ETD in derivatives?
What Is an Exchange Traded Derivative? An exchange traded derivative is a financial contract that is listed and trades on a regulated exchange. Exchange traded derivatives can be used to hedge exposure or speculate on a wide range of financial assets like commodities, equities, currencies, and even interest rates.
