CFTC Final Rule Establishes 30% Presumption For Some Whistleblower Awards

On Sept. 16, 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission published a final rule revising its whistleblower regulations. The final rule will create a presumption that a whistleblower claimant will receive the statutory maximum of 30% when a report results in collected monetary sanctions of up to approximately $16.66 million (Whistleblower Final Rule). The Whistleblower Final Rule is substantively consistent with the agency’s earlier notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the same topic. The Whistleblower Final Rule will take effect Oct. 16, 2026.

The new presumption is conditioned on the agency’s finding that none of the existing “negative factors,” which currently serve to reduce a whistleblower award amount, are present. To receive a 30% award under the presumption, the whistleblower awardee may not: be culpable for the underlying violations, unreasonably delay the reporting of the underlying violations, or interfere with the entity or registrant’s internal compliance and