Best Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulated Brokers 2026

Your capital is at risk. Trade only with funds you can afford to lose.

Tested with a live trading account Accept traders from United States

Our Top Pick in USA 1 Interactive Brokers 4.3/5 Visit

2 NinjaTrader 4.5/5 Visit

3 Plus500US 4.0/5 Visit

4 Crypto.com 3.5/5 Visit

Compare Interactive Brokers and NinjaTrader Details

Showing 5 of 5 matching brokers

Filters Order By ... Overall Rating Latest Trust & Regulation Banking & Accounts Assets & Markets Fees & Costs Platforms & Tools Research Education Customer Support iOS App Android App Most Clients Trustpilot Score

1. 1

   Interactive Brokers

   4.3/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 4.5

   Assets & Markets 4.7

   Fees & Costs 4.3

   Platforms & Tools 3.3

   Customer Support 3.0

   Education 4.3

   Research 4.4

   Accounts & Banking 3.5
   Visit Interactive Brokers Read Review

   Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a leading brokerage offering access to over 170 markets in 40 countries and a range of investment services. With 40+ years in the industry, this Nasdaq-listed company follows strict regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, SFC, Europe and beyond, making it a trusted global trading broker.

   Demo Account

   ✓

   Minimum Deposit

   $0

   Minimum Trade

   $1

   Leverage

   1:50 (major forex pairs), 1:2-1:4 (equities)

   Copy Trading

   ✗

   Regulator

   SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS

   Instruments

   Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies

   Platforms

   Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower

   Account Currencies

   USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

   Automated Trading

   TWS API

   AI

   ✓

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

2. 2

   NinjaTrader

   4.5/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 4.1

   Assets & Markets 3.5

   Fees & Costs 4.3

   Platforms & Tools 4.5

   Customer Support 4.0

   Education 4.0

   Research 4.0

   Accounts & Banking 3.3
   Visit NinjaTrader Read Review

   NinjaTrader is a trusted brokerage for trading futures. It offers three different pricing plans for varied needs and budgets, along with extremely low margins on popular contracts. The company's renowned charting software and trading platform provides extensive customization options and excellent technical analysis features.

   Demo Account

   ✓

   Minimum Deposit

   $0 (live trades must meet intraday margin minimums, e.g., $50 to trade micro contracts)

   Minimum Trade

   1 contract

   Leverage

   $50 intraday margins for Micro contracts and $500 for popular E-mini contracts

   Copy Trading

   ✗

   Regulator

   NFA, CFTC, CySEC

   Instruments

   Futures, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto (non-futures depend on provider)

   Platforms

   NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal

   Account Currencies

   USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

   Automated Trading

   NinjaScript or via Automated Trading Interface

   AI

   ✗

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

3. 3

   Plus500US

   4.0/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 3.5

   Assets & Markets 3.8

   Fees & Costs 3.3

   Platforms & Tools 3.3

   Customer Support 3.5

   Education 3.5

   Research 2.8

   Accounts & Banking 3.7
   Visit Plus500US Read Review

   Trading in futures and options involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

   Plus500US, a broker since 2021, is CFTC and NFA authorized. It offers futures trading on forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and interest rates. With a 10-minute sign-up, a $10 minimum deposit ($200 for wire transfers), and a simple web platform, Plus500 enhances its services for US traders.

   Demo Account

   ✓

   Minimum Deposit

   $10

   Minimum Trade

   Variable

   Leverage

   Variable

   Copy Trading

   ✗

   Regulator

   CFTC, NFA

   Instruments

   Futures on Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Agriculture, Forex, Interest rates, Energy, Equity Index Future Contracts, Prediction Markets

   Platforms

   WebTrader, App

   Account Currencies

   USD

   Automated Trading

   ✗

   AI

   ✗

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

4. 4

   Crypto.com

   3.5/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 3.9

   Assets & Markets 4.0

   Fees & Costs 3.3

   Platforms & Tools 4.0

   Customer Support 2.5

   Education 3.8

   Research 3.8

   Accounts & Banking 3.8
   Visit Crypto.com Read Review

   Crypto.com is a leading cryptocurrency exchange focused on advancing DeFi technologies. It provides token lending, prepaid cards, NFTs, and more. Founded in Hong Kong in 2016, it serves 150 million users.

   Demo Account

   ✗

   Minimum Deposit

   Varies by payment method

   Minimum Trade

   $1

   Leverage

   ✗

   Copy Trading

   ✗

   Regulator

   MAS, AMF, CySEC, CBI, ASIC, FINTRAC, CIMA, VARA, OAM, HCMC, CFTC, OSC, KoFIU, FCA (registered for MLR only), SEC (securities only)

   Instruments

   Crypto, Stocks, ETFs, OTC Options, Tokenized Stocks, Prediction Markets and Strike Options (US only)

   Platforms

   Own, TradingView

   Account Currencies

   USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, PLN, CZK, AED, SAR, HUF, BRL, KES

   Automated Trading

   DCA Auto-Staking

   AI

   ✗

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

5. 5

   FOREX.com

   4.3/5 our rating
   Available in United States Not available in United States
   Rating breakdown

   Regulation & Trust 4.5

   Assets & Markets 4.0

   Fees & Costs 4.2

   Platforms & Tools 4.6

   Customer Support 3.9

   Education 3.9

   Research 4.8

   Accounts & Banking 4.0
   Visit FOREX.com Read Review

   74% of retail accounts lose money with this provider.

   Founded in 2001, FOREX.com is part of StoneX, a global financial services firm with over a million customers. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia, and other regions, it offers thousands of markets, not just forex, with competitive pricing on advanced platforms.

   Demo Account

   ✓

   Minimum Deposit

   $100

   Minimum Trade

   0.01 Lots

   Leverage

   1:50

   Copy Trading

   ✗

   Regulator

   NFA, CFTC

   Instruments

   Forex, Futures and Options on Metals, Energies, Commodities, Indices, Bonds Forex, CFDs, Stock CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto

   Platforms

   WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView

   Account Currencies

   USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

   Automated Trading

   Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader

   AI

   ✓

   Guaranteed Stop Loss

   ✗

Compare Brokers

Broker		USD Account	Demo Account	Minimum Deposit	Minimum Trade	Leverage	Copy Trading	Regulator	Instruments	Platforms	Account Currencies	Automated Trading	AI	Guaranteed Stop Loss
		✓	✓	$0	$1	1:50 (major forex pairs), 1:2-1:4 (equities)	✗	SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS	Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies	Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF	TWS API	✓	✗
		✓	✓	$0 (live trades must meet intraday margin minimums, e.g., $50 to trade micro contracts)	1 contract	$50 intraday margins for Micro contracts and $500 for popular E-mini contracts	✗	NFA, CFTC, CySEC	Futures, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto (non-futures depend on provider)	NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD	NinjaScript or via Automated Trading Interface	✗	✗
		✓	✓	$10	Variable	Variable	✗	CFTC, NFA	Futures on Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Agriculture, Forex, Interest rates, Energy, Equity Index Future Contracts, Prediction Markets	WebTrader, App	USD	✗	✗	✗
		✓	✗	Varies by payment method	$1	✗	✗	MAS, AMF, CySEC, CBI, ASIC, FINTRAC, CIMA, VARA, OAM, HCMC, CFTC, OSC, KoFIU, FCA (registered for MLR only), SEC (securities only)	Crypto, Stocks, ETFs, OTC Options, Tokenized Stocks, Prediction Markets and Strike Options (US only)	Own, TradingView	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, PLN, CZK, AED, SAR, HUF, BRL, KES	DCA Auto-Staking	✗	✗
		✓	✓	$100	0.01 Lots	1:50	✗	NFA, CFTC	Forex, Futures and Options on Metals, Energies, Commodities, Indices, Bonds Forex, CFDs, Stock CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto	WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN	Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader	✓	✗
Broker		USD Account	Demo Account	Minimum Deposit	Minimum Trade	Leverage	Copy Trading	Regulator	Instruments	Platforms	Account Currencies	Automated Trading	AI	Guaranteed Stop Loss

Safety Comparison

Compare how safe the Best Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulated Brokers 2026 are.

Broker	Trust Rating	Guaranteed Stop Loss	Negative Balance Protection	Segregated Accounts
	4.5	✗	✗	✓
	4.1	✗	✗	✓
	3.5	✗	✗	✓
	3.9	✗	✗	✓
	4.5	✗	✗	✓
Broker	Trust Rating	Guaranteed Stop Loss	Negative Balance Protection	Segregated Accounts

Mobile Trading Comparison

Compare the mobile trading features of the Best Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulated Brokers 2026.

Broker	Mobile Apps	iOS Rating	Android Rating	Smart Watch App
	iOS & Android	4.3	4.5	✓
	iOS & Android	3.0	3.2	✗
	iOS & Android	4.1	4.3	✗
	iOS & Android	4.7	4.5	✗
	iOS & Android	3.6	3.8	✗
Broker	Mobile Apps	iOS Rating	Android Rating	Smart Watch App

Comparison for Beginners

Compare how suitable the Best Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulated Brokers 2026 are for beginners.

Broker	Demo Account	Minimum Deposit	Minimum Trade	Education Rating	Support Rating	Fractional Shares	Demo Competitions
	✓	$0	$1	4.3	3.0	✓	✗
	✓	$0 (live trades must meet intraday margin minimums, e.g., $50 to trade micro contracts)	1 contract	4.0	4.0	✗	✗
	✓	$10	Variable	3.5	3.5	✗	✗
	✗	Varies by payment method	$1	3.8	2.5	✓	✗
	✓	$100	0.01 Lots	3.9	3.9	✗	✗
Broker	Demo Account	Minimum Deposit	Minimum Trade	Education Rating	Support Rating	Fractional Shares	Demo Competitions

Comparison for Advanced Traders

Compare how suitable the Best Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulated Brokers 2026 are for advanced or professional traders.

Broker	Automated Trading	VPS	API	AI	Pro Account	Leverage	Low Latency	Extended Hours
	TWS API	✗	✓	✓	✗	1:50 (major forex pairs), 1:2-1:4 (equities)	✓	✓
	NinjaScript or via Automated Trading Interface	✗	✗	✗	✗	$50 intraday margins for Micro contracts and $500 for popular E-mini contracts	✓	✗
	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	Variable	✓	✗
	DCA Auto-Staking	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓
	Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader	✓	✓	✓	✗	1:50	✓	✗
Broker	Automated Trading	VPS	API	AI	Pro Account	Leverage	Low Latency	Extended Hours

Accounts Comparison

Compare the trading accounts offered by Best Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulated Brokers 2026.

Broker	Demo Account	Interest on Cash	Islamic Account	Joint Account	Managed Account	PAMM	MAM	LAMM	Pro Account
	✓	USD: 3.14%, GBP: 3.24%	✗	✓	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗
	✓	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
	✗	USD: 5%	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
	✓	✗	✓	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
Broker	Demo Account	Interest on Cash	Islamic Account	Joint Account	Managed Account	PAMM	MAM	LAMM	Pro Account

Detailed Rating Comparison

Compare how we rated the Best Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulated Brokers 2026 in key areas.

Broker	Trust	Platforms	Assets	Mobile	Fees	Accounts	Research	Education	Support
	4.5	3.3	4.7	4.4	4.3	3.5	4.4	4.3	3.0
	4.1	4.5	3.5	3.1	4.3	3.3	4.0	4.0	4.0
	3.5	3.3	3.8	4.2	3.3	3.7	2.8	3.5	3.5
	3.9	4.0	4.0	4.6	3.3	3.8	3.8	3.8	2.5
	4.5	4.6	4.0	3.7	4.2	4.0	4.8	3.9	3.9
Broker	Trust	Platforms	Assets	Mobile	Fees	Accounts	Research	Education	Support

Fee and Cost Comparison

Compare the cost of trading with the Best Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulated Brokers 2026.

Broker	Cost Rating	Fixed Spreads	Inactivity Fee	EUR/USD Spread	Crypto Spread
	4.3	✗	$0	0.08-0.20 bps x trade value	0.12%-0.18%
	4.3	✗	$35	1.3	Floating
	3.3	✗	$0	0.75	✗
	3.3	✗	$5	✗	0.075% (spot), 0.034% (derivatives)
	4.2	✗	$15	1.2	BTC 1.4%, ETH 2%
Broker	Cost Rating	Fixed Spreads	Inactivity Fee	EUR/USD Spread	Crypto Spread

Customer Ratings

Compare how customers of these brokers feel about them, with real user ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Broker	Customers	Trustpilot Score	Trustpilot Reviews	Android App Rating	iOS App Rating
	4,300,000	3.0	5,528	4.5	4.3
	1,800,000	3.8	1,253	3.2	3.0
	33,000,000	4.2	20,182	4.3	4.1
	150,000,000	2.0	9,439	4.5	4.7
	450,000	4.6	2,561	3.8	3.6
Broker	Customers	Trustpilot Score	Trustpilot Reviews	Android App Rating	iOS App Rating

Broker Popularity

See how popular the Best Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Regulated Brokers 2026 are in terms of number of clients.

Broker	Popularity
Crypto.com	150,000,000
Plus500US	33,000,000
Interactive Brokers	4,300,000
NinjaTrader	1,800,000
FOREX.com	450,000

Why Trade With Interactive Brokers?

4.3/5

Interactive Brokers is ideal for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, updated data, and adaptability, especially with the IBKR Desktop application. Its exceptional pricing and advanced order features appeal to traders, and its variety of stocks remains unmatched in the market.

Pros

• The new IBKR Desktop platform combines the advantages of TWS and adds unique tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to make trading accessible and impressive for traders of all levels.
• There's a large selection of free or paid research subscriptions available to all traders. If you subscribe to Toggle AI, you will also receive commission refunds from IBKR.
• Interactive Brokers has introduced a single platform combining prediction markets from Kalshi, CME Group, and ForecastEx. Users can trade yes/no contracts on political, economic, and climate events, with a fixed $1 payout per contract, 24/6 market access, and interest on qualified positions.

Cons

• In 2025, IBKR was fined $11.8 million by the US OFAC for offering services in restricted areas. It also faced a $125,000 fine from FINRA in 2025 for failing to disclose municipal bond information.
• Customer service may take time to respond, and there may be delays in fixing problems based on tests. It could be difficult to reach the customer service promptly.
• TWS is complex, and beginners might find it difficult to use and understand all its features.

Visit Interactive Brokers Read Review

Why Trade With NinjaTrader?

4.5/5

NinjaTrader consistently satisfies active futures traders with its low-cost service and high-quality analysis tools. It offers superior charting features, including hundreds of indicators and over 10 chart types.

Pros

• In July 2026, NinjaTrader introduced CME Group Single Stock futures. This allows traders to take directional positions in major U.S. companies such as Nvidia and Amazon without using options.
• Nano contracts—one-hundredth the size of standard NinjaTrader contracts—help traders size positions precisely and manage risk at a smaller scale when building positions gradually.
• 's ecosystem offers traders access to thousands of add-ons and applications from developers in over 150 countries. These include indicators, strategies, and custom tools that extend the platform's native features.

Cons

• Intraday margin requirements can rise up to four times in the 15 minutes before major economic news and remain high for several minutes after volatility decreases.
• NinjaTrader was fined $250,000 in 2025 for not implementing a sufficient anti-money laundering program and for supervisory failures.
• NinjaTrader was bought by Kraken in May 2025. Although it still operates independently, traders concerned about long-term stability may worry about changes in the platform's direction and pricing under new ownership.

Visit NinjaTrader Read Review

Why Trade With Plus500US?

4.0/5

Plus500US is a strong choice for beginners, with an easy-to-use platform and Futures Academy training. Its tools and reliable service earned second place in DayTrading.com's annual “Best US Broker” award.

Pros

• The Futures Academy is a useful resource for beginner traders due to its captivating videos and simple articles. Its unrestricted demo account is also beneficial for practicing trading strategies.
• The account setup, pricing structure, and web platform make futures trading simpler than competitors like NinjaTrader.
• Plus500US stands out for its low fees, competitive trading margins, and no charges for inactivity, live data, routing, or platform use.

Cons

• Testing showed fast response times for support, but phone aid is not available.
• Plus500US is expanding its investment options, but it currently only offers around 50+ futures and no stocks.
• The proprietary platform is easy to use but lacks advanced analysis tools available in third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4.

Visit Plus500US Read Review

Trading in futures and options involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

Why Trade With Crypto.com?

3.5/5

Crypto.com is ideal for new crypto traders looking to buy, sell, and trade over 400 digital tokens. Its strike options and prediction markets cover financial, economic, election, sport, and cultural events. As a CFTC-regulated platform, it provides a secure choice for US traders interested in binary-style contracts using an easy-to-use app.

Pros

• In 2026, Crypto.com introduced BTC Rewards for the Crypto.com Visa Signature® Credit Card, targeting crypto enthusiasts who trade and spend in cryptocurrency.
• The Crypto.com Exchange platform provides advanced bots like Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA), Time-Weighted Average Price (TWAP), and Grid Trading bots. Traders can automate strategies, including leveraged perpetual trades, reducing manual work and slippage.
• Crypto.com has integrated TradingView charts, offering the precise charting and technical analysis tools traders need to assess short-term price changes.

Cons

• Fees apply to crypto and fiat withdrawals, which can be significant for active traders making smaller transfers. The minimum withdrawal limits are also high, limiting flexibility in managing smaller portfolios or immediate liquidity needs.
• Customer support mainly uses chatbots and email, with limited reliable phone support from our testing. This may cause delays in solving urgent issues like account access or transaction problems, which can be frustrating for crypto traders needing quick help.
• The app has high bid-ask spreads on many coins, which can be expensive for traders using market orders. Wide spreads mean the buying price is significantly higher than the selling price, reducing profits, especially in low-volume trades.

Visit Crypto.com Read Review

Why Trade With FOREX.com?

4.3/5

FOREX.com is a top-tier brokerage suitable for forex traders of all skill levels. It offers more than 80 currency pairs, has small spreads starting from 0.0 pips, and features low fees. The platform provides powerful charting tools that include over 100 technical indicators and multiple research aids.

Pros

• FOREX.com provides top-tier forex pricing beginning at 0.0 pips. They also offer competitive cashback rebates up to 15% for dedicated traders.
• The in-house Web Trader is a top platform for new traders, featuring a sleek design and over 80 technical indicators for market analysis.
• Educational resources include tutorials, webinars, and a YouTube channel to help you learn about financial markets.

Cons

• US clients do not have negative balance protection, so you can potentially owe more than your original account deposit.
• Demo accounts have a limited time duration of 90 days, which may not be sufficient for thoroughly testing trading strategies.
• FOREX.com's MT4 platform provides around 600 instruments for trading, which is considerably less than the 5,500+ options accessible on its other platforms.

Visit FOREX.com Read Review

74% of retail accounts lose money with this provider.

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How We Chose The Top CFTC-Regulated Brokers

Our selection process comprises three things:

1. We first check the regulatory position of every brokerage in our evolving database. This includes verifying that each firm claiming CFTC approval on their website is included on the National Futures Association (NFA) online database. This is known as the Background Affiliation Status Information Center (or BASIC for short).
2. We also re-check each broker’s regulatory status on a regular basis, given that licenses can be revoked or suspended in the case of misconduct. We also ascertain if the regulator has launched any investigations into the firm, and whether any sanctions have been placed on the business.
3. We then rank CFTC-regulated brokerages based not just on their regulatory status, but also other factors like the quality of their trading platform; the fees and charges customers can expect; and the range of financial securities they offer. This blends real-world testing with hundreds of data points we collect for each broker.

What Is The CFTC?

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is a federal agency established more than 50 years ago under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Act of 1974.

The CFTC’s role is “to promote the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the US derivatives markets through sound regulation.” Its authority is chiefly derived from the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), passed in 1936 and whose scope has been expanded by subsequent acts passed by Congress.

This legislation gives the CFTC the power to regulate, oversee and enforce derivatives products including:

• Futures contracts.
• Options contracts.
• Swap contracts.

The CFTC regulates and oversees a wide range of entities including brokers, swap dealers, futures commission merchants and commodity pool operators.

Pro tip: As well as regulating commodity-linked derivatives, the CFTC oversees products linked to:

• Currencies.
• Stocks.
• Interest rates.
• Government bonds.
• Share indices.

The CFTC also supervises leveraged spot forex trading. This involves a trader buying and selling currencies using borrowed funds provided by their brokerage.

Under BrokerListings.com’s Regulator Rating System, the CFTC has attained Category A status. As a result, individuals using a CFTC-approved brokerage can expect excellent levels of service. They can also have confidence in the broader integrity, robustness and transparency of US derivative markets more generally.

What Powers Does The CFTC Have?

The CFTC has sweeping powers when it comes to regulating and overseeing entities, and, where necessary, bringing enforcement proceedings against brokerages and individuals that have breached derivatives market rules.

It can impose a range of administrative sanctions without having to pursue a full criminal court process. These include:

• Imposing monetary penalties.
• Applying trading restrictions, like banning a firm from offering certain products.
• Prohibiting individuals or companies from operating in derivatives markets.
• Issuing orders to cease and desist from committing further violations.
• Demanding the payment of compensation from affected individuals.

The CFTC will also seek action through Federal courts if it determines stronger action is required. In these cases, it can request measures including the freezing of assets, preservation of documents, injunctions to halt further misconduct, the appointment of a receiver, and civil financial penalties.

CFTC Actions Against Brokers

In September 2025, the CFTC issued an order filing and settling charges against Shinhan Securities, and ordered it to pay a $212,500 civil monetary penalty. It found the South Korean broker had engaged in 127 ‘wash trades’ between March 2023 and February 2024, in which buy and sell orders for the same futures contracts were executed simultaneously, thus leaving no change in the trader’s market position.  Wash trades are typically done to inflate a security’s trading volumes and to manipulate prices.

Also in September 2025, the regulator imposed a $1.5 million civil monetary penalty on Citigroup for failing to submit accurate large trader reports between 2015 and 2023. It found the broker had also failed to maintain reliable regulatory record and establish an adequate supervisory system.

The CFTC played a key role between 2023 and 2024 in the investigation and eventual prosecution of Binance for a range of offences, including operating an unregistered derivatives platform and helping customers bypass compliance rules.

The cryptocurrency exchange – along with key figures – was ordered to pay billions of dollars in fines and compensation, which included:

• A $1.35 billion penalty from Binance to the CFTC.
• A $1.35 billion payment from Binance to the CFTC to cover the disgorgement of illegally obtained transaction fees.
• A $150 million penalty from former Binance chief executive officer Changpeng Zhao to the CFTC.

The CFTC also charged BitMEX for illegally operating a cryptocurrency derivatives trading platform in October 2020 and for contravening anti-money laundering (AML) rules. The company pleaded guilty in court and was ordered to pay a $100 million fine.

In addition, its founders Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed were barred from operating a trading platform in the future and each hit with a $10 million fine.

What Rules Must A CFTC Broker Follow?

Brokerages must adhere to the CEA alongside CFTC regulations intended to protect customers, ensure market integrity, and prevent fraud and money laundering.

Key obligations include:

• Seeking the best possible trading result for the client.
• Ascertaining the customer’s financial circumstances, investing objectives and risk tolerance before providing advice or making product recommendations.
• Making sure that fees and charges are clearly stated.
• Following Know Your Customer (KYC) and AML requirements.
• Avoiding potentially deceptive and misleading information in any marketing or promotional material.
• Ensuring that product communications are balanced and clearly state the risk of losses.
• Creating procedures to avoid potential conflicts of interest between the client and broker, or between customers.
• Segregating customers’ funds from those of the company.
• Keeping comprehensive records of transactions and client accounts.
• Establishing robust risk management procedures and supervising employees’ conduct.
• Maintaining sufficient capital reserves.

Some CFTC approved brokers may also be signed up to the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). It ensures that victims of fraud and customers of bankrupt financial services companies can claw back their lost capital.

The SIPC compensation limit is set at $500,000, including a $250,000 cap for cash holdings.

How Can I Check That The Brokerage Is CFTC Approved?

In our online age, checking a broker’s regulatory status is quick and simple to complete.

The CFTC doesn’t maintain a database of approved companies itself. Instead, it directs individuals to check a brokerage’s regulatory status through the website of the National Futures Association (NFA). Here you’ll find the NFA’s Background Affiliation Status Information Center, better known as BASIC.

Pro tip: It’s also possible to check a firm’s status by calling the NFA’s Information Center toll-free on 800-621-3570. I can email the organization at information@nfa.futures.org as well.

Let’s say I want to check the regulatory status of Ninjatrader using the BASIC tool. I’ll make sure the ‘Firm’ tab is selected, type in the name of the company and then click ‘Search.’

Source: NFA

My search brings up six different results, including ‘Ninjatrader’ with the NFA ID of 0309379. This registration number corresponds with that provided on the Ninjatrader.com website.

Source: NFA

Clicking on the entry provides additional information on Ninjatrader, including the company’s:

• Type of registration (‘Futures Commission Agent’).
• Address.
• Telephone number.
• Regulatory history.
• Net capital.
• Details on regulatory actions.

Pro tip: The CFTC also maintains an online database of enforcement actions individuals can use to check if the broker they’re considering has been hit by sanctions at any point.

Source: NFA

Bottom Line

The CFTC helps ensure derivatives markets in the US operate efficiently and securely. Under the regulator’s supervision, customers can also expect high levels of protection from bad business practices and fraud. Individuals and brokers that fall short of its requirements can be subject to strict administrative sanctions and/or legal action through the courts.

It’s critical to ensure the brokerage you’re considering is CFTC approved. This can be quickly checked via the NFA website, or by calling or e-mailing its Information Center. Never hand over any funds or personal data before completing this important check.

Pro tip for US traders:

• You may also want a broker with a USD account for a seamless trading experience.
• Check out our list of best brokers for US traders, catered specifically to residents of the United States.