CFTC faces staffing shortfalls as firms seek US prediction market approvals
Staffing cuts at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are raising concerns over its oversight capacity as digital asset firms apply to launch regulated prediction markets.
FTMQ Startups, written by our newsroom0 views
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is facing severe staffing cuts as it manages growing oversight responsibilities for digital assets and prediction markets, ReadWrite reported. As FTMQ Startups reported earlier, digital asset firm Blockchain.com submitted applications to the agency on October 9 to launch regulated prediction markets and cryptocurrency derivatives trading for United States retail and institutional clients. [1][2]
According to ReadWrite, citing Office of Personnel Management data initially reported by NPR, the regulator had 21 percent fewer employees by the end of 2025 than its average staffing level over the previous decade. Enforcement actions by the agency in 2025 dropped by nearly 80 percent compared to its annual average. [1]
The reduced capacity comes as trading volume in crypto and prediction markets reaches hundreds of billions of dollars each week, ReadWrite reported. Blockchain.com is seeking designated contract market status from the regulator, but approval has not been granted and no launch date has been established. [1][2]
In short
- CFTC staffing at the end of 2025 was 21 percent below its decade average.
- CFTC enforcement actions fell by nearly 80 percent in 2025 compared to the annual average.
- Blockchain.com applied to the CFTC on October 9 for designated contract market status.
Sources
Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.
- [1]CFTC staffing cuts test regulator as crypto markets expandReadWrite, 1d ago (the report this story comes from)
Background
- [2]Blockchain.com seeks regulatory approval for US prediction markets and derivatives FTMQ Startups, 2h ago
Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 2 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.
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