The Commission

CFTC Mission Statement

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.

CFTC Vision Statement

To be the global standard for sound derivatives regulation. 

CFTC Core Values

Commitment - Bringing our best to work every day and holding ourselves to the highest professional standards.

Forward-thinking - Challenging ourselves to stay ahead of the curve. 

Teamwork - Valuing diverse skill sets and backgrounds to achieve our mission. 

Clarity - Providing transparency to market participants about our rules and processes. 

History

 

Futures contracts for agricultural commodities have been traded in the United States for more than 150 years and have been under Federal regulation since the 1920s. When the CFTC was created in 1974 with the enactment of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Act, most futures trading took place in the agricultural sector. Over the years, the futures industry has become increasingly varied and complex.

Significant dates in the history of futures regulation before the creation of the CFTC and significant dates in CFTC history from 1974 to the present are given here.

Image Credits: Special thanks to tradingpithistory.com for permission to use images from the blog in our interactive timeline.