CFTC Chair Selig Asserts Sole Federal Authority Over U.S. Prediction Markets in Amicus Filings

On February 17, 2026, CFTC Chair Michael Selig highlighted that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has submitted amicus briefs in more than 50 active U.S. court cases to affirm its sole federal authority over prediction market regulation. Selig pointed to over two decades of CFTC oversight of event contracts and described their risk‑hedging and informational value, while Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin warned that many prediction platforms now prioritize low‑value speculative activity over broader societal insight.