Page 32 - 期货和衍生品行业监管动态(2023年10月刊)
P. 32
期货和衍生品行业监管动态
violations, as charged. In the order, the CFTC recognizes that LYFE’s civil monetary
penalty in this matter was substantially reduced in light of LYFE’s substantial
cooperation.
“ This case underscores our relentless efforts in holding firms—wherever
located—accountable for entering our markets without authorization, and for stumbling
in their critical AML responsibilities,” said Director of Enforcement Ian McGinley.
“Firms entering our markets face a binary choice – play by the rules on a level playing
field, or, face enforcement.”
Case Background
According to the order, from November 2017 to January 2019, SFSL engaged in
unlawful off-exchange transactions in forex and gold and silver with several U.S.-based
commodity pools. SFSL unlawfully offered these transactions through its on-line
trading platform and other means and did not conduct the metals transactions on a
registered exchange. SFSL also operated as an FCM without being registered with the
CFTC through its solicitation and acceptance of orders in forex and metals and
acceptance of funds to margin such trades. Additionally, SFSL failed to supervise
diligently its employees in implementing its AML and know-your-customer policy and
procedures in handling the accounts of the pools, which were comprised of U.S. retail
participants and operated and advised by an unregistered U.S. commodity pool operator
(CPO) and commodity trading advisor (CTA).
Specifically, the order finds SFSL failed to determine whether the unregistered
CPO and CTA were regulated or required to be registered with the CFTC despite clear
indications they were acting in roles that were subject to regulation and required
registration. In addition, SFSL allowed the CPO and CTA to open trading accounts on
behalf of the pools using application forms titled, “Account Opening Application
Unregulated Entity.” Further, SFSL did not flag or perform adequate due diligence
when the CPO and CTA opened multiple additional accounts on behalf of existing and
19