The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced earlier this month that it had awarded more than $2 million to an individual who provided “critical information through independent analysis of market data” contributing both to a successful CFTC action and related action brought by another federal regulator. The payout is the first of its kind for the CFTC because it is the first time the agency has awarded a whistleblower who was a company outsider.

In announcing the award, the Director of the CFTC’s Whistleblower Office Christopher Ehrman stated, “Today’s award illustrates two key aspects of our Whistleblower Program — that an individual doesn’t have to be an insider to receive a whistleblower award and the Commission can pay awards based on related actions brought by other regulators.” Since issuing its first award in 2014, the CFTC has awarded more than $85 million to whistleblowers, and the agency’s covered actions associated with those awards have resulted in sanctions totaling more than $675 million.