Comment Text:
Dear Chairman and Commissioners,
My name is Claudia Hoffman, and I'm a retired citizen from California writing to share my thoughts on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Prediction Markets, as published in 91 FR 12516. I am a longtime investor who has used prediction markets a few times for both fun and the opportunity. I strongly support well-regulated prediction markets. I hope future rules will allow ordinary people like me to participate while addressing the concerns of insider trading and manipulation.
The United States should be a leader in financial innovation. This qualifies.
I understand laws already exist to prevent insider trading, and the CFTC has tools to tackle manipulation in other markets. Use those tools here.
In response to some of the specific questions in the ANPR, particularly in Topic B on Public Interest (Questions 7-14), I think the CFTC should prioritize balancing innovation with consumer protection by focusing on enforcement of existing laws rather than broad prohibitions. And for Topic E on Inside Information (Questions 29-32), I believe informed traders can improve price accuracy, but there must be strict penalties for anyone abusing privileged information.
I urge the CFTC to allow everyday citizens and businesses to participate in legal, regulated markets while targeting specific risks like insider trading with strong enforcement.
Sincerely,
Claudia Hoffman
