(a) On and after April 13, 1984, it shall be unlawful for any person:

(1) To offer to enter into, enter into or confirm the execution of a leverage contract to or with a leverage customer, or to solicit or accept a leverage customer's order for a leverage contract, or to accept any leverage customer funds from a leverage customer to enter into or maintain a leverage contract, unless the leverage commodity which is the subject of the leverage contract has been registered with the Commission in accordance with § 31.6;

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, to offer to enter into, enter into or confirm the execution of a leverage contract to or with a leverage customer, or to solicit or accept a leverage customer's order for a leverage contract, or to accept any leverage customer funds from a leverage customer to enter into or maintain a leverage contract, unless that person is registered with the Commission in accordance with § 3.17 of this chapter and that registration has not expired, been suspended (and the period of suspension has not expired) or been revoked; or

(3) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, if such person is a natural person, to offer to enter into, enter into or confirm the execution of a leverage contract to or with a leverage customer, or to solicit or accept a leverage customer's order (other than in a clerical capacity) for a leverage contract, or to supervise any person or persons so engaged, unless that person is registered with the Commission in accordance with § 3.18 of this chapter and that registration has not expired, been suspended (and the period of suspension has not expired) or been revoked.

(b) On and after April 13, 1984, it shall be unlawful for any leverage transaction merchant to permit any natural person to become or remain associated with it as a partner, officer or employee (or in any similar status or position involving similar functions) in any capacity which involves the offering to enter into, the entry into, or the confirmation of the execution of a leverage contract with a leverage customer, or the solicitation or acceptance of a leverage customer's order (other than in a clerical capacity) for a leverage contract, or the supervision of any person or persons so engaged, if the leverage transaction merchant knew or should have known that the person was not registered with the Commission in accordance with § 3.18 of this chapter or that the person's registration had expired, been suspended (and the period of suspension had not expired) or been revoked.

(c) On and after November 10, 1986, it shall be unlawful for any person to offer to enter into, enter into or confirm the execution of a leverage contract to or with a leverage customer, or to solicit or accept a leverage customer's order for a leverage contract, or to accept any leverage customer funds from a leverage customer to enter into or maintain a leverage contract, unless the leverage commodity which is the subject of the leverage contract has been registered with the Commission in accordance with § 31.6 of this part and involves silver bullion, gold bullion, bulk silver coins, bulk gold coins, or platinum. This paragraph shall not affect any rights or obligations arising out of any leverage contract involving any other leverage commodity that was entered into, or the execution of which was confirmed, before November 10, 1986.

(d) Denial, suspension, or revocation of registration of a leverage commodity. The failure or refusal of any leverage transaction merchant to comply with any of the provisions of the Act or any of the Commission's rules, regulations, or orders thereunder shall be cause for refusing to register a leverage commodity, for suspending registration of a leverage commodity for a period not to exceed six months, and for revoking registration of such leverage commodity with respect to that leverage transaction merchant. Any such denial, suspension, or revocation proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in sections 6 and 6(b) of the Act.