Professional vs Non-Professional CME Market Data User

If you succeed in the Evaluation Challenge and open a funded LIVE account you will go from being classified as a Non-Professional subscriber, to a Professional.

To learn more, read on…

Professional vs Non-Professional Market Data Users

The CME exchange has created 2 categories for users of Market Data (subscribers).

Most retail traders fall under the Non-Professional definition, and we require that users on the free trial, or paid evaluation memberships, be Non-Professionals. It is the responsibility of the user to understand the definition and sign the Market Data agreement (that appears when you log on to the trading environment for the first time).

When a member of TradeDay becomes a funded trader and chooses the Funded Live account, they are considered a Professional Subscriber of the CME Market Data and are responsible for paying their own market data fees. This is $135 per Exchange, per month.  We will assist in setting this up. 

The CME defines the categories below: 

Non-Professional shall mean and include either (i) an individual, natural person Subscriber(s) who, or (ii) certain small business entities (limited liability companies, partnerships, trusts, or corporations) that, receive and use Information (excluding any pit traded data), in each case subject to the following restrictions:

The Non-Professional Subscriber

(a) the Subscriber must have an active futures trading account;

(b) the Subscriber must not be a member (or hold or lease any type membership) of any exchange;

(c) the Subscriber does not have a primary business purpose that involves trading;

(d) the Subscriber must not be registered or qualified as a professional trader or investment adviser with any stock, commodities or futures exchange or contract market, or with any regulatory authority, professional association, or recognized professional body; and

(e) the Subscriber must not be affiliated with any entity that is or may be considered a Professional user

Professional Subscribers: Any Subscriber that does not meet the qualifications of a Non-Professional or falls under the categories described below will be considered a Professional. Notwithstanding anything else herein,

Professionals shall include, without limitation: 

• Any person or entity that provides financial or similar services to any third party.
• Any person that is registered or qualified as a professional trader or investment adviser with any stock, commodities or futures exchange or contract market, or with any regulatory authority, professional association, or recognized professional body.
• Any person or entity that acts on behalf of an institution that engages in brokerage, banking, investment, or financial activities.
• Any person or employee of an entity that holds any form of membership at any of the CME Group Designated Contract Markets (“DCM”) or any other exchange.