CME Market Data FAQ

Tickblaze distributes real-time CME Group market data under our Vendor-of-Record (VOR) agreement.

Under CME policy, every subscriber must be classified as either a Professional or Non-Professional user, and Tickblaze is legally required to collect your declaration before granting data access.

Your classification determines:

• • • Which market data fees apply
    • Whether you qualify for discounted Non-Professional pricing
    • Whether CME rules permit Tickblaze to supply data to you

Tickblaze does not control these classifications-CME does.

A Non-Professional Subscriber is generally a natural person (or qualifying small entity) that:

• • • Trades only their own personal funds
    • Uses market data strictly for personal/trading use
    • Is not employed by or acting on behalf of any financial institution
    • Is not registered with any regulatory authority
    • Does not trade client or third-party funds
    • Does not redistribute or commercialize data
    • Uses no more than two devices to access data
    • Has an active futures trading account

If all of the above are true, you typically qualify as a Non-Pro.

Even a single “No” on these criteria may classify you as Professional.

A Professional Subscriber is anyone who:

• • • Works in the financial industry
    • Trades on behalf of a business or other people
    • Manages third-party assets
    • Provides investment advice
    • Is registered or licensed with any regulator (SEC, CFTC, FINRA, CSA, FCA, EU regulators, etc.)
    • Receives compensation tied to trading or financial work
    • Uses business funds or corporate accounts
    • Redistributes, shares, or commercially leverages market data
    • Uses the data for any activity considered “commercial use”

CME requires automatically classifying these individuals as Professional.

Because CME requires us to verify-not assume-your status.

Tickblaze must:

• • • Collect a legally binding declaration
    • Verify the information to the degree required
    • Provide documentation during CME audits
    • Suspend data access if discrepancies arise
    • Back-bill Professional fees if a user was misclassified

These rules protect the integrity of market data distribution.

• • • Significantly reduced exchange fees
    • Lower monthly data costs
    • Eligibility for personal-use market data packages

Non-Professional pricing is a privilege granted by CME - not guaranteed and subject to strict rules.

• • • Access to broader commercial rights
    • Ability to use data in business settings
    • No restrictions on advisory/financial work
    • Ability to trade corporate funds or client funds

Professional users typically receive more flexible usage rights.

You may be Professional if any of the following apply:

• • • You are a licensed investment advisor, broker, CTA, CFA, RA, or regulated professional
    • You work for a bank, prop firm, hedge fund, brokerage, insurance company, investment office, or financial institution
    • You use business/corporate funds to trade
    • You trade client funds or manage money
    • You give trading advice for compensation
    • You are employed in a role that requires registration (any country)
    • You use more than two trading terminals
    • You redistribute or provide market data to third parties
    • You use Tickblaze data in any commercial product, service, or publication

Even unpaid advisory roles may classify you as Professional.

Yes.

CME requires a funded, active futures account to qualify for reduced Non-Professional rates.

Using demo-only accounts or platforms that cannot route orders may disqualify you.

CME rules require that:

• • • The data is used in a legitimate trading context
    • The platform supports order execution to a qualified broker
    • The user has the ability to place trades on the instrument they are receiving data for

Tickblaze meets this requirement as a fully compliant trading platform.

If you incorrectly declare yourself as Non-Professional when you should be Professional, CME requires:

• • • Back-billing for all months you were misclassified
    • Corrective Professional fees
    • Potential financial penalties
    • Tickblaze to reclassify you immediately

Tickblaze is also required to:

• • • Suspend access if the declaration is false
    • Disclose findings to CME during an audit
    • Recover costs from the subscriber

Misclassification is a serious compliance violation.

CME routinely performs audits on all VORs, including Tickblaze.

During an audit, CME may request:

• • • Your declaration answers
    • Your identity information
    • Your usage records
    • Trading account verification
    • Employment verification
    • Device entitlement logs

If CME disagrees with your classification, Tickblaze must:

1. 1. 1. Reclassify you
      2. Apply corrected Professional fees retroactively
      3. Suspend your data until corrections are completed

Tickblaze has no discretion to override CME decisions.

Tickblaze is also required to:

• • • Suspend access if the declaration is false
    • Disclose findings to CME during an audit
    • Recover costs from the subscriber

Misclassification is a serious compliance violation.

Tickblaze will:

• Temporarily suspend your live data
• Send you a Subscriber Status Questionnaire
• Require updated documentation before re-enabling access

If you fail to respond or provide sufficient proof:

• You will be reclassified as Professional by default
• Corrected billing will apply
• Access may remain restricted

Because failing to comply exposes Tickblaze to:

• • • CME financial penalties
    • License suspension
    • Loss of VOR status
    • Legal liability
    • Back-billing obligations

Our obligations under CME licensing agreements require strict enforcement.

You must notify Tickblaze immediately if:

• • • Your employment changes
    • You begin giving trading advice
    • You register with any regulator
    • You start managing external funds
    • You join an investment firm or prop desk
    • You change from personal to business usage

You can update your status at any time through the Tickblaze Help Center.

Yes if you fully meet Non-Pro criteria and provide documentation.
CME may require proof of unregistering, leaving industry positions, or ceasing commercial activity.

Tickblaze will:

• • • Suspend your market data immediately
    • Reclassify you appropriately
    • Apply back-billing fees
    • Recover all costs from you
    • Report violations if required during auditing

This is a regulatory requirement, not a discretionary policy.

You may:

• • • Complete a new declaration
    • Submit employment documentation
    • Provide regulator deregistration proof
    • Complete the Secondary Subscriber Status Questionnaire
    • Request a manual review by Tickblaze Compliance

However, CME’s final determination overrides all user submissions.

For CME Group purposes, Display Usage means CME market data is being viewed visually by a human user on a screen, including but not limited to:

• • • Charts (price, volume, indicators, order flow)
    • DOM / ladder / depth-of-market views
    • Quote boards, watchlists, tickers
    • Manual trading panels and order tickets
    • Any other visual interface where the user sees prices and reacts manually

In a Display scenario:

• • • The user is making discretionary decisions based on what they see.
    • The data is not being processed solely by an automated system to make trading decisions.

Tickblaze can deliver CME Display data to both:

• • • Non-Professional subscribers, and
    • Professional subscribers,

based on the status you declare and certify in the Tickblaze Market Data Self-Certification.
Display usage is what most discretionary retail traders use.

For CME Group purposes, Non-Display Usage is when CME market data is used in a way that is not primarily visual and not solely for human viewing, for example:

• • • Algorithmic trading or auto-execution systems
    • Strategy engines that process live CME data and generate or execute trades automatically
    • Backend processes that consume live CME data to calculate signals or models
    • Any code, model, script, or black-box that uses real-time CME data as an input to generate orders, alerts, recommendations, or trading decisions

In practice, for Tickblaze and CME, Non-Display generally includes:

• • • Algo execution on real-time CME data
    • Same-day CME backtesting / simulation (Tickblaze treats “within 24 hours” as Non-Display–equivalent for compliance and risk reasons)

Non-Display usage is subject to separate CME licensing and fees, and Tickblaze is required to enforce those rules for CME Group data only.

Tickblaze’s Non-Display restrictions described here apply only to CME Group exchanges, specifically:

• • • CME
    • CBOT
    • NYMEX
    • COMEX

For other exchanges and data sources (for example, certain equities, indices, FX, crypto, or other futures venues outside the CME Group):

• • • Tickblaze does not apply these CME Non-Display restrictions in the same way.
    • You may generally use Strategy Desktop, algo execution, and backtesting (subject to any separate licensing or exchange rules that may apply on a case-by-case basis).

In short:

• • • CME Group data → subject to the Non-Display controls described in this FAQ.
    • Non-CME data → Strategy Desktop and algo features remain available unless otherwise constrained by separate exchange/licensing rules.

Tickblaze distinguishes between historical CME usage and same-day CME usage for Strategy Desktop:

1: Backtesting CME data older than 24 hours

• • • Allowed inside Tickblaze Strategy Desktop.
    • Treated as historical analytics and research.
    • Does not require a CME Non-Display license, provided no real-time CME data is being used in automated execution

2: Backtesting CME data within 24 hours of the current time (same-day)

• • • Tickblaze treats this as Non-Display–equivalent usage for CME compliance and risk purposes.
    • This same-day CME testing/simulation is restricted and blocked unless the user has appropriate Non-Display licensing directly with CME and provides proof to Tickblaze.

Therefore:

• • • You can use Strategy Desktop for CME symbols, but only on data that is more than 24 hours old.
    • You cannot perform same-day CME backtesting unless you have a CME Non-Display license and Tickblaze has verified your entitlement.

For algo execution and automated strategies using CME Group data, Tickblaze enforces the following:

• • • Algo execution with real-time CME data is treated as Non-Display usage.
    • By default, Tickblaze blocks CME-based algo execution and same-day CME backtesting (within 24 hours of the current time), unless the user has:
      

1: Obtained the appropriate CME Non-Display license directly from CME; and

2: Provided Tickblaze with acceptable proof of that approval; and

3: Been explicitly enabled by Tickblaze Compliance for CME Non-Display usage.

• • • Algo execution on non-CME exchanges remains available, subject to any other applicable market data or licensing terms.

In other words:

• • • You can run algos on non-CME markets.
      
    • You can run algos on historical CME data (older than 24 hours) for testing.
      
    • You cannot run algos on live CME data or same-day CME history unless you are properly licensed with CME for Non-Display and Tickblaze has enabled your account accordingly.

If you attempt to:

• • • Run an algo strategy on real-time CME Group data, or
    • Perform same-day backtesting on CME symbols (within 24 hours of current time),

Tickblaze will:

1: Block that specific CME Non-Display operation (e.g., strategy start, same-day backtest).

2: Present you with a platform pop-up / notice explaining that:

• • • This functionality falls under CME Non-Display usage;
      
    • Tickblaze, as a Vendor of Record, cannot authorize or license CME Non-Display usage itself;
    • You must contact CME directly to obtain appropriate Non-Display entitlements.

3: Confirm that:

• • • You may continue to use Strategy Desktop, backtesting, and algos for non-CME products;
      
    • You may continue to backtest CME data older than 24 hours;
      
    • Only same-day and live CME Non-Display paths are being restricted.

CME usage will be locked only to the extent required by these rules; other products and exchanges remain available.

Tickblaze’s responsibilities:

• • • Enforce CME Display vs Non-Display usage rules for CME Group data.
    • Block unlicensed Non-Display usage for CME (algo execution + same-day CME backtesting).
    • Maintain accurate logs, declarations, and compliance records for audit purposes.
    • Re-enable CME Non-Display features only after verifying CME approval.

CME’s responsibilities:

• • • Define the official rules and categories for Display vs Non-Display usage.
    • Determine whether a user is Professional or Non-Professional for CME purposes.
    • Define the pricing and fee schedules for Non-Display licenses.
    • Approve or deny Non-Display entitlement requests.
    • Bill the user directly for Non-Display usage.

Tickblaze does not set CME Non-Display pricing, cannot guarantee eligibility, and has no control over CME timelines.

Yes. CME does support Non-Display arrangements for both:

• • • Professional users, and
      
    • Non-Professional users,

including scenarios where a retail / Non-Pro trader is running automated strategies (algo trading) on CME data.

Important points:

• • • Any Non-Display pricing, including reduced fees for Non-Pro Non-Display algo users, is controlled directly by CME.
    • CME has been working on improved fee structures and programs for Non-Professional Non-Display users, but:
      • • Tickblaze has no involvement in these decisions;
          
        • Tickblaze has no authority to quote, negotiate, or guarantee specific fees;
          
        • Tickblaze cannot provide timelines on CME changes.
          

If you are interested in Non-Display licensing as a Non-Professional user, you must contact CME directly to:

• • • Determine eligibility;
      
    • Learn current pricing and programs;
      
    • Complete required documentation.
      

Once approved, you may then provide proof to Tickblaze for feature enablement.

The process is:

1: Contact CME directly

• • • Inform them that you are a Tickblaze user wishing to use CME data for Non-Display purposes (e.g., algo trading, same-day simulated trading).
      
    • Request the applicable Non-Display license and pricing.

2: Complete CME’s application and licensing process

• • • CME will determine whether you are classified as Professional or Non-Professional.
    • CME will define applicable Non-Display fees and terms.
      

3: Receive CME approval and documentation

• • • This may include a license confirmation, account ID, or formal approval letter from CME.

4: Submit proof of CME Non-Display approval to Tickblaze

• • • You provide the documentation to Tickblaze Compliance (per instructions we will provide in the platform or on our support page).
      

5: Tickblaze verifies and unlocks CME Non-Display functionality

• • • After verification, Tickblaze will enable:
      • • Algo execution on CME Group symbols with real-time data;
        • Same-day backtesting on CME Group symbols within Strategy Desktop.
          

Without this approval, these specific CME Non-Display features will remain locked.

Yes, you can still use Tickblaze extensively, subject to the following boundaries:

You can:

• • • Use Strategy Desktop for backtesting CME data older than 24 hours.
    • Develop and test strategies using historical CME data outside the same-day window.
    • Run algos and automated strategies on non-CME exchanges and instruments (subject to their own data rules).
      
    • Use real-time CME data for Display-only purposes: charts, DOM, discretionary manual trading, visual analysis.
      

You cannot (without CME Non-Display licensing):

• • • Run automated strategies using live CME data.
      
    • Run same-day backtesting on CME Group symbols (within 24 hours of current time).

This structure allows you to use nearly all of Tickblaze’s capabilities while staying inside CME’s Non-Display rules.

Tickblaze’s platform is designed to automatically block any CME Non-Display activity, including:

• • • Algo execution using real-time CME data
      
    • Same-day backtesting on CME symbols
    • Any Non-Display workflows involving CME Group markets
      

Under normal circumstances, users cannot access these features without prior CME approval.

However, in rare cases (for example, a technical malfunction, an integration error, or unexpected client-side behavior), it is still possible for Non-Display activity to occur unintentionally. CME requires Tickblaze, as a Vendor of Record, to maintain policies that address this scenario.

If CME determines through an audit that unlicensed Non-Display usage occurred, then:

• • • CME may reclassify your usage as Non-Display for the affected period
    • CME may impose backdated fees or charges directly related to the unauthorized usage
      
    • Tickblaze may be required to:
      • • Provide CME with audit logs and supporting records
          
        • Recover from the subscriber any fees or costs assessed by CME arising from the misuse
          
        • Suspend CME access until the licensing situation is corrected
          

This clause exists because CME holds subscribers responsible for the accuracy of their declarations, even in cases where an error or malfunction enabled usage outside permitted boundaries.