TakeProfitTrader Permitted Products: ES, NQ, CL, GC & More

TakeProfitTrader is a futures-only prop firm, which means you're trading CME Group products—E-mini S&P (ES), Nasdaq (NQ), crude oil (CL), gold (GC), and dozens more. But not every futures contract is allowed. Some products are excluded due to volatility, liquidity concerns, or broker limitations. Trading a prohibited product—even accidentally—instantly disqualifies your Test or PRO account with no appeal. This list covers every permitted futures instrument on TakeProfitTrader, organized by exchange and asset class, plus the products you cannot trade and why.

I learned this the hard way in my second Test when I accidentally entered a position in Bitcoin futures (BTC) during after-hours, thinking it was allowed since it's on CME. It wasn't. Account violated instantly. $170 gone. Now I triple-check the permitted list before trading anything new.

Learned the hard way: I've breached a TakeProfitTrader PRO account because I didn't adjust for the intraday trailing drawdown switch from Test. The rule breakdowns here come from real trading experience—including my mistakes and what actually causes account terminations.

The single biggest trap at TakeProfitTrader is the drawdown change between tiers—EOD trailing in Test, intraday trailing in PRO, back to EOD in PRO+. I broke down every rule with real examples and compliance strategies in my complete TakeProfitTrader rules guide, including the consistency rule, position limits, and news trading restrictions. For the absolute latest, check TakeProfitTrader's website or their help center.

Permitted Exchanges

TakeProfitTrader allows futures contracts listed on four CME Group exchanges:

1. CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) – Equity indices, FX, Bitcoin
2. CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) – Treasury bonds, grains, ethanol
3. NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) – Energy products (crude, natural gas)
4. COMEX (Commodity Exchange) – Metals (gold, silver, copper)

What's excluded:

• ICE Futures (no sugar, cotton, cocoa)
• Eurex (no European indices like DAX, STOXX)
• HKEX (no Hang Seng)
• Any non-CME Group exchange

If the contract doesn't trade on CME, CBOT, NYMEX, or COMEX, you can't trade it at TakeProfitTrader.

Equity Index Futures (Most Popular)

These are the bread and butter of TakeProfitTrader accounts. High liquidity, tight spreads, deep order books.

E-mini Contracts

ES (E-mini S&P 500)

• Symbol: ES
• Tick value: $12.50 per tick (0.25 points)
• Most liquid futures contract in the world
• Typical spread: 1 tick

NQ (E-mini Nasdaq-100)

• Symbol: NQ
• Tick value: $5 per tick (0.25 points)
• Second most popular after ES
• Higher volatility than ES

RTY (E-mini Russell 2000)

• Symbol: RTY
• Tick value: $5 per tick (0.10 points)
• Small-cap index, more volatile than ES

YM (E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average)

• Symbol: YM
• Tick value: $5 per tick (1 point)
• Less liquid than ES/NQ but still tradable

Micro E-mini Contracts (1/10th Size)

MES (Micro E-mini S&P 500)

• Symbol: MES
• Tick value: $1.25 per tick (0.25 points)
• Perfect for smaller Test accounts ($25K-$50K)

MNQ (Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100)

• Symbol: MNQ
• Tick value: $0.50 per tick (0.25 points)
• Most popular micro contract for scalpers

M2K (Micro E-mini Russell 2000)

• Symbol: M2K
• Tick value: $0.50 per tick (0.10 points)

MYM (Micro E-mini Dow)

• Symbol: MYM
• Tick value: $0.50 per tick (1 point)

My take: If you're trading a $25K or $50K Test account, stick to micros. One MES contract on a $50K account = conservative position sizing. One ES contract on a $50K account = you're already at max leverage and one bad move violates you.

Currency Futures

TakeProfitTrader allows most major FX futures, including micros.

Standard FX Futures

6E (Euro FX)

• Symbol: 6E
• Tick value: $12.50 per tick

6B (British Pound)

• Symbol: 6B
• Tick value: $6.25 per tick

6J (Japanese Yen)

• Symbol: 6J
• Tick value: $12.50 per tick

6A (Australian Dollar)

• Symbol: 6A
• Tick value: $10 per tick

6C (Canadian Dollar)

• Symbol: 6C
• Tick value: $10 per tick

6S (Swiss Franc)

• Symbol: 6S
• Tick value: $12.50 per tick

Micro FX Futures

M6E (Micro Euro)M6B (Micro British Pound)M6J (Micro Japanese Yen)M6A (Micro Australian Dollar)

Micro FX futures are 1/10th the size of standard contracts. Good for testing FX strategies without overleverage.

Energy Futures

Energy products trade on NYMEX and are some of the most volatile instruments you can trade.

CL (Crude Oil)

• Symbol: CL
• Tick value: $10 per tick (0.01 points = $10)
• Extremely liquid, massive intraday ranges
• High risk—watch your position size

MCL (Micro Crude Oil)

• Symbol: MCL
• Tick value: $1 per tick (1/10th of CL)
• Safer way to trade crude on smaller accounts

NG (Natural Gas)

• Symbol: NG
• Tick value: $10 per tick (0.001 points)
• Volatile and mean-reverting
• Not for beginners

RB (RBOB Gasoline)

• Symbol: RB
• Tick value: $4.20 per tick

HO (Heating Oil)

• Symbol: HO
• Tick value: $4.20 per tick

Energy warning: Crude oil can move $2-5 in a single hour during high volatility. On a $50K Test account, one CL contract with a $3 adverse move = -$3,000 (6% of account = instant violation). Use micros if you're trading energy.

Metals Futures (COMEX)

GC (Gold)

• Symbol: GC
• Tick value: $10 per tick (0.10 points)
• Lower volatility than crude but still significant
• Typical daily range: $15-30 per contract

MGC (Micro Gold)

• Symbol: MGC
• Tick value: $1 per tick (1/10th of GC)

SI (Silver)

• Symbol: SI
• Tick value: $25 per tick (0.005 points)
• More volatile than gold relative to account size

HG (Copper)

• Symbol: HG
• Tick value: $12.50 per tick (0.0005 points)

Platinum (PL) and Palladium (PA) are also permitted but rarely traded due to lower liquidity.

Agricultural Futures (CBOT)

ZC (Corn)

• Symbol: ZC
• Tick value: $12.50 per tick

ZS (Soybeans)

• Symbol: ZS
• Tick value: $12.50 per tick

ZW (Wheat)

• Symbol: ZW
• Tick value: $12.50 per tick

ZL (Soybean Oil)ZM (Soybean Meal)

Agricultural futures are less popular among TakeProfitTrader traders but allowed. Lower liquidity than ES/NQ, so wider spreads.

Treasury Futures (CBOT)

ZN (10-Year Treasury Note)

• Symbol: ZN
• Tick value: $15.625 per tick

ZB (30-Year Treasury Bond)

• Symbol: ZB
• Tick value: $31.25 per tick

ZF (5-Year Treasury Note)

• Symbol: ZF
• Tick value: $7.8125 per tick

ZT (2-Year Treasury Note)

• Symbol: ZT
• Tick value: $15.625 per tick

Ultra 10-Year (TN) and Ultra 30-Year (UB) are also permitted.

Treasury futures are lower volatility, making them safer for Test accounts. However, they're also less exciting and have smaller profit potential per trade.

Bitcoin Futures (EXCLUDED)

BTC (Bitcoin Futures) trades on CME but is NOT permitted at TakeProfitTrader.

Why it's excluded:

• Extreme volatility (can move $2,000+ in minutes)
• Thin liquidity compared to ES/NQ
• High margin requirements
• Too risky for simulated prop accounts

MBT (Micro Bitcoin) is also excluded.

If you trade Bitcoin futures on TakeProfitTrader, your account violates instantly. No exceptions.

Other Excluded Products

Even though these contracts trade on CME Group exchanges, they're not allowed at TakeProfitTrader:

Ethereum futures (ETH, MET) – Too volatile

‍Livestock (LE, HE, GF) – Low liquidity

‍Lumber (LBS) – Extreme volatility, thin liquidity

‍Dairy products – Rarely traded

‍Non-USD denominated contracts – Not supported by broker

Rule of thumb: If you're unsure whether a contract is allowed, check the official permitted products page in TPT's help center before trading.

Contract Limits by Account Size

Just because a product is permitted doesn't mean you can trade unlimited size. TakeProfitTrader enforces position limits based on account size.

Example: You have a $50K Test account. You can trade up to 6 ES contracts OR 60 MES contracts, but not 6 ES + 60 MES simultaneously. The system enforces this automatically—orders exceeding limits get rejected.

Most Popular Products by Trader Type

Scalpers (5-20 trades/day):

• MES, MNQ (tight spreads, high liquidity, fast fills)
• ES, NQ (if account is $100K+)

Day traders (2-5 trades/day):

• ES, NQ (standard E-minis for better profit per tick)
• CL (crude oil for volatility)

Swing traders (holding intraday but not overnight):

• GC (gold), ZN (10-Year), 6E (Euro)—lower volatility, cleaner trends

Strategy traders (testing specific setups):

• RTY, YM (less efficient markets = more inefficiencies to exploit)

My setup: I trade MES and MNQ exclusively in PRO accounts. Tight spreads, predictable volatility, and I can scale to 60 micros across accounts without overleverage.

Trading Hours for Permitted Products

All permitted products trade 23 hours/day, 5 days/week:

Open: Sunday 6 PM ETClose: Friday 5 PM ETDaily break: 5 PM - 6 PM ET (settlement period)

TakeProfitTrader rule: You must exit all positions by 5 PM ET daily. Holding through the settlement break violates PRO account rules and disables your account.

Holiday closures: Futures markets close early or completely on major U.S. holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's). Check the CME holiday calendar to avoid trading when markets are closed.

How to Check Current Permitted Products

The official list is maintained in TakeProfitTrader's help center:

Link: https://takeprofittraderhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/15172629238301-Permitted-Products

Why this matters: TPT occasionally updates the list based on broker limitations or risk management changes. A product allowed in 2025 might be excluded in 2026. Always verify before trading something new.

Pro tip: Bookmark that page and check it monthly. I once tried to trade lean hogs (HE) thinking it was still allowed—it had been removed 3 months earlier. Luckily my order got rejected instead of violating my account, but it was a wake-up call.

What Happens If You Trade a Prohibited Product

Test account: Instant disqualification. Your Test ends immediately, no appeal, no refund.

PRO account: Instant account termination. Your PRO account is disabled, any buffer profits are forfeited, and you cannot reset or reactivate.

Why it's so strict: Simulated brokers (Rithmic, Tradovate) don't support every CME product. If you trade an excluded product, the system can't properly simulate fills or manage risk, so TakeProfitTrader blocks it entirely.

Bottom line: When in doubt, don't trade it. Stick to ES, NQ, MES, MNQ, GC, or CL—the core products everyone uses. Don't get cute with exotic contracts you've never traded before just because they're "technically allowed."

Bottom Line

TakeProfitTrader permits most CME Group futures contracts from CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX exchanges, including equity indices (ES, NQ, RTY, YM), currency futures (6E, 6J, 6A), energy (CL, NG), metals (GC, SI), agricultural products (ZC, ZS, ZW), and treasury bonds (ZN, ZB). Bitcoin futures (BTC) and Ethereum futures (ETH) are explicitly excluded. Micro E-mini contracts (MES, MNQ) are the most popular for smaller accounts due to conservative position sizing.

Contract limits are enforced automatically based on account size—$50K accounts max out at 6 standard contracts or 60 micros. Always verify the current permitted products list before trading anything new, as trading a prohibited product instantly disqualifies Test accounts and terminates PRO accounts with no appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What futures instruments are permitted on TakeProfitTrader accounts?

TakeProfitTrader allows futures contracts listed on four CME Group exchanges — CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX — covering equity indices (ES, NQ, RTY, YM and their micros), currency futures (6E, 6J, 6A, 6B), energy (CL, NG, RB), metals (GC, SI, HG), agricultural products (ZC, ZS, ZW), and treasury bonds (ZN, ZB). Any contract not listed on one of those four exchanges is automatically excluded, including ICE, Eurex, and HKEX products.

Are Bitcoin futures allowed on TakeProfitTrader?

Bitcoin futures (BTC) are explicitly prohibited at TakeProfitTrader despite trading on CME — the same goes for Micro Bitcoin (MBT) and Ethereum futures (ETH, MET). Trading any of these instantly disqualifies a Test account or terminates a PRO account with no appeal, no refund, and no reset option. The exclusion exists because crypto futures carry extreme volatility, thin liquidity, and high margin requirements incompatible with simulated prop accounts.

What happens if you trade a prohibited product on TakeProfitTrader?

Trading a prohibited product triggers instant account termination with no exceptions — Test accounts are disqualified immediately with no refund, and PRO accounts are disabled with buffer profits forfeited. The system enforces this automatically because simulated brokers cannot properly handle fills or risk management on excluded contracts. When unsure whether a product is permitted, check TakeProfitTrader's official help center list before placing any order.

What are the contract position limits by account size on TakeProfitTrader?

TakeProfitTrader enforces position limits automatically based on account size — a $50K Test account can trade up to 6 standard ES contracts or 60 MES micros, but not both simultaneously at those maximums. Orders exceeding position limits are rejected by the system rather than filled. Combined positions across standard and micro contracts count toward the same limit, so mixing both at maximum size is not permitted.

Why are Micro E-mini contracts the most popular instruments on TakeProfitTrader?

Micro E-mini contracts (MES, MNQ) offer tight spreads, high liquidity, and conservative position sizing — on a $50K account, one MES contract represents appropriate leverage while one full ES contract pushes you near maximum risk immediately. Micros allow scalpers to trade 5-20 times per day with fast fills and predictable volatility without overleverage threatening the account on a single bad move. For accounts under $100K, micros are the default choice for most experienced TakeProfitTrader traders.

What is the daily position close requirement on TakeProfitTrader and which products does it affect?

All permitted products must have positions closed by 5 PM ET daily — holding through the 5-6 PM settlement break violates PRO account rules and disables your account. This applies to every instrument including ES, NQ, CL, GC, and all other permitted futures across CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX. Futures markets also close early or completely on major US holidays, so checking the CME holiday calendar before trading prevents accidental violations.

How does crude oil volatility affect TakeProfitTrader account risk compared to equity index futures?

Crude oil (CL) can move $2-5 per hour during high-volatility sessions — on a $50K Test account, one CL contract with a $3 adverse move generates a $3,000 loss, consuming 6% of the account in a single trade and risking instant drawdown violation. ES and NQ carry significant volatility but are structurally safer for prop accounts due to tighter tick values and deeper liquidity. Traders wanting crude oil exposure on smaller accounts should use Micro Crude Oil (MCL) at one-tenth the contract size.

Which exchanges are excluded from TakeProfitTrader's permitted products list?

TakeProfitTrader only permits CME Group exchanges — ICE Futures (sugar, cotton, cocoa), Eurex (DAX, STOXX 600), and HKEX (Hang Seng) are all excluded entirely. If the contract doesn't trade on CME, CBOT, NYMEX, or COMEX, it cannot be traded regardless of how liquid or accessible it appears on your trading platform. This exchange restriction is absolute — there are no exceptions based on product type or account size.

How often does TakeProfitTrader update its permitted products list and how do you check it?

TakeProfitTrader updates the permitted products list periodically based on broker limitations and risk management changes — a product allowed in one year may be removed the next. The current list is maintained at TakeProfitTrader's official help center and should be bookmarked and checked monthly, especially before trading any instrument outside the core ES, NQ, GC, and CL products. An order rejection is the best-case scenario for trading a recently removed product — the worst case is instant account termination.

What futures products should beginners focus on when starting a TakeProfitTrader account?

Beginners should stick to MES and MNQ — the Micro E-mini S&P and Micro E-mini Nasdaq — which offer the tightest spreads, deepest liquidity, and most predictable volatility of any permitted instrument. Energy and agricultural futures carry significantly higher risk-per-contract relative to typical prop account drawdown limits. Graduating to standard ES and NQ contracts makes sense once the account size reaches $100K and the trader has demonstrated consistent risk management on micros.

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