Challenge Details

Test-drive trading strategies with our range of futures products, including standard- and micro-sized contracts across cryptocurrency, equities, metals, energy, FX, interest rates and agriculture. Uncover key benefits of trading our futures, such as capital efficiency, CFTC oversight and nearly 24-hour market access, with insights from industry professionals. This month's challenge will incorporate a special focus on FX futures products. While participants are not required to trade these contracts within the challenge, all participants will be required to complete related online education to qualify for prizes.

LEARN FROM A PRO

Scott Bauer is the CEO of Prosper Trading Academy and a frequently featured coach on TD Ameritrade with more than 30 years of teaching and professional Equity and Index options experience at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and CME Group. He is a former Vice President and trader for Goldman Sachs and is also a respected market commentator often seen on Bloomberg, Fox Business, CNBC and other major financial networks. Scott graduated with Honors from the University of Illinois Business School and has taught classes both at his alma mater and at the CBOE.

STARTS

Sunday, February 8
5:00 p.m. CT / 22:00 UTC

ENDS

Friday, February 13
12:00 p.m. CT / 17:00 UTC

PRIZE DETAILS

Overall Leaderboard
First Place Prize: $2,500
Second Place Prize: $1,750
Third Place Prize: $1,250
Fourth-Fifteenth Prize: $100 each

Daily Leaderboard
One $500 Prize per day (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur)

CONTACT

institute@cmegroup.com

 

Event Information

  • All trades during the competition will be completed in the Challenge Simulator.
  • All traders will begin with a virtual account of $25,000, aiming to maximize their balance by the competition's close.
  • Cash prizes will be awarded to the top eligible traders with the highest account balances in the overall leaderboard (up to 15 total prizes available). Daily cash prize will be awarded to one eligible trader with the highest daily P&L (4 prizes available). Daily winners are based on trading activity for a 24 period (e.g., Monday 00:00-24:00 CT).  Eligible traders will be able to win only one overall prize and one daily prize if they qualify.

Get Started

1

REGISTER

Register for the Challenge through CME Institute, your gateway to the Challenge Simulator.

2

PREPARE

To qualify for the competition prize, participants must complete the required course(s) listed in the Challenge Dashboard before 12:00 p.m. CT on Friday, February 13, 2026. You'll also have access to participate in three live Q&A sessions with our featured trading pro.

3

COMPETE

Engage with our top futures products in the Challenge, including both standard- and micro-sized contracts.

Terms and Conditions

This competition is open to residents in the United States (U.S.), Canada (CA) excluding Quebec, *Brazil (BR), United Kingdom (UK), Germany (DE), Netherlands (NL), Switzerland (CH), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Republic of Korea (KR), Taiwan (TW), Japan (JP) and India (IN).

*Residents of Brazil must have a bank account in the United States to be eligible to receive a prize.

Trading Challenge is conducted between Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CT / 22:00 UTC - Friday, February 13, 2026 at 12:00 p.m CT / 17:00 UTC during the CME Group Session.

Enter before 5:00 p.m. CT / 22:00 UTC February 8, 2026.

Enroll using the link and follow instructions. NO ACTUAL CASH WILL BE TRADED. Up to 15 prizes with a cash value up to US$2,500 available. U.S., UK, CA, BR, DE, NL, CH, JP, KR, TW, IN, UAE, DIFC and ADGM residents only. Age restrictions set forth in Full Terms and Conditions (link below). NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

The information and any material contained herein should not be considered as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell or otherwise deal in financial instruments, provide financial advice, create a trading platform, facilitate or take deposits or provide any other financial products or financial services of any kind in any jurisdiction and the role of the CME Group is restricted to disseminating information only on products and does not involve analyzing, reviewing, verifying the merits of such products. The information contained herein is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be construed as, advice (written or oral) or recommendation. CME Group is acting at an arm’s length basis and not as a financial advisor or fiduciary. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should obtain appropriate professional advice before acting on or relying on the information set out herein. No representations or warranties, either express or implied are made hereunder and nothing herein shall be construed to amount to an opinion or be binding on any of the persons referred to herein. CME Group shall not be responsible for any financial decision of the investor.

The information contained herein has been compiled by CME Group for general purposes only. Although every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information herein, CME Group assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Additionally, all examples herein are hypothetical situations, used for explanation purposes only, and should not be considered investment advice or the results of actual market experience. All data is sourced by CME Group unless otherwise stated. This information does not constitute a prospectus, nor is it a recommendation to buy, sell or retain any specific investment or to utilise or refrain from utilising any particular service.

The content contained herein have not been reviewed or approved by any regulatory authority in India.

View the full details and T&Cs.