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Lucid Trading Approved Products Explained: What You Can Trade & Why

Written by Paul

Published on

January 3, 2026

Lucid Trading approves 36 futures contracts spanning equity indices, foreign exchange, energy, metals, and agriculture. The list balances liquidity requirements, risk management standards, and trader accessibility through both full-size and micro contracts.

Understanding which products you can trade—and why certain contracts make the list—matters for strategy selection, commission costs, and position sizing. Many traders discover their preferred instrument isn't approved only after purchasing an evaluation, forcing strategy adjustments or evaluation refunds.

This guide breaks down every approved product, commission structure by asset class, strategic implications for different trading styles, and how Lucid's product availability compares to competitors. We'll also explain why certain popular futures contracts—like Treasury bonds, Bitcoin futures, and VIX—remain excluded despite high liquidity elsewhere in the market.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Lucid Trading and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Lucid Trading´s website or their help center.

Lucid Trading Approved Products: Complete List

Equity Index Futures (9 Contracts)

E-mini Contracts ($1.75 commission):ES (S&P 500), NQ (Nasdaq-100), RTY (Russell 2000), YM (Dow) - CME/CBOT

Micro Contracts ($0.50 commission):MES, MNQ, M2K, MYM - 1/10th value of E-minis for smaller position sizing

International:NKD (Nikkei/USD) - $1.75 commission, CME

ES and NQ dominate volume—most liquid futures globally with tight spreads and deep orderbooks. ES trades over 3 million contracts daily, providing consistent execution without slippage concerns. NQ's tech-heavy exposure attracts momentum traders capitalizing on NASDAQ volatility.

Micros allow smaller accounts to trade identical markets with proportional risk. Instead of $50 per point on ES, MES trades at $5 per point—enabling $25K accounts to manage position sizing effectively without over-leveraging. The $0.50 commission makes micros viable even for active scalpers targeting $20-$50 per trade.

RTY (Russell 2000) and YM (Dow) provide diversification. RTY captures small-cap volatility distinct from large-cap indices. YM's price-weighted structure creates different technical patterns than market-cap-weighted ES/NQ.

NKD provides Japanese equity exposure during Asian session hours (6PM-5AM ET), allowing traders in Asian time zones or those trading overnight to access liquid markets when US indices are closed.

Foreign Exchange Futures (7 Contracts)

All forex futures: $2.40 commission per side (CME)

6A (Australian Dollar), 6B (British Pound), 6C (Canadian Dollar), 6E (Euro FX), 6J (Japanese Yen), 6S (Swiss Franc), 6N (New Zealand Dollar)

Seven major currency futures against USD. Standardized contract sizes (e.g., 6E = €125,000) with ~$12.50 per tick. Higher commission than equity indices reflects exchange fee structure.

Notable absence: No micro forex contracts despite CME availability. Lucid restricts to full-size only, raising minimum capital requirements for FX strategies.

Energy Futures (5 Contracts)

Crude Oil: CL ($2.00), MCL micro ($0.50), QM E-mini ($2.00) - NYMEXNatural Gas: NG ($2.00), QG E-mini ($1.30) - NYMEX

CL is highly volatile at $1,000/point. MCL and QM provide scaling options. Natural gas trades with extreme volatility during weather events and storage reports. QG's lower commission ($1.30 vs $2.00) favors active scalpers.

Metals Futures (5 Contracts)

Precious: GC Gold ($2.30), MGC Micro Gold ($0.80), SI Silver ($2.30), PL Platinum ($2.30) - COMEXIndustrial: HG Copper ($2.30) - COMEX

Gold (100 oz, $100/point) and Silver (5,000 oz, $50/point) are most liquid. MGC provides fractional gold exposure at lower margin. Copper trades as economic indicator. Palladium excluded despite being platinum group metal—likely due to extreme volatility and lower liquidity.

Agriculture Futures (10 Contracts)

All agriculture: $2.80 commission per side - highest rate

Grains: ZS (Soybeans), ZC (Corn), ZW (Wheat), ZL (Soybean Oil), ZM (Soybean Meal) - CBOTLivestock: LE (Live Cattle), HE (Lean Hogs) - CME

Grain complex tied to food supply, biofuel demand, weather patterns. Experience seasonal volatility around planting/harvest and USDA reports. Livestock influenced by feed costs, disease outbreaks, consumer demand.

Soybean crush spread (ZS vs ZL/ZM) fully supported by approved products. Higher commissions ($5.60 round-trip) require larger profit targets for positive expectancy.

Commission Structure & Cost Impact

Commissions range $0.50 to $2.80 per side (double for round-trip):

Micros: $0.50 (MES, MNQ, M2K, MYM, MCL), $0.80 (MGC)
E-mini indices: $1.75 (ES, NQ, RTY, YM, NKD)
Energy: $1.30-$2.00 (QG at $1.30, CL/QM/NG at $2.00)
Metals: $2.30 (GC, SI, PL, HG)
Forex: $2.40 (all seven currencies)
Agriculture: $2.80 (all grains and livestock)

Real cost examples:

MES round-trip: $1.00 (entry $0.50 + exit $0.50)
ES round-trip: $3.50 (entry $1.75 + exit $1.75)
6E forex round-trip: $4.80 (entry $2.40 + exit $2.40)
ZS agriculture round-trip: $5.60 (entry $2.80 + exit $2.80)

Impact on profitability:

Take a scalping strategy averaging $50 profit per trade across 100 trades:

On MES ($1.00 commission): Gross $5,000 - $100 commission = $4,900 net (98% retention)On ES ($3.50 commission): Gross $5,000 - $350 commission = $4,650 net (93% retention)On ZS ($5.60 commission): Gross $5,000 - $560 commission = $4,440 net (88.8% retention)

The commission difference between MES and ZS represents $460 over 100 trades—nearly 10% of gross profits. For high-frequency strategies taking 20+ trades daily, commission structure becomes a primary factor in net profitability.

Break-even win rates:

Assuming equal profit/loss per trade, commission changes the required win rate for breakeven:

$50 target, $50 stop, MES $1.00 commission: Need 51% win rate (commission adds 1% to standard 50% breakeven)$50 target, $50 stop, ES $3.50 commission: Need 53.5% win rate$50 target, $50 stop, ZS $5.60 commission: Need 55.6% win rate

Higher commissions require proportionally higher win rates or larger profit targets to maintain positive expectancy.

Why These Products Are Approved

Lucid's approval criteria:

Liquidity: Sufficient daily volume/open interest for retail entry/exit without excessive slippage
Standardization: All trade on major regulated exchanges (CME, CBOT, NYMEX, COMEX)
Risk management: Predictable margin requirements and volatility profiles
Data integration: Reliable real-time feeds through supported platforms

Notable exclusions:

Treasury futures (ZN, ZB, ZF, ZT): Complex correlation with equities, interest rate sensitivity
Bitcoin futures (BTC, MBT): Extreme volatility, weekend trading, regulatory uncertainty
VIX futures: Unique contango/backwardation dynamics, risk management challenges
Micro forex: Despite availability, only full-size approved
Soft commodities: No cotton, cocoa, coffee, sugar—lower liquidity, higher volatility

Lucid approves products where typical retail strategies have proven effective. Niche instruments get excluded to maintain consistent risk parameters.

Evaluation vs Funded: No Product Restrictions

All 36 products available in both evaluation and funded phases. No restrictions change between challenge and live account—trade your actual strategy without adapting.

Position limits apply based on account size (e.g., $50K might cap at 10 ES or 100 MES), scaling with account size for drawdown protection.

Versus Competitors

Alpha Futures: Similar list, fewer agricultural products, $1.50-$2.50 commissions
TopStep: Comparable breadth, includes Treasury futures Lucid excludes
Take Profit Trader: Focuses heavily on equity indices, limited other asset classes
Apex Trader Funding: Similar breadth plus international futures (DAX, FTSE), includes crypto

Lucid sits in "comprehensive approval" tier—not most expansive (Apex) but broader than index-focused firms (TPT).

Strategic Product Selection

New traders: Start with ES/NQ and micros (MES/MNQ). Highest liquidity, tightest spreads, most resources, lowest commission impact.

Scalpers: Favor micros ($0.50-$0.80 commissions) to minimize cost drag on small targets. Avoid agriculture at $2.80 unless targets justify it.

Swing traders: Full-size contracts (ES, NQ, CL, GC) work better. Overnight holds already incur exchange fees; slightly higher commissions matter less on multi-hundred-dollar targets.

Fundamental traders: Energy (CL, NG) and agriculture (ZS, ZC) offer exposure to inventory reports, weather, supply disruptions. Require product-specific fundamental knowledge.

Correlation traders: Approved list supports spreads: calendar spreads, inter-commodity (ZS/ZL/ZM), cross-market pairs (ES/NQ). Ensure both legs use approved contracts.

Commission optimization: Calculate breakeven. $50 target on MES with $1.00 commission needs 52% win rate. Same $50 on ZS with $5.60 commission needs 61% win rate. Commission structure affects required edge.

Platform Considerations

All 36 contracts available on all supported platforms (Rithmic, CQG, others). Product availability is consistent.

Data feed costs: Platforms may charge separately for exchange data. CME data for ES/NQ, CME FX for currencies, COMEX for metals. Calculate total data costs when selecting products.

Order types: Advanced orders (OCO, brackets, trailing stops) vary by platform. Match product choice to platform capabilities.

Bottom Line

Lucid Trading's 36 approved products provide comprehensive futures market access across five asset classes. The list balances liquidity, standardization, and risk management while supporting diverse strategies from scalping to fundamental analysis.

Equity indices (ES, NQ, RTY, YM + micros) offer highest liquidity and lowest commission impact—ideal for most retail traders. Energy (CL, NG) suits fundamental and volatility strategies. Metals (GC, SI) provide safe-haven exposure. Forex (6E, 6B, etc.) enables currency strategies without spot forex complications. Agriculture (ZS, ZC, grains, livestock) offers seasonal opportunities.

Commission structure ($0.50 to $2.80 per side) directly impacts profitability. Scalpers benefit from micros. Swing traders absorb higher commissions for better per-trade potential.

Notable exclusions—Treasuries, Bitcoin, VIX, soft commodities—reflect Lucid's focus on liquid, standardized contracts with predictable risk profiles.

Before evaluation, calculate commission costs versus profit targets, ensure liquidity during your trading session, verify strategy works within contract limits.

The right product choice isn't "what can I trade" but "what should I trade given my strategy, timeframe, and commission sensitivity." Start with highest-liquidity products (ES, NQ, MES, MNQ), prove profitability, then expand to specialized products as your account scales.