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NinjaTrader Brokerage Review
NinjaTrader is a Chicago futures brokerage now owned by crypto exchange Kraken. Its clearing arm paid a 250,000 dollar NFA fine in 2025 for anti money laundering gaps.
Min Deposit
N/A
Spreads From
Commission based futures pricing, exact rates depend on the account plan chosen
Max Leverage
Set by exchange margin rules for futures, not a fixed leverage ratio
Platforms
NinjaTrader desktop platform, NinjaTrader web platform
Pros
- Backed by Kraken after a 1.5 billion dollar acquisition in 2025
- Registered with the CFTC and the NFA as a futures commission merchant
- Own NinjaTrader platform is widely used for futures charting and orders
- Part of a large group with tens of thousands of client accounts
Cons
- Clearing arm paid a 250,000 dollar NFA fine in 2025 for AML gaps
- Predecessor York was fined by the CFTC in 2012 for similar failures
- NFA found accounts tied to blocked countries went unclosed for months
- Uses two related entities, brokerage and clearing, which can confuse new clients
NinjaTrader traces back to York Business Associates, a Chicago futures firm once known as TransAct Futures. NinjaTrader Group bought York in December 2020 and renamed it. Crypto exchange Kraken agreed to buy NinjaTrader for about 1.5 billion dollars in March 2025, and the deal closed that May. NinjaTrader now also operates as Kraken Derivatives US.
NinjaTrader Brokerage LLC introduces client accounts, while sister firm NinjaTrader Clearing LLC is the futures commission merchant that holds customer funds, registered with the CFTC and the NFA. The group runs its own charting platform for futures, options, and now some digital asset and event contracts.
In May 2025, the NFA fined NinjaTrader Clearing 250,000 dollars for failing to properly run its anti money laundering program and for failing to supervise staff, including accounts tied to blocked countries and one linked to a person calling in from prison. Predecessor York was fined by the CFTC in 2012 for similar gaps.
Max Leverage
Set by exchange margin rules for futures, not a fixed leverage ratio
Spreads From
Commission based futures pricing, exact rates depend on the account plan chosen
Platforms
Regulation, fund safety, track record
Spreads, execution, leverage
Platform quality, charting, features
Analysis, webinars, learning materials
Support quality, responsiveness
Mobile app quality, features
