eToro expands futures trading for Australian users

eToro has expanded futures trading to users in Australia, giving local investors access to CME Group futures contracts.

The Australian offering includes 65 futures contracts across metals, US and international equity indices, energy, foreign exchange, agricultural commodities and interest rates. The contracts are smaller in size, allowing active traders to take positions with less capital per contract.

The move broadens eToro's product range in Australia as retail investors seek wider access to instruments once used mainly by institutional traders and specialist market participants. Futures are commonly used to gain exposure to commodities, currencies, stock indices and rates, and can also help hedge existing positions.

Under the arrangement, Australian users will be able to trade CME Group contracts through the eToro platform. CME Group is one of the world's largest derivatives marketplace operators, and its products are widely used across global financial markets.

Education focus

Alongside the launch, eToro and CME Group have entered an educational agreement to provide resources and videos explaining how futures trading works and the risks involved. The material is intended to help traders understand contract mechanics and market exposure before using the products.

"We are thrilled to bring smaller-sized futures to our Australian community. This initiative not only expands market access for active traders but also ensures they are supported with educational resources to learn how to use futures effectively as part of a diversified investment portfolio," Robert Francis, Managing Director, eToro Australia, said.

Smaller-sized contracts have become a notable trend in listed derivatives as exchanges and brokers try to attract self-directed investors seeking more precise position sizes. By lowering contract size, providers can make it easier for traders to manage exposure in markets that might otherwise require larger capital commitments.

That is particularly relevant in futures, where investors often adjust risk in line with volatile market moves. Position sizing is a key issue for traders using leveraged products, especially in contracts linked to energy, rates or equity indices.

Broader access

The Australian expansion is part of eToro's wider effort to offer a broader mix of financial products on its platform. Founded in 2007, the group operates in multiple markets and serves users across dozens of countries.

For CME Group, the arrangement adds another retail distribution channel in a market where investor interest in direct market access has grown in recent years. Exchange operators have increasingly worked with online brokers and trading platforms to reach retail clients as digital investing has become more mainstream.

Julie Winkler, Chief Commercial Officer, CME Group, said: "Futures offer active traders a flexible and capital-efficient way to gain exposure to the world's most important markets across asset classes. As a new generation of self-directed investors embraces these products, education is essential to helping them trade effectively, and we are pleased to deliver the resources traders need to allow eToro to expand access to our products."

The addition of futures gives Australian users exposure to another segment of listed markets beyond shares and exchange-traded products. It also increases the need for investor understanding, as futures involve leverage, margin requirements and the potential for losses that can escalate quickly with market conditions.

The new contracts cover a range of asset classes that may suit different trading strategies, from commodity-linked positions in metals and agriculture to macroeconomic views expressed through interest rates, currencies and international equity benchmarks. For active traders, that range offers more options for diversification within a single account.

The educational programme with CME Group is intended to support Australian traders as they begin using the products and learn the mechanics of the futures market.