Futures Trading
Where Can I Trade Gold and Oil Futures?
Trade gold and oil as perpetual futures on Liquid, with no expiry and no delivery, or trade dated CME gold and WTI contracts through a futures broker. Here is how the routes compare on hours, size, fees, and custody.
You can trade gold and oil futures on Liquid as perpetual futures: long or short contracts with no expiry and no physical delivery, held in a non-custodial account alongside crypto, stocks, and FX. You can size positions in dollars rather than whole contracts, use multipliers on eligible markets (each market's maximum is shown on its order ticket), and trade outside regular exchange hours where the market is open. Commodity perp hours vary by market and venue, so check the live status.
If you need a specific exchange contract, such as CME Gold, Micro Gold, or WTI crude, use a futures broker that carries it. Liquid does not offer CME futures.
Where can I trade gold and oil futures?
Gold and oil futures routes (checked Sept–Oct 2026)
Scroll horizontally to compare
| Platform | Hours | Products | Fee model | Custody | Leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid | Market- and venue-specific; can extend beyond exchange sessions | Gold and oil perps, plus crypto, stocks, indices, FX, pre-IPO | % of notional by route, plus funding | Non-custodial | Market-specific multiplier, shown on the order ticket |
| Interactive Brokers | Exchange sessions | Dated commodity futures, alongside stocks, options, and FX | Per contract: $0.25–$0.85 tiered or $0.85 fixed, plus exchange fees | Custodial broker | Exchange-set futures margin |
| Charles Schwab | Exchange sessions | Dated commodity futures | $2.25 per contract | Custodial broker | Exchange-set futures margin |
| NinjaTrader / TradeStation | Exchange calendars (CME, ICE) | Dated futures and micros | Per contract per side, plus exchange, clearing, and NFA fees | Custodial broker / FCM | Exchange-set futures margin |
Broker details come from each provider's published pricing as checked for Liquid's comparison guides in September 2026. Recheck for your account.
Contract size matters more than the label
Dated futures come in fixed sizes. CME Micro Gold represents 10 troy ounces. Micro WTI crude represents 100 barrels, and the standard contracts are much larger. CME's 1-Ounce Gold contract is listed for 24/7 trading with maintenance windows.
A perp has no contract unit to round to. You choose a dollar notional, and the margin you post sets the multiplier. That makes a small trial position simple to build, but it also makes it easy to over-size. Convert both products into dollar exposure before you compare them.
How dated gold and oil futures differ from perps
| Dated gold or oil future | Gold or oil perp on Liquid | |
|---|---|---|
| Expiry | Monthly or quarterly contract; roll or settle | None |
| Delivery | Contract-specific; physical delivery possible on some | Never; cash PnL only |
| Holding cost | Roll cost between contract months | Funding, paid or received |
| Hours | Exchange session per product | Venue- and market-specific |
| Regulation | Exchange-listed, cleared through an FCM | Venue rules; not an exchange future |
Oil benchmarks differ too. WTI and Brent are separate benchmarks, so check which reference a market tracks before comparing prices.
Who should use which
Choose a futures broker if you are hedging a physical exposure to a specific settlement date, need exchange clearing, or trade CME contracts actively at scale. Choose Liquid perps if you want gold or oil next to your crypto and stock positions in one non-custodial account, prefer dollar sizing, or want access outside the exchange session where the market is open.
What moves gold and oil outside exchange hours
Gold reacts to US dollar strength, real interest rates, and safe-haven demand during geopolitical stress. Many of those headlines land during Asian or European hours, or over a weekend. Oil reacts to supply news: producer-group decisions, pipeline or shipping disruptions, and inventory data. Producer-group meetings and conflicts don't follow the CME calendar.
That is the main reason traders look for access outside regular sessions. If a major supply headline lands on a Saturday, a dated futures trader has to wait for the Sunday reopen. A perp trader may be able to act on it, if the market is open. Either way, expect fast price moves and wide spreads around those headlines, and size the position so a gap through your stop is survivable.
How to trade gold and oil on Liquid
- Fund your account with card, transfer, or USDC: how to fund your Liquid account.
- Try it in paper mode first: paper trading on Liquid.
- Open the gold or oil market. Check its reference, status, and the maximum multiplier on the ticket.
- Size in dollars, set a stop, and confirm. Step-by-step: how to trade on Liquid.
Read more on gold and oil leverage and trading gold and oil at night.
Sources and further reading
- CME Micro Gold · Micro WTI FAQ · CME 24/7 products
- Interactive Brokers commissions · Schwab pricing · NinjaTrader pricing
- Liquid fee schedule
Liquid product information checked October 15, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I trade gold and oil futures?
Trade gold and oil as perpetual futures on Liquid, with no expiry or delivery and dollar-based sizing. For dated CME contracts such as Gold, Micro Gold, or WTI crude, use a futures broker such as Interactive Brokers, Schwab, NinjaTrader, or TradeStation.
Will I have to take delivery of gold or oil?
Not on a Liquid perp, which settles only in profit and loss. Some dated futures can involve physical delivery, so check the contract specifications and your broker's rules before expiry.
What size is a micro gold or micro oil futures contract?
CME Micro Gold represents 10 troy ounces and Micro WTI crude oil represents 100 barrels. Standard contracts are larger.
Educational content only — not investment advice. Trading perpetual futures involves substantial risk and may not be suitable for every investor. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Keep reading
All articles →Futures Trading
Can I Trade Futures on the Weekend?
Yes. Liquid crypto perps trade through Saturday and Sunday, and a few CME crypto and metals futures now have weekend sessions. Most dated futures still close from Friday evening to Sunday evening.
Futures Trading
Can I Trade Index Futures Around the Clock?
Index perpetuals on Liquid give you S&P 500-style and Nasdaq-style exposure without contract months, with up to 50x on eligible index markets. CME E-mini and Micro E-mini futures trade nearly 24 hours, Sunday to Friday.
Futures Trading
How Do I Start Trading Futures Online?
Pick the contract type, open an account that carries it, practice with simulated funds, then trade small with a written exit plan. Here is the route for perpetual futures on Liquid and for dated futures at a broker.
Put what you learned to work.
Trade crypto, stocks, commodities, FX, indices, and pre-IPO names — plus prediction markets. Prediction contracts are unleveraged; eligible perpetual markets offer multipliers of up to 50×.