Martin Franchi，NinjaTrader 首席执行官 – 访谈系列

马丁·弗朗西（Martin Franchi）, CEO of NinjaTrader, brings deep fintech expertise and a strong focus on innovation to the futures trading space. Since joining the company in 2014, he has led major platform upgrades, introduced mobile and desktop enhancements, launched retail-focused products like micro and nano futures, and strengthened partnerships with leading exchanges.

NinjaTrader is a leading futures brokerage and trading platform offering low-cost access to futures markets across desktop, web, and mobile. In 2025, the company was acquired by Kraken in a landmark $1.5 billion deal, marking a major step toward integrating traditional and crypto trading. The acquisition allows NinjaTrader to maintain its independence while expanding its reach and positioning both companies for a unified, multi-asset trading experience.

You grew up in Chicago and developed an early passion for capital markets. Can you share how that upbringing shaped your path into fintech and ultimately led you to lead NinjaTrader?

Chicago is one of the world’s premier hubs for trading and finance, so capital markets are part of the city’s fabric. My grandfather was in a commodity-focused business and used futures to hedge risk; early on, he introduced me to these markets. He also introduced me to technical analysis, and I used to create charts with pencil and graph paper to look for patterns. I had friends with family members who worked on the legendary exchange floors, which fascinated me. I developed a deep appreciation for how capital markets impact the broader economy. Given my fascination, I was perplexed by the limited retail participation in the asset class. This led me to NinjaTrader, where I was soon on a mission to lower the existing barriers to trading and help retail traders of all experience levels thrive. Leading NinjaTrader is the culmination of that journey.

For our readers new to futures trading, how would you explain what futures contracts are and what makes them an appealing option for retail investors today?

Simply put, a futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specific price on a specific date in the future. For retail investors, they offer compelling advantages. Access to a broad range of assets, deep liquidity, ease of going long or short, beneficial tax treatment, and extended trading hours. As exchanges have responded to retail investors' demand for access, contract sizes have become smaller, enabling individuals to trade without needing institutional-level capital. As a result, futures trading has become more accessible than ever, bringing a fast-growing asset class to a broader investing audience. At NinjaTrader, the average user age has shifted from 48 to 38 over the past five years, showing that more young people are entering the futures market and seeking digital-first tools to guide them.

How does futures trading differ from trading stocks or crypto, especially in terms of leverage, liquidity, and access?

Futures trading offers higher leverage, deeper liquidity, and the ability to trade around the clock. Unlike stocks, which settle in two days and often require more capital, futures provide a regulated, transparent, and efficient marketplace. At NinjaTrader, we’ve focused on making this asset class more approachable with advanced analytics, educational tools, and simulated trading to help newer traders learn the ropes. One of the most exciting trends is the growing focus on retail traders by major exchanges—a shift that was unimaginable a decade ago. This has driven a wave of innovation, including micro-sized contracts, more familiar underlying products (e.g., stock futures), and now futures on cultural events such as politics and sports. We’re excited to be at the forefront of this transformation, collaborating with leading exchanges and start-ups to bring these cutting-edge products to market.

NinjaTrader has long been recognized for its low margins and powerful charting tools. What do you believe sets NinjaTrader apart from other futures trading platforms?

We’ve been doing this a long time, so our products and services are incredibly advanced and mature. We’ve also built the largest ecosystem of app developers and educators in futures. More importantly, retail futures is our singular focus. Our platform was built with one purpose: to empower active retail futures traders. NinjaTrader is optimized specifically for futures, and that focus enables us to serve our users better than anyone else in the space. We haven’t gotten distracted by the next shiny new thing—we believe that thing is retail futures.

Your platform allows traders to get started with no deposit minimum and even offers simulated trading. How important is accessibility for first-time futures traders?

Accessibility is core to our mission. We’ve seen how intimidating futures can be for newcomers, which is why we’ve built experiences that lower the barrier to entry and provide risk-free ways to learn while engaging with live markets using our powerful tools and free support, regardless of whether you have an account or are just exploring the asset class. Initiatives such as our NinjaTrader Arena series—a simulated trading challenge that lets participants practice strategies without risking real money—are great ways to get people excited about futures. By giving traders a safe place to practice, we ensure that anyone, regardless of experience, can explore the futures market at their own pace.

You’ve observed a large spike in interest from millennials and Gen Z. What do you think is attracting younger generations to futures and commodities trading today?

Younger, tech-savvy investors appreciate futures for their speed, leverage, and the broad array of products they can trade. Years ago, FCMs and technology providers created opportunities for retail traders to move away from the trading floor to online brokerages. This made futures trading more accessible, yet the “new to futures” investor was initially ignored due to existing lackluster, archaic, and fragmented experiences. Many walked away feeling unsupported and unfit to trade futures. NinjaTrader’s advocacy for this community of “new traders” and our investment in modern experiences helped raise awareness of the asset class and ultimately ushered in a new, younger audience that is now learning to trade futures on our platform.

Futures trading offers exciting opportunities but also comes with substantial risks due to leverage. How does NinjaTrader educate and prepare new users for these risks?

Education is at the core of everything we do. NinjaTrader Live, our livestream platform, is an exclusive futures-focused community where notable macro and futures-trading experts, such as veteran trader Anthony Crudele and senior economist Tracy Shuchart, discuss news, trends, and trading strategies. We’ve built an incredible content library that can be accessed for free, and the NinjaTrader Ecosystem is filled with educators ready to support futures traders looking to find their edge. We’ve also integrated innovative risk management tools into our core offering. We are committed to providing the ultimate futures-trading experience for the growing number of traders entering the market, and NinjaTrader Live perfectly illustrates how we support traders at every level.

What risk management tools or features does NinjaTrader offer to help traders protect their capital?

We offer a full suite of risk management tools to help traders protect their capital. These include custom stop-loss and take-profit orders, real-time margin monitoring, chart-based order execution, and automated strategy support. We also give traders the option to lock themselves out of the platform once they’ve hit their goals for the session or if they feel they’re over-trading. These tools, combined with our analytics and education features, help users make informed, disciplined decisions in fast-moving markets.

Kraken’s acquisition of NinjaTrader is being called the largest TradFi–crypto merger to date. What does this deal mean for NinjaTrader users today and in the future?

Kraken’s acquisition of NinjaTrader marks a major leap forward not just for our company, but for the broader convergence of traditional and crypto finance. This partnership brings together the best of both worlds; NinjaTrader’s futures infrastructure and analytics, and Kraken’s industry leading crypto experiences. It also enables NinjaTrader to accelerate our global expansion plans by leveraging the infrastructure Kraken has meticulously built.

For someone on the fence about getting started with futures, what advice would you give them today?

Start small, use the tools available, and embrace the learning process. Watch NT Live, and learn from fellow traders who have been there and done that. Futures can seem complex at first, but simulated trading and educational resources can help you build confidence quickly. Don’t let the learning curve hold you back. We’ve designed NinjaTrader to support traders at every step. From their first trade to full-time strategy, we’re here to help you succeed on your own terms.

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