Direct market access with single-digit microsecond latency has often been associated with institutional and proprietary trading environments. Lime Trading Corp. (“Lime”) is bringing that type of infrastructure to a broader segment of eligible traders. The U.S. broker-dealer has launched Lime Trader Plus, an advanced low-latency trading platform supporting multiple API protocols aimed at experienced independent traders, and quantitative and systematic traders, with a minimum account equity of $30,000.
Lime Trader Plus is professional trading software in the strictest sense: there is no screen-based trading interface. The platform supports multiple connectivity options, including FIX protocol and APIs for Java, C++, Python, and C#, with direct routing to major U.S. exchanges, ATS venues, and dark pools. The platform is engineered for algorithmic trading and other latency-sensitive strategies. Optional per-order features include the Lime Smart Order Router, which supports routing across lit, inverted, and dark venues, and benchmark execution algorithms including VWAP, TWAP, and POV. For high-speed systematic trading, hosting and colocation options are available separately at major U.S. exchange data centers.
The features available in Lime Trader Plus help distinguish this class of platform from a conventional screen-based brokerage experience. Direct market access allows clients to route orders to selected exchanges and ATS venues through Lime’s broker-dealer infrastructure, subject to applicable pre-trade risk and regulatory controls. A smart order router routes orders among available venues according to specified routing strategies and execution parameters. And benchmark algorithms like TWAP and VWAP are designed to work orders according to defined time- or volume-based parameters.
Lime Trader Plus offers capabilities commonly associated with professional and institutional trading environments. Lime Trader Plus is designed for traders who build and operate their own trading workflows through FIX and APIs. With direct routing to exchanges and ATS venues, the platform provides a defined entry point for experienced independent and systematic traders seeking this type of market access.
Pricing is structured at $0.005 per share, with exchange passthroughs included. Regulatory fees are not included. The Lime Smart Order Router is available for an additional $0.0005 per share when used, while benchmark algorithms are available for an additional $0.001 per share. VPS hosting is available separately at an additional cost.
Lime operates as an agency-only broker. It does not operate a proprietary trading desk or internalize client order flow. For traders evaluating potential conflicts of interest in a broker’s business model, that structural distinction will be relevant. Agency-only status, however, does not eliminate all potential conflicts of interest or by itself determine execution quality.
“Lime Trader Plus is designed for traders who want to build and manage their own trading workflows through FIX and APIs,” said Nodir Azimov, Executive Director, U.S. Equities Business Development & Strategy at Lime Trading Corp. “By offering direct market access and low-latency connectivity with a $30,000 minimum account equity requirement, we’re making this type of infrastructure available to a broader group of eligible independent traders.”
Lime Trader Plus draws on more than two decades of Lime’s experience developing and operating trading technology. Since 2000, the firm has continued to evolve its infrastructure, which, according to firm records, has processed more than 20 billion shares. Lime Trader Plus brings that experience into an API-based offering designed for eligible independent and systematic traders. Onboarding reflects the platform’s technical requirements and professional orientation: clients complete UAT certification before production system access, and applicants can begin testing their FIX integration while their application is under review. This allows technical integration work to begin during the onboarding process.
For experienced traders seeking FIX connectivity, direct market access, and low-latency execution infrastructure, Lime Trader Plus adds a specialized API-based offering to Lime’s existing trading technology lineup. It is available now, subject to account approval and eligibility requirements, with individual applications at open.lime.co and full details at lime.co/lime-trader-plus.
About Lime
Lime Trading Corp. is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC, providing trading solutions for various market participants. Lime Trading Corp. also is a registered futures commission merchant and a member of the NFA. The company maintains a focus on technology-driven trading services while adhering to regulatory requirements and industry best practices. For more information, please visit lime.co/disclosures.
