Everything You Need to Know About CME's New E-nano Nasdaq Futures
CME E-nano futures launched August 24, 2026. Plain-English guide to NNQ (E-nano Nasdaq-100): size vs MNQ and NQ, tick value, who should trade it, and what to check first.
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On August 24, 2026, CME launched E-nano futures: a new, smaller set of equity index contracts. If you trade futures, you have probably seen the buzz. Here is a plain-English breakdown, with a focus on the E-nano Nasdaq-100 (NNQ).
What are CME E-nano futures?
Think of E-nanos as the smallest step on CME’s index futures ladder. Same benchmarks (Nasdaq, S&P, Russell, Dow), with less money per contract.
Micro E-minis like MNQ already made index futures more accessible. E-nanos go one size smaller. That helps if a Micro still feels too big for your account, your risk plan, or how you scale in and out.
The 4 new E-nano contracts
- E-nano S&P 500 (symbol NES)
- E-nano Nasdaq-100 (symbol NNQ, the one Nasdaq traders are searching for)
- E-nano Russell 2000 (symbol N2K)
- E-nano Dow Jones (symbol NDOW)
All four trade on Globex for nearly the full session, settle in cash, and list the two nearest quarterly expiries (March, June, September, December).
E-nano Nasdaq-100 (NNQ): key specs
If you trade Nasdaq futures, this is the contract to learn first. It tracks the same Nasdaq-100 index as NQ and MNQ, but at a much smaller size.
Quick NNQ cheat sheet. Always confirm live specs on cmegroup.com before you trade.
| Detail | E-nano Nasdaq-100 (NNQ) |
|---|---|
| Index | Nasdaq-100 |
| Symbol | NNQ |
| Multiplier | $0.20 per point |
| Minimum tick | 0.50 points |
| Tick value | $0.10 |
| Settlement | Cash |
| Hours | ~23 hrs/day (5:00-6:00 p.m. ET maintenance) |
NNQ vs MNQ vs NQ: how much smaller is it?
The easiest way to picture it is the size ladder:
Nasdaq-100 contract size comparison at CME.
| Contract | Symbol | $ per point | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-mini Nasdaq-100 | NQ | $20 | The standard (large) |
| Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 | MNQ | $2 | 1/10 of NQ |
| E-nano Nasdaq-100 | NNQ | $0.20 | 1/10 of MNQ · 1/100 of NQ |
Quick example: with Nasdaq-100 near 20,000, one NQ is about $400,000 of exposure, one MNQ about $40,000, and one NNQ about $4,000. The index moves; the 100 : 10 : 1 ratio does not.
Who should trade E-nano Nasdaq futures?
Good fit if…
- You are newer to futures and MNQ still feels large
- You trade intraday and want finer position sizing
- You need a small Nasdaq hedge without a full Micro
- Your prop firm or evaluation already lists NNQ
Be careful if…
- You expect MNQ-level liquidity on day one
- You have not checked fees on a $0.10 tick
- Your platform does not show NNQ correctly yet
- You assume any “Nasdaq” contract is allowed at your prop firm
They are not a free pass. These are still leveraged futures. Margin, spreads, and volume can look different from MNQ early on. Treat the first weeks as a test drive. Watch before you size up.
Quick checklist: your first week with NNQ
- 1.
Confirm the symbol on your platform
Search for NNQ and the correct front-month contract in your data feed.
- 2.
Check margin and commissions
A flat per-contract fee hurts more when each tick is only $0.10.
- 3.
Watch liquidity and spreads
Compare NNQ bid/ask to MNQ in the same time window you trade.
- 4.
Start with one contract
Test fills and slippage before you add size.
- 5.
Log every trade
Smaller contracts invite overtrading. A journal shows whether the size helps your process or just adds trade count.
The other 3 E-nanos (quick reference)
Multipliers and ticks for all four E-nano contracts at launch.
| Contract | Symbol | $/point | Tick | Tick value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-nano S&P 500 | NES | $0.50 | 0.50 pts | $0.25 |
| E-nano Nasdaq-100 | NNQ | $0.20 | 0.50 pts | $0.10 |
| E-nano Russell 2000 | N2K | $0.50 | 0.20 pts | $0.10 |
| E-nano Dow Jones | NDOW | $0.05 | 2.00 pts | $0.10 |
Journal your E-nano trades
If you try NNQ, treat it like MNQ: log symbol, size, fees, and R multiple on every trade. Within a few sessions you will know whether the smaller contract improves your process or just makes you click more.
Tradespad helps you log futures trades, review daily P&L, and filter by symbol once your broker or CSV includes E-nano fills. You can start on the free plan without committing to a full suite.
Bottom line
CME’s E-nano Nasdaq-100 (NNQ) is live as of August 24, 2026. Same index, ~1/10 of a Micro, $0.10 ticks. If you wanted a smaller Nasdaq futures contract, this is it. Just confirm fees, liquidity, and your broker’s rules before you fully switch from MNQ.
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Try for freeFrequently Asked Questions Common searches: what is NNQ, NNQ vs MNQ, tick value, small account size, margin needed, prop firm rules, and broker support for CME E-nano Nasdaq futures.
NNQis CME's E-nano Nasdaq-100 futures contract. It tracks the same Nasdaq-100 index as MNQ, but each point is worth $0.20 instead of $2. That makes NNQ one-tenth the size of a Micro E-mini (MNQ) and one-hundredth the size of a full E-mini (NQ).
On NNQ, one index point equals $0.20. The minimum tick is 0.50 points, so each tick is worth $0.10. On MNQ, the same 0.50-point move is worth $1.00.
Often yes. NNQ lets you trade Nasdaq futures with much less exposure per contract than MNQ. If a Micro still feels too big for your account or risk per trade, NNQ can be a better fit. You still need enough margin, and commissions matter more on a $0.10 tick.
Trade MNQ if you want deeper liquidity and a contract most brokers and prop firms already support. Trade NNQ if you want smaller size, finer scaling, or MNQ feels too large. Many retail traders will test NNQ on sim first, then compare spreads, fees, and fills on live before switching.
CME launched E-nano equity index futures on August 24, 2026. The Nasdaq contract trades under the symbol NNQ. Three other E-nanos launched the same day: S&P 500 (NES), Russell 2000 (N2K), and Dow Jones (NDOW).
CME sets exchange margins, but your broker sets what you actually need for day trading and overnight holds. NNQ should be lower than MNQin dollar terms, but do not assume it is exactly one-tenth. Check your broker's margin table and prop firm rules before you size up.
Only if your prop firm lists NNQ. Many firms started with MNQ and NQ only. Do not assume a new CME contract is allowed on eval or funded accounts until the firm publishes updated rules. Check the symbol list and max contract size before you trade it live.
Support is rolling out after the August 24, 2026 launch. Major futures brokers and platforms (Tradovate, NinjaTrader, AMP, and others) are adding NNQ over time. Search NNQ in your platform, confirm the data feed, and verify the front-month symbol before placing a live order.
Details in this article may become outdated. Always verify contract specs, margins, and availability with your broker before trading.
