Blackbox Trading vs. Greybox Trading

Blackbox. Greybox. Outside-the-box.
(Trading solutions for how you like to trade)

Today’s traders have developed a wide range of strategies to attain their financial goals. Advantage Futures uses superior technology and flexible back office operations to provide a wide range of services designed to meet your specific trading needs – whether you’re a point-and-click trader seeking greater trading efficiency, a greybox trader looking for more flexibility, or a blackbox trader in search of complete customization.

When comparing technologies to understand which is right for you, here are a few basics.

Blackbox and Greybox Trading: What’s the Difference?

The primary difference between greybox and blackbox systems is the level of automation. The greybox is a partially automated system, meaning some of the order entry is moderated by human intervention. A blackbox system (also referred to as “robo trading”), on the other hand, is fully automated and operates independent of human interaction.

Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages, depending upon the type of trader you are.

Advantages to Blackbox trading

  • Secure – The environment in which the program is running is also tested
  • Recyclable – The invested effort can be used multiple times
  • Scalable – The program can execute multiple trades across multiple markets
  • Fast – Blackbox trading strategies run server-side, affording the lowest possible latency
  • Automatic – Entirely automated, there’s no need for human interaction to make decisions in response to market data

Advantages to Greybox trading

  • Control – Traders preserve some control with a semi-automated strategy
  • Flexible – Traders can easily alter strategies on the fly
  • Adaptable – Traders can better leverage high-volatility environments

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