A membership is sold to an applicant through a "bid" and "ask" system administered by the exchange. Each applicant must meet certain financial and other requirements and be SPONSORED by two exchange members. The cost of a membership varies by category and current supply and demand factors.

The Chicago Board of Trade has 1,400 full members, who are ELIGIBLE to trade any of the futures and options-on-futures offered, and about 700 associate members who are eligible to trade financial and other designated contracts. In addition, there are a number of membership INTERESTS, WHOSE holders may trade contracts limited to certain MARKETS; the membership interests are: the Index, Debt and Energy Market (IDEM), the Commodity Options Market (COM), and the Government Instrument Market (GIM).

A membership is sold to an applicant through a "bid" and "ask" system administered by the exchange. Each applicant must meet certain financial and other requirements and be sponsored by two exchange members. The cost of a membership varies by category and current supply and demand factors.

The Chicago Board of Trade has 1,400 full members, who are eligible to trade any of the futures and options-on-futures offered, and about 700 associate members who are eligible to trade financial and other designated contracts. In addition, there are a number of membership interests, whose holders may trade contracts limited to certain markets; the membership interests are: the Index, Debt and Energy Market (IDEM), the Commodity Options Market (COM), and the Government Instrument Market (GIM).