Cboe Exchange Hikes Fees for Invisible Digital Ports
Published Date: 4/15/2025
Notice
Summary
Cboe BZX Exchange is rolling out a new way for traders to connect to its equity options platform by introducing Unitized Logical Ports. Starting now, users will see new fees tied to these ports and updated charges based on daily quotes and orders. This change affects anyone using BZX’s trading connections and kicks in immediately, so traders should get ready to adjust their budgets.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
New per‑port and set connection fees
The Exchange adopted new monthly fees for Unitized Logical Ports: BOE Unitized Logical Ports $350/port/month; Bulk Unitized Logical Ports $550/port/month; Purge Unitized Logical Ports $400/port/month. Unitized Logical Port Sets are tiered: BOE sets $2,500/month for 1st–2nd set, $3,000/month for 3rd–14th, $3,500/month for 15th–30th (Bulk and Purge sets follow similar $5,500/$6,000/$6,500 and $2,500/$3,000/$3,500 tiers respectively). Monthly fees are charged in full and are not prorated.
New ADO and ADQ volume fee tiers
The Exchange adopted Average Daily Order (ADO) and Average Daily Quote (ADQ) fees. Members get up to 2,000,000 ADO and up to 250,000,000 ADQ per trading day per month free; above those thresholds incremental fees apply per unit: ADO charged per 1,000 increments at $0.00 (Tier 1), $1.00 (Tier 2 >2,000,000), $1.50 (Tier 3 >2,500,000), $2.00 (Tier 4 >3,000,000), $2.50 (Tier 5 >3,500,000). ADQ charged per 20,000 increments at $0.00 (Tier 1), $0.05 (Tier 2 >250,000,000), $0.075 (Tier 3 >500,000,000), $0.10 (Tier 4 >1,000,000,000), $0.20 (Tier 5 >3,500,000,000). The filing includes an example where 510,000,000 ADQ results in $662.50 in ADQ fees for that month.
Affiliate activity aggregated for fees
A Member's ADO and ADQ will be aggregated with any affiliated Member that shares at least 75% common ownership when measuring thresholds and applying fees. This prevents members from avoiding fees by routing activity through affiliates.
Higher per‑firm port limit (20 → 30)
The Exchange increased the maximum number of Unitized Logical Ports allowed per Member, per Matching Unit, per port type from 20 to 30. A Member may combine individual ports and port sets up to 30 Unitized Logical Ports on a single Matching Unit.
Unitized ports optional; legacy ports unchanged
Use of Unitized Logical Ports is voluntary. Members can continue to use existing (preexisting) Logical Ports, Bulk Ports, and Purge Ports at their current rates; approximately 73% of current ports in use remain preexisting ports. Members can choose whether Unitized Logical Ports provide enough value to pay the new fees.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20466, Adviser and Regulated Fund Custody Rules; Crypto Custody Rules
The SEC is updating rules for how investment advisers and funds handle crypto assets, making sure they keep these digital investments safe and properly reported. These changes affect advisers, funds, and anyone managing crypto securities, aiming to modernize rules and improve transparency. Comments on the proposal are open until December 7, 2026, so get ready to weigh in!
2026-19260, Rescission of Rule 14a-8's Federal Regulation of Shareholder Proposals and Amendments to Rule 14a-4
The SEC wants to stop its federal rule that controls how shareholders can make proposals at company meetings, letting state laws and company rules take over instead. They’re also changing rules so companies can sometimes vote on proposals not in their official materials—but shareholders can opt out if they want. This affects investors and companies, with comments open until November 20, 2026, and could shake up how shareholder voices are heard and counted.
2026-18424, Political Contributions by Certain Investment Advisers
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission" or the "SEC") is proposing to rescind the political contribution rule under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"), which prohibits investment advisers from providing investment advisory services for compensation to a government client for two years after an adviser or any covered associate of the adviser makes a contribution to certain categories of elected officials or candidates, among other prohibitions. In the more than fifteen years since the rule was adopted, implementation challenges associated with the political contribution rule have resulted in a range of significant unintended consequences, including compliance practices among some investment advisers that may have had the effect of restricting all political contributions by the investment advisers and their employees. Market participants also have stated that the political contribution rule is burdensome, complex, and both lacks clarity and creates a de facto strict liability standard. The Commission is of the view that other existing requirements of the Advisers Act and its associated rules, including prohibitions on fraud, fiduciary duty requirements, the compliance rule, and the code of ethics rule (defined below), are likely sufficient to address pay-to-play practices while allowing an adviser the flexibility to implement an approach that is more appropriately tailored to its particular risks, rendering the political contribution rule unnecessary. The Commission also is proposing to amend the rule under the Advisers Act pertaining to books and records consistent with the proposed rescission.
2026-18190, Transfer Agent Rules
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC" or "Commission") is proposing to adopt new rules, amend existing rules, amend the existing form for registration with the Commission as a transfer agent (Form TA-1) and the existing form for reporting activities of transfer agents (Form TA-2), and rescind an existing rule governing registered transfer agents. The proposals are designed to modernize the rules governing registered transfer agents.
2026-17183, Regulation Crypto Assets
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is proposing new rules to create a tailored offering regime for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets. The proposed offering regime is intended to facilitate capital formation and accommodate innovation within the crypto asset markets while, at the same time, ensuring that investors are adequately protected and provided with the information they need to make informed investment decisions. The proposed rules would be set forth in a new regulation titled "Regulation Crypto Assets" and would include two exemptions from the registration requirements of section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933. The first exemption would permit offerings of up to $5 million during a four-year period. The second exemption would permit offerings of up to $75 million during each 12-month period. Under both exemptions, issuers would be required to make certain principles-based narrative disclosures available to their investors. In addition, issuers under the second exemption would be required to provide financial statements and would be subject to ongoing reporting requirements. Issuers that rely on these exemptions would remain subject to the antifraud and antimanipulation provisions of the Federal securities laws. The proposed rules also would include a conditional safe harbor from the term "investment contract" in the definitions of "security" in the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If the conditions of that proposed safe harbor are satisfied, then a crypto asset would be deemed not to be subject to an investment contract for purposes of those definitions of "security."
2026-12163, The Trade-Through Rule and Locked and Crossed Markets Provisions of Regulation NMS
The SEC wants to scrap some old rules that stop stocks from being traded at worse prices and prevent confusing market quotes. This change affects stock traders and exchanges, aiming to simplify trading and possibly speed things up. If you want to share your thoughts, you’ve got until August 17, 2026, so don’t miss out!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-06337, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting
The Center for Scientific Review is holding a closed virtual meeting on May 28, 2025, to review important grant applications related to respiratory, cardiac, and circulatory sciences. This meeting is private to protect sensitive information and personal privacy. Researchers and grant applicants in these fields should note this date as it impacts funding decisions.
Next: 2025-06340, Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
The FCC is checking in on its paperwork for a cybersecurity program that helps schools and libraries stay safe online. They want to make sure the forms are useful, clear, and not too much work—especially for small groups with fewer than 25 employees. If you’re involved, you’ve got until June 16, 2025, to share your thoughts and help shape the process!