ECP

Eligible Contract Participant. An entity, such as a financial institution, broker dealer, insurance company, investment company, or commodity pool, that is classified as an ECP in the CEA based on its regulated status, or a corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, trust, or other entity that is classified as an ECP based on its assets (e.g., total assets exceeding $10 million or net worth exceeding $1 million and uses derivatives for hedging purposes). ECPs also include individuals who invest certain amounts on a discretionary basis. This classification permits these entities and individuals to engage in specific transactions (such as trading on a SEF or entering into a bilateral over-the-counter swap trade) not directly available to non-ECPs (i.e., retail customers).