Last Updated: January 2025

Market Structure & Order Execution

U.S. equity market structure has evolved over decades to create an environment that is unparalleled for retail investors today in terms of their ability to access the stock market at very low cost. Robinhood believes that policymakers and regulators should work with market participants to preserve these benefits for all Americans, not just the wealthy few.

Key points

Key Points:

  • Retail investors have more access to U.S. capital markets than ever before, which has long been a bipartisan policy priority.

  • Robinhood pioneered commission-free, no-account-minimum investing, and continues to offer commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, and their options, while charging competitive fees for index options and futures.

What we’ve seen

Retail investors in the U.S. today have unprecedented access to capital markets, benefiting from low costs and innovative tools that enhance their investing and trading experience. This vibrant retail participation plays a crucial role in the depth and liquidity of U.S. capital markets, which are the most robust in the world.

What we’re doing

Robinhood pioneered commission-free, no-minimum investing in the U.S., reshaping the industry. According to a study commissioned by Robinhood, this shift saved investors over $17 billion in 2020 and 2021 alone, while also bringing over $8 billion in price improvement relative to the National Best Bid and Offer (NBBO) for our customers. Our model has dramatically lowered the costs of investing, welcoming millions of new investors into the market at a historically low price point. As market dynamics evolve, we remain focused on advocating for policies that prioritize investor protection, innovation, and accessibility. We work closely with policymakers to ensure that any new regulations enhance transparency and fairness without imposing unnecessary costs and burdens on retail investors.

Robinhood’s position

Robinhood envisions a market environment that remains open, competitive, and inclusive for all investors. We support regulatory changes that are grounded in data, carefully calibrated, and designed to enhance market efficiency and investor outcomes. We encourage the SEC to take a long-term, holistic, and collaborative approach to market structure—leveraging insights from market participants and considering the long-term impacts on retail investors. Robinhood is committed to being an active voice in these discussions, championing the interests of millions of Americans who rely on accessible, affordable investing opportunities.

4152856

Share this policy:

Resources

Robinhood’s Execution Quality

Robinhood’s Execution Quality; Quality by the Numbers
Robinhood Investing Basics; Stock, ETF, and Options Order Routing

Regulatory Developments

Matt Billings, President, Robinhood Financial, LLC and Robinhood Securities, LLC; File Number 4-862, SEC Roundtable on Trade-Through Prohibitions
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; June 2024SEC Adopts Amendments to Enhance Disclosure of Order Execution Information
Steve Quirk, Chief Brokerage Officer, Robinhood Markets, Inc; March 2023File No. S7-32-22: Regulation Best Execution
Steve Quirk, Chief Brokerage Officer, Robinhood Markets, Inc; March 2023File No. S7-31-22: Order Competition Rule
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; January 2023Disclosure of Order Execution Information (S7-29-22)
John S. Markle, VP and Deputy General Counsel, Product and Regulatory, Robinhood Markets, Inc; August 2022Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filin
John S. Markle, VP and Deputy General Counsel, Product and Regulatory, Robinhood Markets, Inc; August 2022Self-Regulatory Organizations; National Securities Clearing Corporation; Notice of Filing

Research and Analysis on Retail Trading Costs

Thomas K. Brown, Travis L. Johnson, S.P. Kothari, Eric C. So, SSRN; June 2024Anatomy of Trading Costs for Retail Investors: Savings from Off-Exchange Execution
Shane Swanson, Coalition Greenwich; February 2020The Impact of Zero Commissions on Retail Trading and Execution
James Angel, Lawrence Harris, Chester S. Spatt, SSRN; May 2010Equity Trading in the 21st Century

Robinhood’s Perspective on Market Structure

How Market Making Works with Doug Cifu; May 2021How Market Making Works with Doug Cifu
Jim Swartwout, Medium; March 2021The Life of a Trade
Robinhood Blog; March 2021Demystifying Payment for Order Flow
Robinhood Blog; February 2021It’s Time for Real-Time Settlement

The Rise of Retail Trading

Jennifer J. Schulp, CATO Institute; January 2021GameStop and the Rise of Retail Trading

All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.

Commission-free trading of stocks, ETFs, and their options are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (“RHF”), a registered broker dealer (member SIPC). Other fees may apply. See RHF's Fee Schedule. Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. See the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement. IPOs can be risky and speculative investments and may not be appropriate for every investor. Clearing services are offered through Robinhood Securities, LLC (“RHS”), a registered broker dealer (member SIPC).

Futures, options on futures and cleared swaps trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC ("RHD"), a registered futures commission merchant with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Member of National Futures Association (NFA). Futures, options on futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it's appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Please read the Futures Risk Disclosure Statement prior to trading futures products, and please read the Forecast Contract Risk Disclosure for more information about the risks associated with forecast event contracts. RHD accounts are not protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and are not Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured. RHD is not a bank. Prior to trading virtual currency Futures products, please review the NFA Investor Advisory & CFTC Advisory providing more information on these potentially significant risks.

Cryptocurrency services are offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (“RHC”) (NMLS ID: 1702840).

The Robinhood Money spending account is offered through Robinhood Money, LLC (“RHY”) (NMLS ID: 1990968), a licensed money transmitter. Robinhood Gold Card is subject to credit approval and underwriting. Robinhood Gold Card is offered by Robinhood Credit, Inc. and is issued by Coastal Community Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Robinhood Credit, Inc. ("RCT"), is a financial technology company, not a bank.

RHF, RHS, RHD, RHC, RHY, and RCT are affiliated entities and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc.

RO 4180815

Robinhood, 85 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. © 2025 Robinhood. All rights reserved.
Follow us on

All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.

Commission-free trading of stocks, ETFs, and their options are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (“RHF”), a registered broker dealer (member SIPC). Other fees may apply. See RHF's Fee Schedule. Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. See the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement. IPOs can be risky and speculative investments and may not be appropriate for every investor. Clearing services are offered through Robinhood Securities, LLC (“RHS”), a registered broker dealer (member SIPC).

Futures, options on futures and cleared swaps trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC ("RHD"), a registered futures commission merchant with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Member of National Futures Association (NFA). Futures, options on futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it's appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Please read the Futures Risk Disclosure Statement prior to trading futures products, and please read the Forecast Contract Risk Disclosure for more information about the risks associated with forecast event contracts. RHD accounts are not protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and are not Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured. RHD is not a bank. Prior to trading virtual currency Futures products, please review the NFA Investor Advisory & CFTC Advisory providing more information on these potentially significant risks.

Cryptocurrency services are offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (“RHC”) (NMLS ID: 1702840).

The Robinhood Money spending account is offered through Robinhood Money, LLC (“RHY”) (NMLS ID: 1990968), a licensed money transmitter. Robinhood Gold Card is subject to credit approval and underwriting. Robinhood Gold Card is offered by Robinhood Credit, Inc. and is issued by Coastal Community Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Robinhood Credit, Inc. ("RCT"), is a financial technology company, not a bank.

RHF, RHS, RHD, RHC, RHY, and RCT are affiliated entities and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc.

RO 4180815

Robinhood, 85 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. © 2025 Robinhood. All rights reserved.