ECN or Futures

At a point in every trader's career, one must think about upgrading from retail spot fx to something more professional, such as ECN's or Futures. At this point, I am there.

At this point, I can't decide in opening an account with a Futures Fx broker or ECN Fx broker. The ECN broker I have in mind is Interactive Brokers and the Futures broker's Im looking at are: Interactive Brokers, GFT Futures, or Tradstation

Currently Im with GFT (spot) and planning on staying with them as my Fx Spot broker. I have no ploblems with them. Though, I am planning on introducing my strategy which involves long term and short term trading but I worry about the short term, being, most retail brokers may place you on manual execution if done often. Im looking to trade short term with 10 lots or more and I feel most brokers or ok with it up to 3-5 lots I believe. So, that's where the idea for opening an ECN came. Then I thought ... why not just open a Futures account. At this moment, I can't decide.

Question is, Im new to Futures and ECN's, should I look to open an account with a professiona spot fx broker such as Interactive Brokers or should I open a Futures account with GFT, Tradestation, or Interactive Brokers. I have $10,000 minimum to open an account. Also, what are the benefits to both, Futures and ECN?

lower end prime brokerages start at usd 75-100k.
i would suggest pfg (peregrine) new york, not chicago or hotspot institutional.

with interactive brokers you also can trade futures. spread is nice but u have to pay a small commission for each tade.

as futures broker i strongly recommend infinityfutures.

Thanks Dr G,
I like what Infinity has to offer ... so I shot them an email asking basic account opening questions. Can't wait to hear back from them.

As for PFG, https://www.pfgforex.com/default.aspx, I hope this is the same PFG Best you are referring to. I'm a little lost on what they have to offer. Are they a ECN broker ... I notice a lot of the popular fx spot platforms offered (except for Currenex - I do know Currenex is used by many ECN's), but Metatrader as an ECN platform? And what the difference between the NY and Chicago Dealing Desk?

With IB you wont trade 10 lots (or 8 futures contracts) with a 10K account - you wouldn't have enough margin to open such a position. With $100 a pip you would be down 10% already with a 10 pip fluctuation, insane in my opinion.

if you are talking in terms of standard lots, your strategy is ridiculous. I dont care even if god is feeding you insider information. 10 lots or even 3-5 lots is crazy. But futures > spot any time. CME fx futures have bust ranges.
if the no bust range is say 20 pips, say you get filled 21 pips away, they'll void your trade. so, you wont get wiped out cuz of slippage.