EA Trading
Automated trading using scripts or bots — 'Expert Advisors' in MetaTrader terminology — that place and manage trades without manual input.
Definition
EA trading (short for 'Expert Advisor' — the term MetaTrader uses for trading bots) is any form of automated trading where a script or bot executes trades on the trader's behalf. EAs range from simple entry automation (a bot that places a pre-calculated position when price hits a trigger) to fully autonomous systems that manage position sizing, stops, and exits with no human intervention. On MetaTrader 4 and 5, EAs are written in MQL4/MQL5 and attached to a chart; on other platforms the equivalent exists under different names (cBot on cTrader, algorithms on NinjaTrader).
Example
Why It Matters
EAs are banned or restricted on many prop firm accounts because they expose firms to two specific risks: high-frequency strategies that exploit broker-specific latency, and copied bots that create correlated blowups across many accounts at once. Some firms allow EAs but ban specific types (arbitrage, HFT, grid strategies); others ban EAs only during evaluation and permit them on funded accounts. Check the exact wording — 'EA allowed' often comes with heavy restrictions on strategy type.