The Role of Real-Time Market Data Feeds When Building Smarter Trading Platforms

If you're building a trading platform—whether it's for retail investors, professional traders, or institutions—one thing is non-negotiable: real-time market data. It fuels everything from live price updates and charting tools to algorithmic trading and risk management. But getting the right market data feed? That’s where things get complicated.

In this article, we’ll walk you through:

• Why real-time market data is critical for trading platforms.
• The different types of real-time data feeds and how they work.
• The biggest challenges in integrating these feeds.
• How to scale your trading platform efficiently.
• And how Intrinio’s APIs help you build a smarter, data-driven trading platform.

Essential Features That Every Trading App Needs

In fintech, speed is everything. Whether you’re building a stock trading app, an options trading platform, or an AI-driven hedge fund tool, delayed data won’t cut it.

• Traders need real-time quotes to make informed decisions
  
  
• Charting and analytics tools rely on tick-by-tick updates
  
  
• Algorithmic and HFT strategies execute trades in milliseconds
  
  
• Portfolio management platforms need up-to-the-second accuracy

Without high-quality real-time data, trading platforms lose their competitive edge—and users go elsewhere. That’s why integrating the right data feed from the start is crucial.

Types of Feeds that Trading Apps Should Offer

Not all market data feeds are created equal. Depending on your use case, you’ll need to choose the right type of feed.

Level 1 Market Data

Best for retail trading platforms & investment apps. It includes:

• Bid & ask prices
• Last traded price
• Volume & day’s range

 Level 2 (Order Book) Data

Essential for advanced traders & algorithmic trading. It provides:

• Full depth of market (DOM)
• Market maker and order flow data
• This data is only sold by a handful of firms and is VERY expensive

Tick-by-Tick vs. Aggregated Feeds

High-frequency traders need every single trade, while others can use second-based updates to reduce data load.

Options & Derivatives Data

For platforms supporting complex strategies, Greeks, IV, and chain data are critical.

Understanding which data feed matches your platform's needs will save you time, money, and headaches as you scale.

Common Challenges Fintech Developers Face Running Real-Time Data

So, why isn’t every trading platform running on real-time data? Because integrating it isn’t easy. Here are the biggest challenges fintech developers face:

Latency & Performance Issues 

Even a few milliseconds of delay can lead to slippage and missed trading opportunities.

Data Costs & Licensing Restrictions 

Many providers charge per user, per API call, or per exchange, making it hard to scale affordably.

Infrastructure & Scaling Problems 

As your user base grows, so do your data demands. If your provider can’t handle it, your platform suffers.

Compliance & Exchange Regulations 

Each exchange has different rules for distributing real-time data, and violating them can shut your platform down.

Building a trading platform that can scale means choosing the right provider from day one.

Running Real-Time Data on a Trading Platform

So, how do you build a trading platform that runs on high-quality real-time data and can scale as you grow?

Here are four key best practices:

Use a Low-Latency API 

Choose a provider that delivers millisecond-fast data with WebSocket streaming support.

Optimize Your Data Costs 

Some vendors charge based on users or call volume. Look for predictable pricing that fits your growth strategy.

Plan for Scaling Early 

Make sure your API provider can handle spikes in traffic and offers multiple exchange feeds as you expand.

Ensure Regulatory Compliance

Work with a provider that handles licensing properly so you don’t run into legal issues down the line.

At Intrinio, we’ve built real-time market data APIs with these challenges in mind.

Run Real-Time Market Data Feeds with Intrinio

At Intrinio, we provide real-time market data feeds optimized for fintech developers and trading platforms.

• Low-Latency WebSocket & REST APIs – Instant access to real-time stock, options, and ETF data
  
  
• Scalable & Affordable Pricing – Predictable costs, no hidden fees
  
  
• Easy Integration – Clear documentation, SDKs, and developer-friendly tools
  
  
• Exchange-Compliant Licensing – We handle the complex legal side so you can focus on building

Whether you’re launching a new trading app or upgrading your platform, we’ve got the data you need—without the traditional headaches.

Ready to integrate real-time market data into your trading platform? Here’s how to get started:

• Step 1: Visit our website to explore our market data feeds.
  
  
• Step 2: Sign up for a free trial and test our APIs.
  
  
• Step 3: Connect with our team to discuss the right licensing for your platform.
  
  
• Step 4: Launch and scale with fast, reliable, and compliant market data.
  
  

If you’re serious about building a smarter trading platform, you need fast, reliable, and scalable market data. Try Intrinio’s real-time market data feeds for free and see how easy it is to integrate.