An electronic trading system is configured to trade credit default swap (CDS) futures contracts on an open exchange. The CDS futures contract allows the buyer and seller isolate and trade the credit risk of a third party. The third pay may be a corporation, sovereign government, or any entity that issues bonds or notes. The CDS futures contract seller effectively pays the premium over time in increments determined by market rates and through the natural operation of the open market. The CDS futures contract buyer makes a contingency payment if the CDS futures contract goes in-the-money (ITM). Both sides of the contract are guaranteed by the exchange as a counterparty.