Quote from lionline:
no, when you become an HFT firm on NYSE you get special HFT Exempt Status.
This one is a step higher then the NYSE specialist.
NYSE pays you for every share traded, so do the clearing firms.
SEC provides a rebate of 1/2 of the SEC fees that it collects from other firms that are contra's to your trade.
The IRS also provides a 40% rebate back on the dividend tax it collects from the issuers that the HFT has traded.
Clearing firms pay an HFT firm a "pre-clearing fee" Basically, the new NYSE rule requires all clearing firms to "pre-clear" with HFTs.