Prop Trading Industry Data
Data, trends and insights on the global proprietary trading industry.
The IFTC monitors the development of the proprietary trading industry to provide traders and market participants with a clearer understanding of its evolution, structure and practices.
Every figure on this page carries one of these four labels. Where reliable information does not exist, no number is published.
Industry at a Glance
Key indicators of the global evaluation-based prop trading industry, each labelled by data type and source.
Source: Third-party industry research, 2026 — estimate, not an official IFTC figure.
Source: Third-party industry research, 2026 — historical baseline estimate.
Source: Public 2026 prop-firm comparison dataset (n = 64). Sample, not the whole industry.
Source: Same 2026 dataset, firms publishing a profit split (n = 64).
Source: IFTC public register, updated continuously.
Source: No authoritative industry-wide payout dataset currently exists.
The Rise of Modern Prop Trading
An overview of how the evaluation-based online prop trading model developed.
Industry Growth
Estimated Growth of Funded Trader Participation
Third-party industry estimateThird-party industry estimates — not official IFTC statistics.
Source: third-party industry research, 2026 — approximately 32,000 funded traders/accounts in 2020, 565,000 in 2025 and 720,000 in 2026. Only years with available estimates are plotted; intermediate years are not interpolated.
Trading Platforms Used by Prop Firms
The technology landscape has changed significantly in recent years. Platform-access changes affecting certain prop-firm models pushed many firms to diversify their infrastructure, and CFD/Forex and futures firms now rely on largely separate technology stacks.
MetaTrader 4
CFD / ForexLong-standing retail trading terminal with a large ecosystem of expert advisors and indicators. Its use by prop firms narrowed after platform-access changes affecting certain prop-firm models.
- Typical use:
- Legacy forex and CFD evaluation accounts
- Availability:
- Still supported by part of the industry
MetaTrader 5
CFD / Forex / multi-assetSuccessor to MT4 with multi-asset support, deeper order types and integrated reporting. It remains the most widely offered platform among the firms covered by the 2026 dataset.
- Typical use:
- Mainstream evaluation and funded accounts
- Availability:
- Most supported platform in the 2026 sample (31 of 64 firms)
cTrader
CFD / ForexECN-oriented platform known for depth-of-market data, granular order handling and an open API for automated strategies.
- Typical use:
- Firms prioritising execution transparency
- Availability:
- Widely offered as an alternative to MetaTrader
DXtrade
CFD / ForexBroker and prop-firm oriented technology stack offering configurable risk rules and branded environments.
- Typical use:
- White-label prop-firm deployments
- Availability:
- Common among firms that migrated after 2024
Match-Trader
CFD / ForexPlatform bundled with prop-firm tooling such as challenge management, dashboards and rule enforcement.
- Typical use:
- Integrated prop-firm and broker infrastructure
- Availability:
- Frequently offered by mid-sized firms
TradeLocker
CFD / ForexBrowser-based trading interface designed around prop-firm workflows and rapid onboarding.
- Typical use:
- Web-first evaluation accounts
- Availability:
- Growing adoption among newer firms
Rithmic
Futures infrastructureExecution and data infrastructure connected to front-ends used by futures prop firms rather than a retail terminal itself.
- Typical use:
- Order routing and market data for futures accounts
- Availability:
- Standard among futures-oriented firms
Tradovate
FuturesCloud-based futures platform with web, desktop and mobile access, widely paired with futures evaluation programmes.
- Typical use:
- Futures evaluation and funded accounts
- Availability:
- Common among US futures firms
NinjaTrader
FuturesDesktop platform popular for futures charting, strategy development and automated execution.
- Typical use:
- Charting, automation and futures execution
- Availability:
- Frequently supported by futures firms
Proprietary platforms
In-houseInternally developed terminals and dashboards that give firms direct control over risk rules, reporting and platform dependencies.
- Typical use:
- Firm-controlled trading environments
- Availability:
- A minority of firms, increasing since 2024
Sources: official platform documentation and public product pages; availability indications based on the public 2026 prop-firm dataset (n = 64).
Platform Adoption
Most Supported Trading Platforms Among Prop Firms
Publicly verified dataBased on a sample of 64 prop firms — 2026.
Source: public 2026 prop-firm comparison dataset covering 64 firms. MT5 is the most-supported platform in this sample, appearing at 31 of 64 firms. These figures describe the sample only and do not represent the entire global industry.
How the Modern Evaluation-Based Prop Firm Model Works
- 1Step 1
Trader
- 2Step 2
Purchases an evaluation
- 3Step 3
Trades under predefined risk rules
- 4Step 4
Passes evaluation requirements
- 5Step 5
Receives a funded / simulated funded account depending on firm model
- 6Step 6
Generates eligible trading profits
- 7Step 7
Receives a share of eligible profits according to the firm's payout rules
Important note — Prop firm business models vary significantly. A “funded account” does not necessarily mean that the trader is directly trading company capital on a live financial market. Some firms operate partially or entirely through simulated trading environments.
Prop Firm Industry Benchmarks — 2026
Benchmarks derived from published firm conditions. Each figure states its sample size; none represents the entire industry.
| Benchmark | Value | Source & sample |
|---|---|---|
| Median $100K challenge fee | ≈ $323 | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — 2026 dataset, n = 64 firms |
| Average published profit split | ≈ 79% | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — 2026 dataset, n = 64 firms |
| Firms publishing an 80–89% profit split | 53% | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — Of firms publishing a split, 2026 dataset (n = 64) |
| Firms supporting MetaTrader 5 | 31 of 64 | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — 2026 dataset, n = 64 firms |
| Firms allowing news trading | 42 of 64 | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — 2026 dataset, n = 64 firms |
| Firms allowing weekend holding | 23 of 64 | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — 2026 dataset, n = 64 firms |
| Typical Phase 1 profit target | 8–10% | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — Published rule sets of two-phase evaluations, 2026 |
| Typical Phase 2 profit target | 4–5% | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — Published rule sets of two-phase evaluations, 2026 |
| Typical maximum drawdown | 8–12% | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — Published rule sets, 2026 |
| Typical payout frequency | Bi-weekly to monthly | Public 2026 prop-firm dataset — Published payout policies, 2026 |
Source: public 2026 prop-firm comparison dataset (n = 64) and published firm rule sets. Figures should be re-verified against the source before being relied upon.
From Challenge to Payout
Reliable industry-wide data on evaluation outcomes is limited. The IFTC publishes only what can be sourced, and labels the rest as unavailable.
Public data suggests that only a minority of traders purchasing prop firm evaluations ultimately reach the payout stage.
Source: publicly discussed technology-provider and firm disclosures. Directional indication only — no audited industry-wide figure exists.
Evaluation pass rates across the industry. No consolidated, verifiable dataset is currently available to the IFTC.
Average payout relative to account size. Figures published by individual firms are not comparable across models and are not aggregated here.
Sample-based data. Results vary significantly between firms, account types and periods. These indications must never be read as universal probabilities of success.
Established Participants in the Modern Prop Trading Industry
Presented alphabetically. This is not a ranking, a recommendation or a commercial comparison. Only factual, publicly available information is shown.
Apex Trader Funding
IFTC Listed Member- Founded
- 2021
- Origin
- United States
- Segment
- Futures
- Platforms
- Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader
- Reported reach
- Not publicly disclosed in a verifiable form
- Reported payouts
- Company-reported payout milestones published periodically
Source: company-reported data published by the firm. Not independently audited by the IFTC.
Darwinex Zero
IFTC Listed Member- Founded
- 2012 (Darwinex group)
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Segment
- CFD / Forex / track-record allocation
- Platforms
- MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5
- Reported reach
- Not publicly disclosed in a verifiable form
- Reported payouts
- Not publicly disclosed in a verifiable form
Source: company-reported data published by the firm. Not independently audited by the IFTC.
FTMO
IFTC Listed Member- Founded
- 2015
- Origin
- Czech Republic
- Segment
- CFD / Forex
- Platforms
- MetaTrader, cTrader, DXtrade
- Reported reach
- 140+ countries; company reports 4.5M+ customers reached
- Reported payouts
- Company reports $650M+ in rewards paid
Source: company-reported data published by the firm. Not independently audited by the IFTC.
Topstep
IFTC Listed Member- Founded
- 2012
- Origin
- United States
- Segment
- Futures
- Platforms
- Rithmic, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TopstepX
- Reported reach
- Not publicly disclosed in a verifiable form
- Reported payouts
- Company-reported payout totals published periodically
Source: company-reported data published by the firm. Not independently audited by the IFTC.
New & Emerging Prop Firms
An IFTC-maintained database of firms that recently entered the industry. Entries are published only once the firm's existence and launch date can be independently verified.
| Firm | Founded / launched | Country | Market | Platforms | IFTC Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data collection in progress | — | — | — | — | Not Reviewed |
IFTC proprietary database. Firms are added as their existence and launch date are independently verified. “Not Reviewed” is a neutral status.
Industry Developments
Observable improvements in industry practice, based on published firm conditions and public information.
Faster payouts
Several firms have shortened published payout cycles and now document processing times openly.
More platform choice
Following the 2024 platform disruption, most firms offer more than one trading environment.
Greater competition
A larger number of firms competing on pricing, profit splits and conditions.
More transparent trading rules
Rule sets, drawdown calculations and consistency rules are increasingly published up front.
Better trader dashboards
Real-time risk metrics and objective tracking are now standard in most platforms.
Increased public scrutiny
Independent research, media coverage and trader communities examine firm practices more closely.
Operational credibility
More firms publish corporate identity, entity details and support structures.
More flexible evaluation models
One-phase, two-phase and instant-funding structures coexist, widening trader choice.
Key Industry Risks
Firm Closures
Prop firms can cease operations, sometimes rapidly.
Payout Risk
Passing an evaluation does not guarantee future payouts.
Rule Complexity
Trading conditions can differ substantially between firms.
Counterparty Risk
Traders depend on the operational and financial sustainability of the firm.
Platform Dependency
Changes involving trading technology providers can significantly affect prop firms.
Simulated vs Live Trading
Traders should understand whether their trading activity occurs in a simulated or live environment.
Regulatory Uncertainty
The legal treatment of evaluation-based prop trading varies between jurisdictions and continues to evolve.
Data & Methodology
The proprietary trading industry remains fragmented and does not currently have a single authoritative global database.
IFTC Industry Data combines publicly available corporate disclosures, independent industry research, platform information and IFTC proprietary observations.
Statistics may represent estimates or samples rather than the entire industry.
The IFTC aims to identify the nature and source of each important dataset so that readers can distinguish between independently verified information, company-reported figures and third-party estimates.
Last updated: 14 August 2026
Sources
The IFTC prioritises official company publications, official platform documentation, credible financial media and established industry datasets over affiliate marketing websites.
The IFTC is an independent private organisation and not a financial regulator. Nothing on this page constitutes a regulatory finding, investment advice or a recommendation to use any firm or platform.