Navigating the World of HFT Prop Firms: A Trader’s Journey (2024)

In the fast-paced arena of High-Frequency Trading (HFT), choosing the right proprietary (prop) firm can be as crucial as your trading strategy itself. Having navigated the choppy waters of numerous HFT companies, I’ve encountered everything from exemplary support and fast payouts to challenging restrictions and outright disappointments. Here’s my candid take on several HFT prop firms, based on my personal journey, to guide fellow traders in making informed decisions.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you decide to sign up through my links, at no additional cost to you. This supports my blog and allows me to continue sharing my experiences. Thank you for your support!

Top Picks: Firms That Stand Out

Fast Forex Funding: A Trader’s Delight

Why It’s My Favorite: Fast Forex Funding has consistently been a beacon of reliability. Here’s why they stand out:

  • Rapid Payments: They’ve never failed to pay out, ensuring a smooth and prompt payment process.
  • Efficient Onboarding: The process to receive account credentials is swift, meaning less downtime and more trading.
  • Robust Support: Their support team is responsive and helpful, addressing queries and concerns effectively.
  • Flexible Trading Conditions: They allow news trading and weekend holding, coupled with competitive spreads, making them a top choice for dynamic traders.
  • Please usepromo code fundedtoday for the maximum discount available
  • Affiliate link:https://bit.ly/49xPI1R

Kortana F Newcomers to Watch X: A Close Second

What Works:

  • Reliable Payouts: I’ve received multiple payouts from Kortana FX, attesting to their reliability.
  • Instant Access: The instant funding and quick credential process mean you can start trading without delay.
  • Supportive Staff: Their support team is on the ball, ready to assist when needed.
  • IP Concerns: Recently, there have been some IP-related challenges. A dedicated VPN for trading devices is a must. I recommend NordVPN as a solid choice. Note that news trading and weekend holding aren’t permitted here.
  • Affiliate link:https://bit.ly/49js74D

Nova Funding: The Known Name with a Twist

Positives:

  • Dependable Payouts: Nova Funding lives up to its reputation by ensuring traders get paid, although the process can be slow.
  • Flexible Trading Options: They support news trading and weekend holding, albeit with prior approval, offering a good degree of flexibility. Area for Improvement:
  • Slower Payment Process: Payments are reliable but could be expedited for a better trader experience.

Firms with Challenges: A Cautionary Note

Quantec Trading Capital

  • Past Successes, Present Hurdles: Although I’ve received payouts before, recent interactions have been marred by numerous rejections for seemingly arbitrary reasons, such as “replicated trading style.”
  • Affiliate link:https://bit.ly/3wnosEv

Infinity Forex Funds

  • Rejection Woes: My payout requests were rejected due to the “replicated trading style” reason, leaving much to be desired in terms of reliability and transparency.
  • Affiliate link:https://bit.ly/4asoHga

Other Notable Mentions

Next Step Funded

An additional firm I’m exploring. Early days yet, but they offer an interesting proposition for traders seeking funding and growth opportunities.

Msolutionff

No comments.

Social Trading Club

No comments.

Newcomers to Watch

Only Funds

A new entry in the HFT prop firm space. As it’s still early days, I’m keeping an eye on their development and offerings.

Tradicave

Another newcomer worth monitoring. Their approach and terms could provide interesting opportunities for traders looking to partner with innovative funding firms.

Strictly Not Recommended: The Talented Trader

In my journey through the landscape of HFT prop firms, it’s crucial to share not just the highs but also the lows. Unfortunately, not all experiences lead to endorsem*nts. One such experience compels me to advise against engaging with The Talented Trader.

Reasons for Not Recommending The Talented Trader:

  • Unprofessional Delays: Significant delays in receiving account credentials have marred the start-up process.
  • Dashboard Dysfunction: The platform’s dashboard frequently fails to operate correctly, complicating trading activities.
  • Brokerage Troubles: Integration with new brokers has been fraught with issues, affecting trading efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Failed Payout Approvals: The firm has demonstrated a concerning inability to follow through on approved payouts, undermining trust and reliability.
  • Ineffective Support Team: When confronted with these issues, their support team has consistently been unhelpful, failing to address or resolve problems in a timely manner.

The right prop firm can be a gateway to trading success, offering support, technology, and opportunities that align with your trading strategy. However, based on my experience, The Talented Trader falls significantly short of these expectations. The challenges presented by unprofessional delays, technical dysfunctions, brokerage issues, payout failures, and lackluster support have led me to strongly advise against partnering with them.

Wrapping Up: A Trader’s Perspective

The spectrum of experiences with HFT prop firms can serve as a valuable guide for traders at all levels. From the reliable and supportive environments of my top picks to the cautionary tales of those firms that fail to meet basic standards, each interaction offers lessons and insights.

As traders, our journey is as much about navigating these partnerships as it is about mastering the markets. The importance of due diligence, the value of a supportive and efficient partner, and the need for adaptability are ever-present reminders in our quest for trading success.

I hope this guide helps you make informed decisions on your trading journey. Remember, the right partnership can make all the difference.

Happy Trading, and choose your partners wisely!

Navigating the World of HFT Prop Firms: A Trader’s Journey (2024)

FAQs

How do you pass prop firm evaluations? ›

One of the most crucial aspects of passing a prop firm challenge is having a well-defined trading strategy. A trading strategy is a set of rules that guide your decision-making process in the market. It includes entry and exit criteria, risk management rules, and trade management techniques.

Do prop firms allow HFT trading? ›

Which prop firms allow high-frequency trading? FunderPro, OspreyFX, True Forex Funds are some of the best options for traders who want to use HFT and quantitative trading.

What percent of traders pass prop firms? ›

The FTMO challenge has a reputation for being extremely difficult to pass. Across FTMO's various account levels, it is estimated that only around 10% of traders are able to successfully complete the evaluation and become a funded trader. This means approximately 90% of those who attempt the challenge end up failing.

How hard is it to pass prop firm? ›

With the Prop Firm challenges, it's not just about failing or winning. You must be profitable and fulfill certain trading objectives which makes it even harder. Less than 1% of traders who attempt the challenge pass and get funded.

What is the best prop firm strategy? ›

Some common proprietary trading techniques include statistical arbitrage, high-frequency trading, trend following, and market making. Proprietary traders, or prop traders, employ an array of strategies to capture profits from the markets.

Which prop firm has no time limit? ›

A no time limit prop firm is a proprietary trading firm that does not impose any restrictions on how long a trader can trade during their evaluation process.

What is the highest paid HFT firm? ›

Ansatz is one of the many very niche HFT firms. On forum sites like Blind, it has a reputation for being secretive, with quants and engineers clamoring to know more. There are many firms like this in the space but Ansatz is known to be one of the best paying.

Is HFT trading illegal? ›

Finally, HFT has been linked to increased market volatility and even market crashes. Regulators have caught some high-frequency traders engaging in illegal market manipulations such as spoofing and layering.

What do HFT firms look for? ›

Advanced quantitative abilities: Most HFT firms look for candidates with a deep background in mathematics, statistics, physics, computer science, or engineering. Programming experience: Skills in programming languages, including the latest in AI and LLM, aren't a must, but they soon will be.

What is the failure rate for FTMO? ›

There is estimated to be a 90% fail rate of traders that take the FTMO challenge. The reason behind this is due to traders chasing the profit target with a time restriction in place. A trader doesnt know when a winning streak might occur, or when they may take a string of drawdowns.

What is the failure rate of prop traders? ›

According to it, 4% of traders, on average, pass prop firm challenges. But only 1% of traders kept their funded accounts for a reasonable amount of time. While this result is not nearly as bad as the one discussed earlier, it still looks bleak for prospective prop traders. But why is the percentage of failure so high?

What is the failure rate of the prop firm challenge? ›

Understanding the Prop Firm Challenge

At its core, the prop firm challenge can be a way for prop firms to make money from failed challenges. This is because some sources have the failure rate of prop trading challenges at 90%. So for every 10 traders that buy a challenge, 9 will fail.

Can you live off prop firms? ›

Yes, as a funded trader with True Forex Funds, it is possible to make a living from prop trading firms. Proprietary trading firms, or prop firms, often provide traders with the opportunity to trade with the firm's capital, allowing them to access larger trading positions and potentially increase their profits.

Why do people fail prop firms? ›

Traders often fail in prop trading firms such as True Forex funds for various reasons: Lack of Experience: Some traders enter prop trading without sufficient market knowledge or trading experience. Inadequate Risk Management: Failure to implement effective risk management strategies can lead to significant losses.

How does prop firm evaluation work? ›

Most prop firms implement a structured evaluation process designed to assess a trader's aptitude and potential. This process often includes a demo trading phase where prospective traders showcase their skill in a simulated environment.

How do you pass the funded challenge? ›

The five steps towards funded account challenge success
  1. Ensure your own readiness. ...
  2. Purposely adapt your trading strategy. ...
  3. Researching and signing up. ...
  4. Set up your trading environment and polish off your strategy. ...
  5. Start trading and stick to the rules.

How long does it take to pass prop firm challenge? ›

In Summary – How Long Does It Take To Become A Funded Trader? In conclusion, it can take around 4-5 months to pass a prop firm trading challenge and become a funded trader. However, it can take much longer than that to become a profitable trader beforehand – which is a necessity.

How do you pass the Funded Next Challenge? ›

Traders are required to complete several trading objectives to pass the funding challenge for example, maintaining the drawdown limit, completing the profit target etc. If one of them is violated during the assessment, trader cannot proceed further and they lose their account.

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