
If you are confident in your trading skills, the lack of capital should not be the reason you are stuck on the sidelines. Especially not when crypto prop trading firms are there to put up the capital you need. These platforms fund your trades and let you keep a large share of the profits. The only catch is, you have to prove that you can manage risk and hit profit targets.
This comprehensive guide explores how crypto prop trading works and highlights the top platforms worth your attention. We'll dive deep into each platform's features, fee structures, and unique advantages to help you make an informed decision.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
➤ Crypto prop firms provide access to high capital, with minimal upfront costs, making professional trading accessible to skilled traders regardless of their personal capital.
➤ Most prop firms offer transparent profit splits, usually starting at 70–80% and scaling up as you perform, with some platforms offering up to 100% profit share for top performers.
➤ New platforms continue to enter the space with better solutions, such as faster payouts, flexible evaluations, and crypto-native features that cater specifically to cryptocurrency traders.
➤ Fee structures, profit targets, and risk rules vary significantly by firm. So, make sure that you thoroughly understand the terms, evaluation requirements, and scaling potential before signing up.
| Prop firm | Profit split | Max capital | Fees | Challenge steps | Payout speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fondeo | Up to 90% after scaling | $200K with additional scaling | $89 – $1399 one-time fee (refunded upon success) | 1-step challenge | Instant Payout |
| FTMO | 80% (up to 90% after scaling) | $200K initial (scale up to $2M) | €155–€1,080 (≈$170–$1,170) for 10K–200K challenges (refunded upon success) | 2-Step (10% then 5% profit targets) | On-demand (any time; processed within ~1–2 days) |
| FundedNext | Up to 95% | $200K initial (up to $4M with scaling) | $59–$999 (2-Step 6K–200K); $65–$1,099 (1-Step 6K–200K) | 1-Step (10% target) or 2-Step (8% then 5%) | First withdrawal after 21 days, then ~biweekly (payouts <24h) |
| BrightFunded | 80% (scaling to 100%) | $200K initial (unlimited scaling) | €55–€975 (≈$60–$1070) for 5K–200K (refunded upon success) | 2-Step (8% then 5% targets) | Weekly available (often processed within hours) |
| Apex Trader Funding | 100% of first $25K, then 90% | $300K per account (multiple accounts allowed) | Monthly subscriptions (e.g. ~$207/mo for $150K; ~$657/mo for $300K) | 1-Step (futures evaluation – hit profit target) | First withdrawal after 10 trading days; then on-demand (100% payouts by ~2 months) |
| HyroTrader | 70% (scales +5% every 4 months to 90%) | $100K (crypto only; scaling offered after 4 months) | $89 (5K 2-step) up to $799 (100K 1-step) | 1-Step (10% in 10 days) or 2-Step (standard targets) | On-demand (daily if ≥$100 profit; processed in ~12–24h) |
| E8 Funding | 80% (custom up to 100% via plan) | $250K initial (scale up to $1M) | $33–$1,140 (smallest–largest; varies by program and options) | 1-Step, 2-Step (10% then 5%), 3-Step | Bi-weekly (first payout after ~8 trading days) |
Prop trading lets you trade using a crypto prop firm's capital, often referred to as house money, instead of risking your own funds. This model has revolutionized how skilled traders access the cryptocurrency markets. If you have the skill, you can potentially earn far more than what your own capital would otherwise allow. And all that without taking on the upfront financial risk yourself.
Once you are funded, you operate on a profit-sharing model. Most of the profits go to you, while the firm takes a smaller cut for putting up the house money. This arrangement creates a win-win situation: the firm profits from successful traders, while traders gain access to capital they might not otherwise have. If you trade consistently well, many firms also scale your account over time, allowing you to manage increasingly larger positions and generate higher absolute profits.
The prop trading process follows a structured pathway designed to identify skilled traders and provide them with capital. Here's how it usually plays out:
➤ You start by applying to a crypto prop trading firm and choosing your preferred account size. Usually, you pay less than 1% of that account size as a fee, either as a one-time payment or a monthly subscription, depending on the firm. This initial fee covers the cost of your evaluation and access to the firm's trading infrastructure.
➤ You must pass an evaluation challenge on a demo account. This involves hitting a specific profit target while following strict risk management rules. Some firms include multiple stages in this evaluation, with each stage testing different aspects of your trading discipline. The evaluation typically includes daily drawdown limits, maximum overall drawdown caps, and minimum trading day requirements.
➤ Once you pass the evaluation, you receive a funded trading account with real capital. You still need to follow the firm's risk rules, such as daily and overall drawdown limits. However, you're now trading with real money and your profits become actual earnings rather than demo account numbers.
➤ You keep most of the profits you generate. Typically, the firm takes 10% to 30% of the profits in the beginning. This split is clearly defined in your agreement and varies by platform. Some firms offer more aggressive splits initially, while others start more conservatively but scale up quickly.
➤ If you stay consistently profitable, the firm usually increases your capital by scaling your account. Some firms also improve your profit split over time to give you a larger share of the earnings. This scaling mechanism rewards consistent performance and allows successful traders to grow their income exponentially.
After extensive research of 20+ crypto prop trading firms, we have shortlisted these 7 firms as the top choices. Each platform offers unique advantages depending on your trading style, experience level, and capital goals:
Fondeo is arguably the best crypto-native prop trading platform for most users. It has several plans with a one-time fee and profit splits up to 90%. Fondeo covers both beginners and experienced traders with funded accounts, as long as they pass the evaluation challenge.
What makes Fondeo particularly attractive is its straightforward approach to crypto prop trading. The platform eliminates many of the complexities found in competing services, offering clear evaluation criteria and transparent payout structures. Fondeo also has a scaling program, increasing $5K accounts to $200K, which provides a clear growth path for successful traders.
The platform's crypto-native design means it's built specifically for cryptocurrency markets, rather than being a traditional forex prop firm that added crypto as an afterthought. This focus translates into better execution, more relevant risk parameters, and deeper understanding of crypto market dynamics.
FTMO is the oldest crypto prop trading firm on this list and brings a strong track record to the table. While it originally focused on traditional assets like forex and commodities, it has since expanded its footprint into crypto, bringing its proven evaluation methodology to the cryptocurrency space.
You can start with an account size of up to $200,000 and scale it to $2 million if you remain consistently profitable. This scaling potential makes FTMO particularly attractive for traders who plan to build a long-term career in prop trading.
FTMO doesn't impose restrictions on your trading style and doesn't require stop-loss orders, which ensures more flexibility in how you approach the market. This freedom is particularly valuable for experienced traders who use sophisticated strategies that might not fit within the constraints of more restrictive platforms.
You need to pass a two-step evaluation challenge to get funded. The first phase requires a 10% profit target, and the second needs 5%. You will also need to manage risk carefully; the evaluation comes with a 5% daily drawdown limit and a 10% overall cap. These parameters test your ability to generate profits while maintaining strict risk discipline.
FundedNext gives you multiple evaluation models to choose from, depending on your trading style and risk tolerance. This flexibility makes it one of the most adaptable platforms for traders with different approaches. The standard route is a two-step challenge; you will need to hit an 8% profit target in phase one and 5% in phase two. Both phases include a 5% daily drawdown limit and a 10% overall cap, which provides reasonable room for normal trading volatility.
If you prefer a shorter path, there's also a one-step challenge with a 10% profit target. The tradeoff is tighter risk limits, with only a 3% daily drawdown and 6% overall. This option suits aggressive traders who are confident in their ability to generate profits quickly while maintaining tight risk control.
You start with an 80% profit split, which can rise to 95% if you stay consistent. That makes it one of the highest-paying crypto prop firms on the market. Your first payout becomes available after 21 days, and after that, you can request withdrawals on demand, giving you excellent liquidity once you've proven your consistency.
BrightFunded is a crypto-friendly prop trading firm that supports over 40 crypto pairs along with other asset classes. This diverse offering allows traders to diversify their strategies across multiple cryptocurrencies and potentially reduce risk through correlation management. It offers a two-phase evaluation challenge, where you need to hit an 8% profit target in the first phase and 5% in the second.
You can pick an account size between $5,000 and $200,000, giving you flexibility to start at a level that matches your experience and confidence. Once funded, you enter an unlimited scaling plan where your capital increases by 30% every four months.
As long as you stay profitable and follow the rules, your account will likely keep growing without any hard cap. This unlimited scaling potential is particularly attractive for traders who plan to build a long-term career, as there's no ceiling on how large your account can grow.
Apex Trader Funding is a futures-focused prop trading firm that gives you access to funded accounts through a monthly subscription model. Account sizes range from $25,000 to $300,000, each with its own drawdown rules and profit targets. This subscription model differs from the one-time fee structure of most competitors, which can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on how quickly you pass the evaluation.
What sets this firm apart is the ability to manage multiple accounts; you can run up to 20 accounts at once and even copy trade across them. That gives you more flexibility to scale and test different strategies simultaneously. This multi-account approach allows you to diversify your trading strategies and potentially increase your overall profitability by running multiple uncorrelated approaches.
You keep 100% of the first $25,000 in profits on each account and 90% of everything after that. This profit structure is one of the most generous in the industry, especially for traders who can consistently hit that initial $25,000 milestone. Apex Trader Funding uses a rhythmic data feed and supports trading platforms like NinjaTrader, Bookmap, and others.
Once your account reaches full funding, you can request weekly payouts, which are usually processed within one to three business days, providing reasonable liquidity for successful traders.
HyroTrader focuses entirely on cryptocurrency prop trading and connects directly to major crypto exchanges. You trade on a USDT perpetual account from a leading crypto exchange during evaluation. This setup gives you 24/7 access to deep liquidity and market conditions free from internal price manipulation (the order book is pulled from an external exchange).
This direct exchange connectivity is a significant advantage, as it means you're trading in real market conditions rather than on a broker's internal feed. The execution quality, slippage, and liquidity you experience during evaluation will closely match what you'll encounter when trading with real capital.
You can choose between a one-step or two-step evaluation. The one-step model requires a 10% profit target over a minimum of 10 days, providing a faster path to funding for confident traders.
The two-step challenge allows you to start with accounts ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, depending on what fits your plan. The smaller starting sizes make this platform accessible to newer traders who want to prove themselves before scaling up.
You need to achieve a 15% profit on your evaluation account to move from demo to live trading. Your profit split starts at 70% and increases by 5% every four months of consistent profitability, with a cap at 90%. Once funded, you can typically request withdrawals within 24 hours, providing excellent liquidity.
E8 Funding promises to give you full control over how you take on the evaluation challenge. You can choose between one, two, or three-step evaluations, each with adjustable profit targets, drawdown limits (ranging from 6% to 14%), and payout structures. That means you can tailor the challenge to match your risk tolerance and trading strategy, creating a highly personalized evaluation experience.
With E8, you can start with an account as small as $5,000 or go up to $250,000, with scaling potential up to $1 million. This wide range accommodates traders at all experience levels, from beginners testing the waters to experienced professionals looking for substantial capital.
The platform supports only eight major cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ether, but the high degree of customization makes it a standout option. While the asset selection is more limited than some competitors, the flexibility in evaluation structure may outweigh this limitation for many traders.
Your profit split starts at 40% and can reach 100% after your sixth payout; something you can achieve in just a few months of consistent performance. There are no minimum profit requirements for withdrawals, and you are free to request payouts as soon as you are eligible, providing maximum flexibility in managing your earnings.
Your trading style plays a big role in which platform works best for you. Not every firm suits every strategy, so it's important to weigh the right factors before signing up. The wrong choice can lead to frustration, wasted fees, and missed opportunities. Here's what you should carefully evaluate:
You need to understand how the evaluation challenge works, including profit targets, drawdown limits, time constraints, and any trading restrictions. Some firms let you take your time; others may impose daily profit consistency or limit your trading style. Read the fine print so you know exactly what you're signing up for.
Consider whether the challenge structure matches your trading approach. If you're a swing trader who holds positions for days, a challenge with daily profit consistency requirements won't work. If you're a scalper, you need a platform that allows high-frequency trading without restrictions.
If you're consistently profitable, most firms will increase your capital over time. A good scaling plan rewards your performance by growing your account size automatically or through periodic reviews. Make sure the firm offers realistic criteria to unlock larger funding.
Look for platforms that offer clear, achievable scaling milestones. Some firms double your account every few months, while others have slower or unlimited scaling. Consider your long-term goals and choose a platform whose scaling potential aligns with your ambitions.
Your earnings will depend on how the firm splits profits. Most offer between 60% and 100%, and many increase your share as you hit certain performance milestones. Choose a structure that matches your long-term goals, not just the highest number upfront.
A 95% profit split that takes years to achieve may be less valuable than an 80% split you can access immediately. Consider both the starting split and the path to higher tiers when making your decision.
Crypto prop trading is still evolving, and not every firm supports a wide range of assets. Some only offer Bitcoin or Ethereum. Others may list crypto ETFs or restrict weekend trading. Before joining, check which trading pairs you can access and whether they align with your strategy.
If you trade altcoins or need exposure to specific market segments, verify that the platform supports your preferred assets. Limited market access can severely constrain your trading strategy and profitability.
When issues come up, and they will, you want a responsive support team that doesn't leave you hanging. That's why it is important that you go with a firm with a solid track record with real user feedback and a reputation for resolving problems quickly.
Research the platform's history, read user reviews, and check community forums for feedback. A platform with poor support or a history of payout issues can turn a profitable trading career into a nightmare, regardless of how attractive the terms appear on paper.
Getting funded sounds great: no capital risk, high upside. But first, you need to pass the firm's evaluation challenge, which is designed to filter out undisciplined traders and identify those who can consistently manage risk. Here's how to boost your chances:
➤ Treat demo funds like real money. If you act recklessly, you'll hit the drawdown and blow the account. Manage your trades with discipline. The evaluation is specifically designed to test whether you can control risk under pressure.
➤ Stick to your trading strategy. Before every trade, define where you'll take profits and where you'll place your stop loss. Avoid improvising mid-trade. Successful traders follow a plan; unsuccessful ones make emotional decisions.
➤ Start bold, then dial it down. You have more room to draw down early on. Use that space to go after high-conviction setups. Once you're closer to the target, play it safer and protect your gains. This approach maximizes your profit potential while minimizing the risk of failing near the finish line.
➤ Lock in profits when they come. Take partial profits along the way — especially in crypto, where prices can flip fast. Holding out for the perfect exit can cost you. Many traders fail evaluations not because they couldn't generate profits, but because they gave those profits back trying to squeeze out extra gains.
➤ Know the product inside out. Every firm has its own rules, like minimum trading days, max lot sizes, or specific stop loss requirements. Read the challenge terms carefully so you don't get tripped up on technicalities. Some traders have failed evaluations not due to poor trading, but because they violated a rule they didn't know existed.
The best crypto prop trading firm depends entirely on your trading style, risk appetite, and capital goals. Some firms offer more flexible evaluation challenges, while others provide higher profit splits, faster payouts, or deeper access to crypto markets.
If you prefer multi-account strategies or futures trading, your needs will differ from someone focused on spot markets with low drawdown tolerance. What matters most is finding a firm whose challenge structure, funding terms, and support systems align with how you trade.
Consider your experience level, preferred trading style, capital requirements, and long-term goals when making your decision. The right platform for a scalper trading Bitcoin futures will be completely different from the ideal choice for a swing trader focusing on altcoins.
As always, do your own research and consult a qualified financial expert if needed before putting any money into a crypto prop firm. The prop trading industry is still evolving, and while it offers genuine opportunities, it also carries risks that should be carefully evaluated before committing your time and money.
Crypto prop trading firms provide company capital for traders to execute strategies within set risk limits, with profits shared by agreement. Unlike regular exchanges that facilitate peer-to-peer trading, prop firms focus on proprietary trading with professional risk management and performance incentives.
Top crypto prop firms include BitFunded, offering 100+ cryptocurrency pairs with high liquidity and flexible trading strategies. Key advantages include diverse asset selection, strong technical support, and competitive trading conditions for professional traders.
Most prop trading firms require a minimum initial capital of $50,000 USD. Margin requirements vary by firm and account performance. Specific amounts depend on individual firm policies and trading strategies.
Prop Trading firms typically offer leverage ranging from 10x to 20x. Risk management involves strict position limits, daily drawdown caps, stop-loss enforcement, and real-time monitoring systems to protect capital and maintain trading discipline.
Assess platform reputation and trading history, verify regulatory compliance and fund security, compare trading fees and profit splits, evaluate leverage options and risk management tools, and review user feedback and performance records carefully.
Prop Trading优势:获得公司资金支持,交易额更大,潜在收益高。劣势:风险由公司承担,要求严格。自主交易优势:完全自主控制。劣势:需自筹资金,风险完全个人承担,交易额受限。
Crypto Prop Firm fees usually consist of management fees, performance fees, and profit sharing arrangements. These charges vary based on the firm's performance metrics and trading results.
Prop Trading platforms support major forex pairs, commodities, and indices across MetaTrader 4/5 and cTrader. Tools include automated trading, advanced charting, risk management features, and real-time market analysis for comprehensive trading strategies.











