Legal Impacts in Prop Trading | New Prop Firm Regulations (2024)

Legal Impacts in Prop Trading | New Prop Firm Regulations (1)

For those traders who might have missed the latest news, the prop trading company has suffered a serious blow. My Forex Funds, a forex prop firm, is accused of illegally taking over $300 million in customer funds, according to recent court filings. This incident is a turning point in the history of proprietary trading and raises the following important question, which might be worth $300 million:

What legal requirements are different for proprietary enterprises, and how are they subject to regulation?

Despite its importance, this question is complex and multidimensional, requiring in-depth investigation. In the world of finance, proprietary trading plays a complex role. It offers brokers and traders attractive opportunities, but it also has dangers that are similar to
those of predatory elements.

This talk aims to examine the legal and regulatory structures that control proprietary trading in various geopolitical contexts. Before we go into the complexities of the regulatory framework supporting this emerging industry, it is important that we clarify what proprietary trading is and why more and more traders are choosing to affiliate with these companies.

What Capital Opportunities are There for Ambitious Traders?

The practice of proprietary trading, which is commonly referred to as “prop trading,” has become rather popular among internet traders. In return for sharing a percentage of the gains, traders can access corporate funds under this relatively new idea. The financing and revenue mechanisms of proprietary trading organizations differ, but the basic idea is always the same: traders prove they can turn a profit by completing internal tests, or “Challenges,” which, if they pass, qualify them as “Funded Traders.”

These tests usually make use of demo accounts and require traders to fulfill predetermined requirements, such profit objectives and drawdown thresholds, frequently within predetermined timeframes. When people become financed Traders, they are able to trade a variety
of assets and markets because they have access to accounts that are financed by the firm.

Because of this structure, dealers can possibly increase their profit potential by leveraging larger capital pools than they might otherwise have access to. It does, however, also mean a shared responsibility with the proprietary trading business, as the latter normally keeps a piece of the
gains made in exchange for granting access to its funds.

The Dynamic Realm of Prop Trading

Prop trading organizations are becoming more and more popular, and this has made the market more competitive. As a result, businesses are improving their platforms and offers to stay ahead of the competition. For example, several companies now offer “instant funding” alternatives, which enable traders to pay a greater entrance fee and quickly access actual cash to start generating profits.

To further enable traders to progress inside the company, prop trading companies are launching a number of novelties, including as cash reward tournaments, leaderboards, instructional materials, and chances for professional progression. The details of these products, however, differ greatly throughout companies in the market.

While some choose to give more flexible trading challenges in exchange for smaller profit-sharing agreements, others place a more priority on excellent spreads and leverage than on flashy features and free resources. Among these factors, the legal and regulatory environment around prop trading businesses is an important one that traders sometimes ignore.

These companies operate in an online marketplace that is open to traders globally, but they are nevertheless bound by the laws and regulations of the regions in which they are located. It is critical that traders comprehend these laws as they have a big influence on financial concerns, data privacy rights, and fund access.

Potential Regulatory Implications Arise Following the My Forex Funds Scandal In 2023, My Forex Funds, a foreign currency prop trading company, was involved in a legal battle that caused significant disruption to the forex market. After uncovering a long list of purported
fraudulent operations, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) acted decisively against My Forex Funds.

A crucial turning point in the legal history of forex was reached when the CFTC accused My Forex funds of operating a Ponzi scheme and misappropriating client funds. Examining further revealed a concerning trend: instead of trading forex lawfully as agreed, My forex funds is accused of using clients’money to pay off previous investors with the contributions of new ones who failed evaluation processes taking their fees, diverting the majority of investor cash for personal profit.

When investor redemptions were suddenly stopped, the scandal came to light and the firm’s incapacity to pay its debts was revealed. By the time the whole scam was exposed, more than $190 million had been stolen from unwary investors; of that amount, it seems through
inquiries that very little had been used for real forex trading activities.

The Future of Prop Firm With OFP

Prop trading, often known as proprietary trading, has always had great appeal in the world of finance. It gives people the opportunity to trade a variety of financial products with the goal of making significant gains by leveraging funds supplied by a company. But recent incidents, like the warning story of My Forex Funds, have clouded the market and brought attention to the significance of regulatory knowledge and due diligence.

Comprehending the legal and regulatory environment is crucial for anybody considering prop trading. The operational framework, compliance mandates, and general validity of a prop company can be greatly influenced by the jurisdiction in which it is situated. It is crucial to conduct in-depth study on the legal framework that governs prop trading firms. Let us take the example of OFP prop firm, which is regulated by IC Markets, as an example.

A certain level of comfort over the company’s compliance with legal requirements and industry standards is given to traders by this regulatory monitoring. Traders that are trading with OFP can feel secure in their investments and the honesty of their trading actions.
Prop trading will probably place more of a focus on responsibility, transparency, and investor protection in the future.

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Legal Impacts in Prop Trading | New Prop Firm Regulations (2024)

FAQs

Why is MetaTrader removing prop firms? ›

MetaQuotes, the company behind the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platforms, abruptly started cracking down on prop trading companies that were using their platforms without proper licensing. Many of these prop firms were servicing US-based clients without authorization from US regulators.

What is the future of prop firms? ›

By expanding their offerings and adapting to changes in the trading landscape, prop firms can increase their resilience and mitigate potential risks associated with relying on a single platform or market. Furthermore, prop traders themselves should not be overly worried about the future of prop firms.

Will prop firms be regulated? ›

Prop trading firms are less heavily regulated than regular brokerages and broker-dealers. However, if such laws apply, you must still properly register your business and get licensed. For example, in the US, CFD trading is prohibited, and you can only offer prop trading of exchange-traded securities.

What is going on with MetaQuotes? ›

The MetaQuotes move indicates that the company is very cautious when it comes to offering services using its platform to US clients. The two MetaTrader apps were banned on Apple's App Store in 2022 for their alleged use by fraudsters targeting the US citizens and residents.

Will prop firms be banned? ›

The speculation now is that the governing bodies and regulators will put a ban on the whole prop firm industry – which is not going to happen. The prop firm industry has been alive, well and regulated for decades. It's only the online prop firm space that is yet to see regulation.

Is MetaTrader banning prop firms? ›

MetaQuotes, the developer of popular trading platforms MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, is cracking down on several prop trading firms such as Ftmo, the5ers, etc., and forcing many brokers to terminate their services (if these firms do not comply). This decision has had a negative impact on most prop traders in the US.

What is the best prop firm in 2024? ›

#1 – Funder Trading

Funder Trading stands first in our list of the top prop trading firms in 2024 due to multiple reasons but notably it is the only prop trading firm that offers options funding and includes coaching for every trader signed up.

Which is the most trusted prop firm? ›

Best Prop Trading Firms 2024 - Reviewed by Experts
  • Topstep.
  • The 5%ers.
  • Earn2Trade.
  • SurgeTrader.
  • FTMO.
  • E8.
  • City Traders Imperium.
  • Fidelcrest.
Feb 2, 2024

How many traders fail prop firms? ›

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.

Which prop firm is regulated in USA? ›

OANDA, Axi, and Hantec Markets are three regulated forex and contracts for differences brokers that launched prop trading services.

Are prop firms legal in the US? ›

The legality of Prop firms has been a topic of debate. Regulations like the Volcker Rule and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act have made it more difficult for banks to engage in proprietary trading.

Are prop firms regulated by SEC? ›

Val Dahiya spoke to Law360 about the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) recently passed rules that now include proprietary trading firms and some hedge funds in its definition of securities dealers, expanding the agency's oversight authority.

Is MetaQuotes a Russian company? ›

MetaQuotes Software is a Russian software company specializing in the development of software for foreign exchange trading.

Can I trust MetaTrader? ›

MetaTrader 4 is a legitimate and widely used trading platform in the forex industry. It's essential to be cautious about potential scams and ensure you download the platform from reputable sources or official websites of the brokers offering MetaTrader 4.

Is MetaTrader Russian? ›

App versions of the popular PC electronic trading platforms are provided by MetaQuotes Software Corp., a Russian software company that also has registration offshore in Limassol, Cyprus.

What is happening with MetaTrader? ›

In September 2022, a ban on the MT4 and MT5 apps in Apple's App Store, which affected all markets, made headlines. Though the reasons for the decision were unclear, there was speculation that it was related to trading scams published in the iOS app store, impersonating popular trading platforms.

What happened to my forex funds prop firm? ›

As a result of the OSC and CFTC orders, MFF has been effectively shut down. Founder and CEO, Anurag Jaiswal, was barred from participating in the securities industry.

Is FTMO still using MT5? ›

For example, within FTMO, the number of MetaTrader clients has increased by 46% since 2020, but the number of clients using MetaTrader 5 has increased more than 15 times. While the number of MT4 clients was 10 times the number of MT5 users in 2020, today it is already 1.5 times.

Is MT4 being removed? ›

The desktop version is also still fully available and hasn't been affected at all. The MT4 and MT5 apps were removed from the App Store on the 23rd of September 2022.

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