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

What is the HFT trading strategy? ›

HFT firms act as market makers by creating bid-ask spreads and churning mostly low-priced, high-volume stocks many times daily. By constantly buying and selling securities, they ensure that there is always a market for them, which helps reduce bid-ask spreads and increases market efficiency.

How much do prop firm traders make? ›

Prop Firm Trader Salary

The salary of a prop trader can vary greatly depending on several factors such as experience, performance, and the size of the firm. On average, a junior prop trader can expect to earn anywhere between $50,000 to $100,000 per year, while a senior trader can make upwards of $500,000 annually.

Does high-frequency trading work? ›

High-frequency trading strategies

Although the strategy can be extremely risky, even a small difference in price can yield big profits. HFT algorithms can detect very small differences in prices faster than human observers and can ensure that their investors profit from the spread.

Is HFT still profitable? ›

Yes, HFT can be profitable, but those newcomers should stick to manual trading to understand the market and gain experience. As traders start with day trading, they can slowly refine their strategies and work their way to using HFT.

How profitable are HFT firms? ›

Industry-Wide Earnings: The global HFT industry reportedly made around $5 billion in net profit in 2021. That's a staggering figure, but it's important to remember that it's divided among the major players. Market Conditions Matter: HFT profits are closely tied to market volatility.

What are the problems with HFT? ›

Risks of High-Frequency Trading

The ratio is much greater than the classic investor who invests with a long-term strategy. A high-frequency trader will sometimes only profit a fraction of a cent, which is all they need to make gains throughout the day but also increases the chances of a significant loss.

How do HFT traders make money? ›

By using predetermined HFT strategies to place limit orders to sell or buy, many high-frequency trading firms used market making as an effective strategy. These firms do this to earn the bid-ask spread and make money.

What is the average return on HFT? ›

The exact average return on HFT is difficult to pinpoint, as HFT firms generally keep their detailed trading strategies and performance metrics private. However, most estimates put the average yearly return from HFT strategies between 5-15%, with the top firms generating returns of 20% or more in good years.

Can you make a living trading for a prop firm? ›

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.

Can you make a living with prop trading? ›

Also known as “prop trading,” it offers higher earnings potential much earlier in your career than jobs like investment banking or private equity. It's arguably the most merit-based industry within finance: if you make millions of dollars for your firm, you'll earn some percentage of it.

How stressful is prop trading? ›

Costs Prop trading comes with high fees, such as subscription fees, withdrawal fees, evaluation fees, and more. Emotional impact Proprietary trading can be very stressful, as you trade the firm's money instead of your own, and you need to account for your losses.

Why do high-frequency traders never lose money? ›

Yes, high-frequency traders (HFTs) can and do lose money, just like any other traders. While HFT strategies are designed to execute a large number of trades at extremely fast speeds to capitalize on small price discrepancies, the inherent risks and challenges of trading still apply.

How to become a trader at HFT? ›

Most opportunities require solid programming skills in languages like Python, R, and C++. Some employers prefer advanced credentials like a Master's or Ph. D. with a background in math or statistics, and many traders have significant experience with machine learning.

What is the best major for high-frequency trading? ›

Be aware that HFT is an extremely technical discipline and it attracts the very best candidates from the fields of mathematics, physics, computer science and electronic engineering, often at the grad school level or with years of industry expertise in a niche area.

Does Smart Prop trader allow HFT? ›

We do not allow HFT, Martingale, Grid Trading, or Latency Arbitrage strategies in any form.

Does the funded trader allow HFT? ›

HFT is prohibited as it can lead to market manipulation, unfair advantages, and can cause instability in the market. Any trader found to be engaging in HFT will breach the TFT Terms of Use and lose the ability to trade on our platform.

Does FTMO allow HFT reddit? ›

FTMO does not explicitly prohibit high frequency trading (HFT) strategies. However, they do have strict rules and guidelines that traders need to follow. FTMO's trading servers have a limitation of 200 orders at a time and a maximum of 2000 positions per day.

Do brokers allow HFT? ›

Is high-frequency forex trading legal? Yes, high-frequency trading is legal. That being said, it's possible that high-frequency trading strategies will not be permitted by your broker. Price-driven strategies (such as scalping) or latency-driven arbitrage strategies are prohibited altogether by some brokers.

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