Trading Industry
Landscape
A comprehensive overview of the financial trading industry — from traditional retail trading to modern prop firms, instrument classifications, and the global trader ecosystem.
Types of Trading
Prop Firm Trading
Traders use firm capital to trade — through an evaluation process or direct funding. No large personal capital required, with 70–90% profit sharing.
Learn about Prop Firms →Retail Trading
Individuals trade with their own capital through a broker — forex, stocks, futures, crypto. Flexible but requires sufficient capital and strict risk management.
Institutional Trading
Investment funds, banks, and hedge funds trade at large volumes — with advantages in technology, information access, and lower transaction costs vs retail.
Instrument Classification
Financial markets are divided by asset class — each with its own characteristics, risks, and opportunities.
Forex & CFDs
Trading currency pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/JPY...) and Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on commodities and indices. The world's largest OTC market, operating 24/5. CFDs are banned in the US.
Futures
Futures contracts — an agreement to buy/sell an asset at a set price at a future date. Traded on centralized exchanges (CME, CBOT). Popular: Gold (GC), Oil (CL), S&P 500 (ES), Nasdaq (NQ).
Crypto
Trading cryptocurrencies — Bitcoin, Ethereum, and thousands of altcoins. The market runs 24/7 with high volatility and growing liquidity. Many prop firms have added crypto to their instrument offerings.
Stocks & Equities
Trading stocks on NYSE, NASDAQ, and global exchanges. Fixed trading hours, strictly regulated by the SEC. Some prop firms specialize in stocks (Trade The Pool) or US futures (Apex, Topstep).
Notable Prop Firms
No Rules / Long-term
No daily drawdown or time pressure — traders trade long-term with real profit sharing.
Challenge / Evaluation
Rules on drawdown and profit targets — the most common model today.
Deep Dives
Prop Firm Industry
FeaturedHistory, operational models, evaluation process, risks, and notable firms in the global prop firm industry.
Trading Academy
Coming SoonIn-depth trading knowledge — risk management, psychology, strategy, and technical analysis. Coming soon.