Amid growing concerns about economic stability, more people are seeking ways to invest and grow their funds, but not everyone has much capital. That has prompted the growth of firms dedicated to lowering the barriers to entry.
In real estate, one sees the launch of crowdfunded real estate investment, such as the billionaire-backed firm Arrived, which allows anyone with $100 to make a micro-investment in real estate. (This trend has also spread to Canada.)
In trading, one sees the growth of prop firms, or “prop firms,” which give traders access to the firm’s capital in return for a share of future profits. Besides allowing those with little capital to enter the market, prop trading also allows traders to minimize their financial risk amid stock market volatility.
By 2025, several prominent prop firms have emerged as key players, each offering distinct advantages to traders. One notable prop firm is DNA Funded, a much sought-after prop firm because DNA Markets, an FSIC-regulated forex brokerage, backs it. It provides prop traders with tight spreads and quick, efficient transactions. DNA Funded presents three trading challenges, each tailored to a different account size and style.
Account sizes allowed can be as low as $5,000 or as high as $200,000, and the fees vary from $49 to $1,209. The baseline profit split is 80%, but traders can add features to increase the split to 90%.
DNA Funded also has a 25% discount on challenge fees for traders using the promo code PROPFIRMS25.
Another firm, BrightFunded, operates under a different model, providing traders with the opportunity to earn up to 100% of their profits through a unique profit-sharing system. BrightFunded’s evaluations of potential traders are competitive, and the company offers a loyalty rewards program (called Trade2Earn). A 20% discount on evaluation fees is available to traders who use the promo code PROPFIRMS20.
On the other hand, ThinkCapital stands out due to its low-cost challenge fees and the added benefit of access to TradingView, one of the most popular trading platforms.
ThinkCapital also offers traders a full suite of educational resources and a competitive profit-sharing model. Like DNA Funded, ThinkCapital’s profit sharing starts at 80% and can be upgraded to 90%.
For traders seeking flexibility in their evaluations, FundedNext offers a two-phase process that challenges traders to achieve a 5% and 10% profit, respectively, within a set timeframe. Successful traders are awarded access to virtual capital of up to $300,000, with a scaling plan that can reach 95%.
Besides the high-profit split, FundedNext also gives traders access to a diverse array of trading platforms, including TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. Using the promo code PROPFIRMS, you can get a 120% refund on challenge fees.
Lastly, FXIFY, backed by the broker FXPIG, provides traders with capital up to $400,000 and profit splits of up to 90%.
FXIFY also offers accounts tailored to the individual trader, with customizable options such as increased leverage, additional profit splits, and biweekly payouts.
How to Choose a Prop Firm
If you are interested in proprietary trading, there are things to consider when evaluating a prop firm.
First, take note of the fee structure; understanding what costs are associated with evaluations or challenges is essential. Also, assess the profit split, as this determines how much of your profits you will retain. Next, evaluate the complexity of the firm’s evaluation challenges — how challenging are they, and how long does the evaluation process take for a trader? Additionally, ensure the firm’s trading platforms align with the software you prefer to use. Finally, consider any added features that might be available, such as scaling plans, discounts, or educational resources to improve your trading skills.
Even though signing on with a prop firm minimizes your risk (because you are not just investing your capital), you will want to research and ensure that the prop firm you’re considering is well-suited to your trading style and financial goals.
