Crypto prop firms vs futures prop firms — which is right for you? This in-depth analytical guide compares evaluation models, profit splits, leverage, regulation, and top platforms to help you make the best choice in 2025–2026.
As of 2025, the algorithmic trading market has surpassed $21 billion in global value, and the AI-driven trading market is projected to reach $35 billion by 2030, according to industry research. Prop trading sits at the intersection of these trends, democratizing access to professional-grade capital for retail traders worldwide.
But choosing between a crypto prop firm and a futures prop firm is not a simple decision. Both offer pathways to funded trading accounts, but they differ fundamentally in market structure, regulatory environment, leverage mechanisms, platform ecosystems, and risk profiles. Read on this Crypto Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms to have a better understanding of each.
Also, you may read What is Prop Trading? How does Prop Trading work?
Crypto Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Crypto Prop Firms | Futures Prop Firms |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Asset | Crypto CFDs / Spot / Crypto Futures | CME/CBOT Futures Contracts |
| Market Hours | 24/7 | ~23 hrs/day (exchange hours) |
| Regulation | Minimal / Offshore (mostly) | CFTC-regulated (U.S.) |
| Leverage | Up to 1:100 (CFD) / Exchange margin (Futures) | Fixed by exchange (high via margin) |
| Evaluation Steps | 1-step or 2-step challenge | 1-step or Trading Combine |
| Profit Split | 80%–95% typical | 90%–100% (first $25k often 100%) |
| Payout Currency | Crypto (USDT/USDC) or fiat | Fiat (USD) |
| Platforms | MT4/MT5, cTrader, Bybit, DXTrade | NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView |
| Account Sizes | $5,000–$400,000 | $25,000–$600,000 |
| News/Overnight Trading | Usually allowed | Restricted at many firms |
| Volatility | Very High | Moderate to High |
| Drawdown Type | Daily + Max (EOD) | Trailing Threshold |
| Challenge Fees | One-time (often refundable) | Monthly subscription model |
Also, you may read Blueberry Futures vs Take Profit Trader vs Apex Trader Funding
What Are Crypto Prop Firms?
Crypto prop firms are proprietary trading companies that fund traders to speculate on cryptocurrency markets. Most operate by running traders through an evaluation challenge — a simulated or real trading test — before granting access to a funded account.
The instruments offered typically fall into two categories:
Crypto CFDs (Contracts for Difference): Traders speculate on the price movement of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH) without owning the underlying asset. The firm acts as the counterparty, meaning execution happens internally rather than on a public exchange.
Real Crypto Spot/Futures via Exchange API: A smaller but growing subset of firms, like HyroTrader, allow traders to connect directly to exchanges like Bybit via API. This means trades execute on a real exchange, eliminating internal price feed concerns. HyroTrader, for instance, offers access to over 500 crypto futures pairs through its Bybit partnership.
Key characteristics of crypto prop firms include 24/7 market access, high volatility opportunities, and payouts often made in cryptocurrency (USDT/USDC). Firms like FundedNext have even introduced a 24-hour payout guarantee, and FTMO — widely regarded as the gold standard of prop trading — has distributed over $500 million in payouts to traders across more than 140 countries since its founding in 2015.
Also, you may read 10 Best Crypto Prop Trading Firms
What Are Futures Prop Firms?
Futures prop firms fund traders to trade standardized futures contracts on regulated exchanges such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), CBOT, COMEX, and NYMEX. These contracts cover a broad range of assets including stock indices (E-mini S&P 500, Nasdaq), commodities (gold, crude oil, agricultural), currencies, interest rates, and yes — crypto futures like Micro Bitcoin Futures (MBT) and Micro Ether Futures (MET).
The defining characteristic of futures prop firms is their connection to regulated, centralized exchanges. Firms like Topstep are CFTC-compliant and operate within the U.S. regulatory framework, while Apex Trader Funding (founded in 2021, Austin, Texas) has become one of the fastest-growing futures prop firms by offering a streamlined one-step evaluation.
Futures traders use platforms such as NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, and Sierra Chart — professional-grade tools purpose-built for exchange-traded derivatives. The funded account sizes at futures firms typically range from $25,000 to $300,000, with some firms like My Funded Futures allowing traders to manage up to $600,000 in capital.
Also, you may read 10 Best Futures Prop Trading Firms
Crypto Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms: Evaluation Models
| Category | Crypto Prop Firm Evaluations | Futures Prop Firm Evaluations |
|---|---|---|
| Common evaluation format | 1-step or 2-step challenge | “Trading Combine” style evaluation |
| Trader cost | One-time fee | Monthly subscription fee |
| Typical fee range | $39 to $500 (depends on account size) | $77 to $137 per month (depends on account size) |
| Profit target | Usually 8% to 10% | Hit a profit target (varies by firm) |
| Main risk rules | Daily loss limit + max drawdown | Trailing drawdown (key constraint) |
| Typical limits | Daily loss: 4% to 5% max drawdown: 8% to 10% | Trailing threshold moves up as profits rise |
| Time limit | Often fixed by program (varies) | Often no time limit (example: Apex) |
| Example models | FTMO: Challenge → Verification → funded | Apex: 1-step target + trailing drawdown |
| Why it exists | Adds discipline, filters “lucky” short-term runs | Controls risk as account grows, encourages consistent execution |
| Special variants | Some offer instant funding (skip evaluation) but with lower splits or higher fees | Some add safeguards to prevent rule breaks (example: Apex size-limit protections) |
Also, you may read FundedFast vs RebelsFunding vs Crypto Fund Trader vs Hyro Trader
Crypto Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms: Leverage & Risk Management
Leverage is where the two categories diverge most sharply in structure, even if headline numbers appear similar.
Crypto CFD Leverage: Some firms advertise leverage up to 1:100 on crypto, but this is typically available only on certain instruments and during the evaluation phase. Funded accounts often receive lower leverage — for instance, crypto CFDs at Blue Guardian are capped at 1:2, while forex may be up to 1:50. This discrepancy matters enormously to strategy design.
Futures Leverage: Futures contracts carry inherent leverage based on margin requirements set by the exchange. A Micro Bitcoin Futures contract (MBT) on the CME controls 0.1 BTC, allowing traders to gain significant exposure with relatively small capital. However, this leverage is governed by exchange rules — not the prop firm — which creates a more standardized and transparent risk environment.
Drawdown Structures Compared:
- Crypto Prop Firms typically use a combined daily loss limit + maximum drawdown model. For example: 5% daily / 10% max. Some use End-of-Day (EOD) drawdown calculations, meaning intraday floating losses don’t count.
- Futures Prop Firms typically use a trailing drawdown threshold that moves in lockstep with peak equity. This is often more punishing for traders with volatile equity curves but rewards consistent, steady growth.
Also, you may read Best Risk Management Strategies for Crypto Trading
Crypto Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms: Regulation & Security
Crypto Prop Firms: The vast majority operate with limited regulatory oversight. Many are registered offshore or in jurisdictions with minimal financial regulation. While firms like FTMO (Czech Republic) and The Trading Pit (Liechtenstein) operate with reputational accountability and transparent track records, the broader crypto prop space carries counterparty risk. The primary protection for traders is the firm’s reputation, Trustpilot ratings, and community reviews.
Futures Prop Firms: U.S.-based futures prop firms operate within a framework governed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association (NFA). Exchanges like the CME provide clearinghouse guarantees on futures contracts, meaning there is a regulated backstop. Topstep, for instance, is explicitly CFTC-compliant. This regulatory clarity is a significant advantage for traders concerned about capital security and legal recourse.
Crypto Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms: Who Should Consider Which One
| Choose a Crypto Prop Firm if you | Choose a Futures Prop Firm if you |
|---|---|
| You’re experienced in crypto market structure and on-chain dynamics | You prefer a regulated, exchange-governed trading environment |
| You want 24/7 markets and can handle high volatility | You’re skilled at order flow, market depth (DOM), and futures-style indicators |
| You prefer crypto payouts (USDT/USDC) | You want fiat payouts with clearer U.S. tax reporting paths |
| You want lots of altcoin/crypto pairs (example: BrightFunded offers 40+ pairs) | You want multi-asset exposure (indices, metals, energy, agriculture) plus crypto futures |
| Your edge is based on crypto-native catalysts (halving cycles, DeFi events, listings, narratives) | You prefer pro platforms like NinjaTrader or Tradovate with direct exchange feeds |
| You’re comfortable with firms that often have less regulatory oversight | You want a pathway to professional scaling with institutional-grade tools |
Also, you may read Elite Trader Funding vs Blueberry Futures vs BluSky Trading vs My FundedFutures
Crypto Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms: Pros & Cons Summary
Crypto Prop Firms
Pros: 24/7 trading, high leverage available, crypto payouts, broad altcoin access, fast-growing ecosystem, AI and DeFi integration
Cons: Limited regulation, mostly CFD-based (no real market exposure), internal price feeds, counterparty risk, high volatility = higher disqualification rates
Futures Prop Firms
Pros: CFTC/exchange regulation, real market execution, standardized contracts, trailing drawdown transparency, professional platforms, multi-asset exposure
Cons: Exchange hours only, monthly subscription fees, trailing drawdown can be aggressive, steep learning curve for new traders, less crypto variety
Crypto Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms: Profit Splits & Payouts
Crypto prop firms
- Profit splits vary widely: 70% to 95%.
- FundedNext is notable for 95% profit split and 15% split even during the challenge phase.
- Most reputable crypto prop firms generally offer 80% to 90% profit splits.
- Payouts are often in cryptocurrency, which can be a benefit or a drawback depending on local regulations and tax treatment.
Futures prop firms
- Apex Trader Funding structure: 100% of the first $25,000 per account, then 90% thereafter.
- Apex also allows up to 20 accounts active simultaneously.
- My Funded Futures offers 90% profit splits with payouts reportedly processed in under 6 hours.
- Futures prop payouts are typically fiat, which is often simpler for accounting and tax reporting.
| Firm | Type | Profit Split | Payout Speed | Max Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FundedNext | Crypto/Forex | Up to 95% | 24-hour guarantee | $200,000 |
| FTMO | Crypto/Forex | Up to 90% | ~1–3 business days | €200,000+ |
| HyroTrader | Crypto-only | 80–90% | On-demand (USDT) | $200,000 |
| BrightFunded | Crypto/Multi | 85–90% | Fast (minutes reported) | $200,000 |
| Apex Trader Funding | Futures | 100% (first $25k) / 90% | Bi-monthly | $300,000 |
| My Funded Futures | Futures | 90% | $600,000 | |
| Topstep | Futures | 90% | Standard | $150,000 |
| The Trading Pit | Multi (CFD + Futures) | 50%–80% | Standard | $5M (scaling) |
Conclusion
Between Crypto Prop Firms vs Futures Prop Firms if you live and breathe crypto markets, prefer decentralized payout structures, and want maximum flexibility in trading hours and instruments, a crypto prop firm — particularly one with real exchange access like HyroTrader — is likely your best avenue. The sector is innovating rapidly, with AI integration, DeFi-native platforms, and instant funding models reshaping what’s possible.
If you value regulatory accountability, professional-grade exchange infrastructure, and a clear path toward institutional-level trading, a futures prop firm — especially U.S.-based firms operating on CME infrastructure like Topstep or Apex Trader Funding — offers a more structurally sound foundation.
The most sophisticated traders in 2025–2026 are doing both: using crypto prop firms for high-volatility opportunity in digital assets, while using futures prop firms to build consistency, access regulated markets, and develop the discipline that defines long-term profitability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade crypto at a futures prop firm?
Yes. Futures prop firms like Apex Trader Funding and My Funded Futures offer access to CME-listed crypto futures contracts including Micro Bitcoin Futures (MBT) and Micro Ether Futures (MET). These are exchange-regulated instruments, distinct from crypto CFDs.
Are futures prop firms regulated?
U.S.-based futures prop firms that offer trading on CME, CBOT, COMEX, or NYMEX contracts operate within the CFTC-regulated exchange framework. Firms like Topstep are explicitly CFTC-compliant. Crypto prop firms, by contrast, mostly operate with minimal or offshore regulation.
How much does it cost to join a crypto prop firm vs a futures prop firm?
Crypto prop firm challenge fees are typically one-time and range from $39 to $500+ depending on account size, and are often refundable upon passing. Futures prop firm evaluations (e.g., Apex, Topstep) typically use a monthly subscription model ranging from $77 to $150/month, meaning ongoing costs until you pass.
