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The oldest prop firms still active today include:
- FundedNext - Beginners-friendly offers (free trial, trade copier software is allowed)
- Goat Funded Trader - A prop trading firm offering simulated capital of up to $400,000 for Forex and CFD trading
- SabioTrade - Best for those who want to work as non-staff traders with up to 90% of profit
- Funded Trading Plus - Instant funding accounts without profit target (max drawdown 6%)
- Plutus Trade Base - A proprietary trading firm, offering profit split up to 95%, and multiple evaluation models for Forex and CFD trading.
The funded trading industry has grown rapidly over the past decade, with hundreds of firms launching evaluation programs that promise traders access to capital. While new platforms continue to emerge, understanding the market starts with the oldest prop firms that helped shape today's funded trading industry.
This article explores the oldest prop firms, traces the evolution of proprietary trading, and highlights the companies that continue to influence the modern funded trading landscape.
Risk warning: Proprietary trading involves substantial financial risk. Using firm capital can lead to gains or losses, and failure to meet targets may result in account closure. Over 85% of prop traders do not achieve long-term profitability. Understand the risks and seek professional guidance.
The oldest prop firms still operating today
The longest-running prop firms have earned their reputations by adapting to changing market conditions, technological shifts, and evolving trading regulations. While longevity alone doesn't guarantee the best trading experience, firms with decades of operating history often have more established risk management practices, proven business models, and stronger brand recognition than newer entrants. In the retail funded trading space, a longer track record can also be an indicator of operational stability, especially in an industry that has seen many firms launch – and disappear – over the past few years.
The comparison below highlights some of the oldest prop firms still operating today, including both traditional proprietary trading companies and well-established firms that provide funded trading opportunities. We've compared their founding year, headquarters, supported markets, and key features to help you identify which firm best matches your trading goals.
| FundedNext | FTMO | City Traders Imperium | Maverick Trading | The5ers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Funding Up To, $ |
4 000 000 | 2 000 000 | 4 000 000 | 1 000 000 | 4 000 000 |
|
Profit split up to, % |
95 | 90 | 70-100 | 80 | 80 |
|
Trading bots (EAs) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
|
Min Trade Days |
2 | 4 | No time limits | No time limits | 3 |
|
Trading period |
Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
|
Free Evaluation |
No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
|
No-Evaluation |
No | No | Yes | No | No |
|
Open an account |
Go to broker Your capital is at risk. |
Go to broker Your capital is at risk. |
Go to broker |
Go to broker Your capital is at risk. |
Go to broker Your capital is at risk. |
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How traders analyze older prop firms
Professional traders rarely choose a funding platform based on its founding year alone. Instead, they evaluate how the firm operates and whether its trading conditions have remained consistent over time.
Key factors to consider include:
rule transparency;
payout frequency;
platform reliability;
asset class specialization.
Firms that consistently maintain clear rules and reliable operations are more likely to earn a strong reputation over time. Evaluating these factors helps traders determine whether a firm's longevity reflects genuine operational stability or simply years in business.
How the proprietary trading industry evolved
Proprietary trading has changed significantly over the past few decades. What began as in-house trading desks at banks and financial firms eventually evolved into today's independent prop firms and funded trader programs. Understanding that evolution helps explain why the oldest prop firms remain influential today.
Early proprietary trading desks
Long before remote funding programs existed, proprietary trading firms operated as professional trading desks using their own capital. They hired experienced traders to execute strategies across equities, derivatives, and currencies, with profits generated directly for the firm rather than outside clients.
Bank-led proprietary trading before 2008
Before the global financial crisis, many major banks maintained proprietary trading desks that generated revenue through market making, arbitrage, and speculative trading. These institutional desks helped shape the modern proprietary trading industry before tighter regulation changed the landscape.
Regulation reshaped the market
The 2008 financial crisis marked a turning point. Regulatory reforms, including the Volcker Rule in the United States, reduced proprietary trading at major banks and accelerated the growth of independent trading firms. Many of today's oldest prop trading firms expanded during this period as the industry shifted away from bank-owned trading desks.
The rise of technology-driven prop firms
Independent firms increasingly relied on quantitative research, automation, and high-speed infrastructure. Companies such as Jane Street, which trades across more than 200 electronic markets worldwide, demonstrate how proprietary trading evolved into a technology-driven business built on sophisticated algorithms and market-making strategies.
From proprietary trading desks to funded trader programs
The industry's evolution eventually produced two distinct types of proprietary trading firms:
Institutional prop firms, which trade the firm's own capital using professional traders.
Funded trader programs, which evaluate retail traders and provide access to capital after they meet predefined performance and risk requirements.
Understanding this distinction is important when comparing the oldest prop firms. Some lists focus on long-established institutional trading firms, while others rank the oldest funded prop firms that pioneered the remote evaluation model.
The meaning of longevity in proprietary trading
When evaluating the oldest prop firms, a company's founding date is only part of the story.
First, some firms operated for years before introducing funded trading programs, while others rebranded or changed their business models over time. As a result, their current structure may differ significantly from when they were first established.
Second, longevity often reflects operational stability. Firms that remain active for a decade or more have typically refined their evaluation models, payout systems, and risk management frameworks through multiple market cycles.
Finally, established firms usually have a longer track record of trader feedback, platform reliability, and withdrawal performance. This history gives traders more information to evaluate a firm beyond its marketing claims.
For these reasons, examining the oldest prop trading firms provides valuable insight into how the funded trading industry has evolved.
Institutional history and early proprietary trading
The history of proprietary trading began long before retail-funded trading platforms emerged. Firms such as Jane Street, Optiver, and DRW built their businesses around quantitative research, market making, and high-frequency trading, using their own capital to trade global financial markets.
Unlike modern evaluation platforms, these firms recruit professional traders directly rather than offering funded accounts to retail clients. Although they rarely appear in comparisons of funded trading programs, they represent the institutional roots of today's proprietary trading industry.
The rise of retail-funded trading firms
The retail-funded model emerged much later. In the early 2010s, several companies introduced evaluation programs that allowed individual traders to access larger amounts of trading capital after meeting predefined performance and risk management requirements.
When discussing the oldest prop firms in the funded trading segment, a relatively small group of companies consistently stands out. Their evaluation models helped establish many of the standards that continue to shape the industry today.
The role of Forex funding programs
Forex remains the primary focus of many funded trading firms thanks to its high liquidity, extended trading hours, and relatively low barriers to entry. These advantages helped some of the oldest Forex prop firms establish themselves early in the remote funding market.
At the same time, Forex funding programs differ significantly in their approach. Some firms prioritize rapid account scaling, while others focus on steady capital growth and disciplined risk management. As a result, a firm's longevity should be considered alongside its funding model, trading rules, and overall suitability for your trading style.
Why consistency matters more than age
From my experience, a firm's age is an important factor, but it should be considered alongside its overall operating standards. It's equally important to look at how consistently the company has maintained its trading rules, payout process, and risk management over time. Stable conditions are often a sign of disciplined operations and a sustainable funding model.
I also recommend examining how established firms structure drawdown limits, scaling plans, and evaluation stages. Companies that have operated successfully for many years have usually refined these systems through different market environments, creating a more predictable experience for traders.
Ultimately, the best prop firms combine longevity with transparency and consistency. A proven track record, fair evaluation criteria, reliable payouts, and clear risk rules are often stronger indicators of long-term quality than a company's founding date alone.
Methodology for compiling our ratings of prop firms
Traders Union applies a rigorous methodology to evaluate prop companies using over 100 quantitative and qualitative criteria. Multiple parameters are given individual scores that feed into an overall rating.
Key aspects of the assessment include:
-
Trader testimonials and reviews. Collecting and analyzing feedback from existing and past traders to understand their experiences with the firm.
-
Trading instruments. Companies are evaluated on the range of assets offered, as well as the breadth and depth of available markets.
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Challenges and evaluation process. Analyzing the firm's challenge system, account types, evaluation criteria, and the process for granting funding.
-
Profit split. Reviewing the profit split structure and terms, scaling plans, and how the firm handles profit distributions.
-
Trading conditions. Examining leverage, execution speeds, commissions, and other trading costs associated with the firm.
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Platform and technology. Assessing the firm's proprietary trading platform or third-party platforms it supports, including ease of use, functionality, and stability.
-
Education and support. Quality and availability of training materials, webinars, and one-on-one coaching.
Conclusion
The lasting success of the oldest prop firms is rooted not just in their longevity, but in their ability to consistently uphold disciplined trading standards, transparent rules, and reliable payouts. While companies like Maverick Trading or The 5%ers benefit from years of experience, it’s their adaptability through different market cycles and commitment to fair, clearly communicated evaluation processes that truly set them apart. A firm’s founding date can offer insight into its operational stability, but traders should prioritize a proven track record of consistent policies over mere age. Ultimately, in the dynamic world of proprietary trading, enduring quality lies in a blend of innovation and unwavering operational integrity—making consistency the real benchmark of a trustworthy prop firm.
FAQs
What qualities differentiate the oldest prop firms from newer entrants in funded trading?
How does the evaluation process at older prop firms impact traders’ long-term success?
Why is it important to consider factors beyond the founding date when choosing a prop firm?
In what ways have the priorities of funded trading firms changed since the early days of proprietary trading?
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Team that worked on the article
Aleksandra Chaikina has been a contributor to Traders Union since 2021. With over 15 years of experience in copywriting and more than 5 years focused on financial content, she specializes in producing detailed guides, analytics, and comparative reviews across various sectors, including cryptocurrencies, Forex, investment strategies, and financial technologies.
Ciaran Ryan is a veteran financial journalist based in South Africa, where he covers cryptocurrency, mining, stock markets, and governance for Moneyweb. He also hosts the weekly Moneyweb Crypto Podcast.
Chinmay Soni is a financial analyst with more than 5 years of experience in working with stocks, Forex, derivatives, and other assets. As a founder of a boutique research firm and an active researcher, he covers various industries and fields, providing insights backed by statistical data.
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Proprietary trading (prop trading) is a financial trading strategy where a financial firm or institution uses its own capital to trade in various financial markets, such as stocks, bonds, commodities, or derivatives, with the aim of generating profits for the company itself. Prop traders typically do not trade on behalf of clients but instead trade with the firm's money, taking on the associated risks and rewards.
Copy trading is an investing tactic where traders replicate the trading strategies of more experienced traders, automatically mirroring their trades in their own accounts to potentially achieve similar results.
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