London, UK / New York, NY, Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seven Points Capital, a fully funded proprietary trading firm founded in 2007, has expanded into London with the opening of a new office, further strengthening its international presence as demand accelerates for long-term, mentorship-led trading models. The London expansion reflects growing global interest in Seven Points Capital’s approach. It coincides with a broader reset across the proprietary trading industry, as challenge-based firms face i ...

Core Insights - The global active prop trading market has seen a 25% increase in the last three years, with an estimated worth of around $12 billion [1] - Interest in prop trading surged in 2023, with Google search interest for "prop firms" increasing by 85% and "prop trading" by 139% [2] - The average age of a prop trader is 29, and approximately 75% do not achieve sustained profitability over a six-month period [10] Industry Overview - Prop trading firms provide retail traders with access to capital for trading, typically requiring an upfront fee ranging from $50 to several hundred [5][9] - Successful traders must pass evaluations and challenges to receive funding, with only 12.4% of traders at Topstep achieving this in 2024 [10][11] - Apex Trader Funding reported a sixfold increase in payouts to traders over the past year, indicating significant growth in the prop trading sector [12] Trader Experiences - Many traders, including those like Ricky Saldana and Daniel Inskeep, have invested substantial amounts in prop trading fees, often exceeding $10,000, while facing challenges in maintaining profitability [15][18] - The emotional and financial stress of prop trading is notable, with traders describing it as an "emotional rollercoaster" and acknowledging the risk of losing their accounts [19][20] - Despite the challenges, traders are drawn to the potential for financial independence and the appeal of trading with larger sums of capital [16][21][24]

Core Insights - Prop trading firms are adapting to include exchange-traded funds (ETFs) alongside traditional asset classes like forex, cryptocurrency, and futures trading, driven by the need for leverage, liquidity, and structured pricing [1][2] Prop Trading Structure - The introduction of ETFs changes how prop firms structure their funding programs and evaluate traders, focusing on consistency and control rather than just profit potential [2][3] - Profit targets, firm drawdown limits, and daily loss limits are established to prevent emotional trading, with a strong emphasis on stable execution and sensible position sizing during the evaluation process [4][5] Performance Validation - ETF prop firms utilize a structured evaluation process to validate trader performance, ensuring that traders demonstrate stability before receiving a funded account [3][5] - The profit-sharing agreements are set from the beginning and can improve as traders build their track records, with initial payouts occurring within weeks of becoming a funded trader [5] Market Access and Execution - ETF prop trading distinguishes itself by connecting directly to live market data, allowing orders and fills to reflect real exchange conditions rather than internal pricing [7][8] - Some firms simulate trading environments by replicating order books, while others execute trades through exchange gateways, ensuring verifiable fills and timestamps [8]

Core Insights - Hola Prime has launched a significant brand campaign titled "We Are Traders," aimed at honoring traders and reshaping perceptions about the trading profession [1][2][5] - The campaign emphasizes trading as an identity and discipline, highlighting the skills required in the profession, such as technical analysis, risk management, and behavioral science [2][3] Company Overview - Hola Prime is a global proprietary trading firm founded by Somesh Kapuria, known for its innovative approach to trading and commitment to addressing traders' needs [4][6] - The firm operates in over 175 countries, providing traders with access to various trading instruments and emphasizing transparency and real-time risk management [6][7] Campaign Details - The "We Are Traders" campaign will be launched across multiple regions, including LATAM, MENAT, Asia, the U.S., and Europe, starting in November 2025 [5] - The campaign will utilize cinematic digital films and real trader narratives to inspire pride and unity within the trading community [5]

Core Insights - Vetted Prop Firms has launched an innovative online platform aimed at assisting traders in navigating the proprietary trading firm industry, providing standards-based evaluations and metrics-driven rankings [1][2] - The platform has quickly become an essential resource for traders, as the choice of prop firm significantly impacts their success [2] - The service distinguishes itself through its independence and measurable assessments, evaluating firms on critical parameters such as platform stability and trader satisfaction [3][5] Evaluation Framework - The platform employs a structured evaluation framework that assesses trading conditions, capital allocation, profit splits, and risk management protocols across various firms [2] - Each firm is rigorously evaluated on parameters including withdrawal reliability and customer support responsiveness, enhancing the value for traders [3][5] Mission and Goals - The mission of Vetted Prop Firms is to create a trusted resource for traders to make informed decisions regarding prop firm partnerships, offering detailed reviews and exclusive discounts [4] - The platform utilizes a data-validated ranking system that incorporates community feedback, historical performance, and regulatory compliance to ensure fairness in evaluations [4] User Experience - The website features an intuitive interface that allows traders to filter firms based on measurable criteria such as minimum capital requirements and profit-sharing structures, facilitating the search for suitable prop firms [6] - The comprehensive approach includes examining dispute resolution procedures and refund policies, helping users avoid pitfalls and identify opportunities aligned with their trading objectives [5]

Core Insights - XFunded, founded in 2024 by Raphaël Pena, is expanding its operations in Dubai and collaborating with trading influencers across Europe and social media platforms [1] - The firm provides traders access to capital between $10,000 and $300,000, with a total of over $1.2 million distributed in payouts during its first year [2] - XFunded has been recognized for its customer support and has been voted among the most trusted proprietary trading firms by influencers [3] Business Model and Operations - The company offers traders accounts on MT5 or cTrader with no spreads or trading commissions, and 24/7 support [4] - Approximately 35% of XFunded's revenue is allocated to client payouts, aligning with industry standards for balancing trader profitability and firm sustainability [5] Collaborations and Success Stories - XFunded's growth is bolstered by partnerships with notable traders and influencers, such as Matthieu Pothier, who reported over $38,000 in withdrawals within three months [6] - Angelo, a Spanish trader, manages multiple funded accounts and generates consistent monthly results after joining XFunded [6] - Andrea Giudice has helped over 150 clients secure funded accounts, leading to over $450,000 in payouts for his students [6]

Core Insights - Hyperion DeFi, Inc. has announced its first HYPE Asset Use Service (HAUS) agreement with Credo Cayman, marking a significant step in its strategy to generate revenue through decentralized finance [1][2][3] Company Overview - Hyperion DeFi is the first U.S. publicly listed company focused on building a long-term strategic treasury of Hyperliquid's native token, HYPE [1][6] - The company aims to provide shareholders with simplified access to the Hyperliquid ecosystem, which is recognized as one of the fastest-growing and highest revenue-generating blockchains [6] HYPE Token and Hyperliquid Platform - HYPE is the native token of Hyperliquid, which offers reduced trading fees and increased referral bonuses for staked HYPE [5] - As of September 2025, over 30 million HYPE has been sequestered by the blockchain, making it the 16th-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization [5] - Hyperliquid is a layer one blockchain optimized for high-frequency trading, featuring on-chain perpetual futures and spot order books with 70 millisecond block times [4] HAUS Agreement with Credo - The HAUS agreement involves the use of 100,000 staked HYPE by Credo, allowing the firm to significantly lower transaction fees on Hyperliquid [2] - The net fee savings from this agreement will be shared between Hyperion DeFi and Credo, creating a new revenue stream for both parties [2][3] - Credo's team consists of experienced traders and technologists who have transitioned from centralized venues to Hyperliquid for its lower fees and comparable trade settlement speeds [3] Future Developments - Hyperion DeFi is also developing the Optejet User Filled Device (UFD) for ophthalmic liquids, which aims to improve treatment compliance and outcomes for patients [7]

Core Insights - The Acuiti management report provides an analysis of the proprietary trading sector, focusing on operational performance, strategic exchange relationships, and the growth of new markets in 2025 [1] 24/7 Trading Debate - There is a divided sentiment among proprietary traders regarding the shift to 24/7 trading, with 37% expressing optimism and 38% holding a negative view [2][5] - Support for 24/7 trading is stronger in the US compared to Europe, with nearly 60% citing the ability to respond to news at any time as a key benefit [3] Concerns and Challenges - Over 80% of respondents highlight staffing and operational demands as significant concerns, along with infrastructure costs and complex risk management [4] - The first half of 2025 faced challenges such as tariff-related volatility, hiring difficulties for staff with trading and AI expertise, and rising exchange fees [9] Performance Overview - More than 80% of firms reported better results in H1 2025 compared to H1 2024, with nearly 90% performing better than in a typical year [10] - Key profit sources included equities, crypto, and listed interest rates, with Asia, South America, and North America identified as regions with the most opportunities [10] Market Trends - There is growing interest in listed FX options, with support for a shift from OTC to listed venues due to standardization and reduced counterparty risk [11] - The report notes liquidity issues in CME agricultural contracts, but only 5% of respondents described them as significant [13] Exchange Growth - The Avelacom Exchange Growth Index ranked several exchanges as the fastest-growing venues, with new contracts attracting significant activity [15] Strategic Insights from Kraken - Kraken's Head of Exchange outlined plans to expand into equities, tokenized assets, and derivatives, emphasizing tokenization for collateral efficiency and the MiCA framework as a regulatory model [16]