Industry Data · Updated May 2026
The numbers behind the industry.
We track public filings, firm disclosures, and aggregated program data to build the most reliable picture of the proprietary trading industry available anywhere — with a focus on equities, options, and futures programs serving traders worldwide.
Estimated 2026 revenue
$19.4B
+34% YoY
Active funded traders
720K
+27% YoY
Payouts to traders
$2.34B
2026 projection
Equities + Options + Futures
88%
38% equities · 26% options · 24% futures
Estimated industry revenue
USD billions, including funded trader programs
Active funded traders
Thousands, global
Asset class mix
Share of funded program volume, 2026 estimate
US vs Non-US funded accounts
Thousands of active accounts
Payouts to funded traders
USD billions, annual
Funded account size distribution
Share of new accounts, 2026 YTD
Challenge → funded → payout funnel
Aggregate conversion across tracked two-step evaluation programs.
How traders rate the industry
Average score out of 100 across six categories, from our 2026 survey of 4,200+ funded traders (weighted by program size)
Read this as: traders broadly trust platforms and payouts, but say firms still fall short on education and pricing fairness — the two areas most likely to improve trader outcomes.
Spotlight
Where the volume goes.
US equity and options markets account for the largest share of routed flow, followed by CME index and energy futures. Crypto venues remain a meaningful minority.
Methodology
Figures are estimates compiled from regulatory filings, public statements, and program-level data shared with our editorial team. Annual funded trader counts reflect active accounts as of December. 2026 figures are full-year projections annualized from year-to-date data through May 2026. We update these series quarterly and publish revisions transparently.
For ongoing coverage of how these numbers move quarter over quarter, see our weekly brief or read our original consistency-rule research.