Research profile
Citadel Securities
Watch flags
Citadel Securities is a US-headquartered market maker regulated by the SFC and FINRA. Watch flags: past regulatory fines, regulatory censures, international regulatory settlements
Leading global market maker across equities and fixed income.
- Headquarters
- Miami, USA
- Founded
- 2002
- Funding model
- Firm Capital
- Availability
- Not clearly stated
U.S. traders: Accepted — verify on the firm's own terms before purchasing.
Profile updated: August 29, 2026 · Primary source types reviewed: firm rules, FAQ and program pages · Research & methodology
May suit
traders focused on equities, options.
Consider alternatives if
you require futures; you rely on copy trading.
Trader rating
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Overview
What this firm is and who it serves
Citadel Securities is one of the world's largest market makers, handling a significant share of US equity volume and a growing presence in options, treasuries, and FX. Separate from Citadel LLC (the hedge fund), it trades exclusively as principal.
"Create a more efficient, transparent, and fair marketplace through technology-driven market making."
At a glance
Structured facts about this firm
- Firm Type
- Firm Capital prop firm
- Market Focus
- Stocks, Options
- Trading Style
- News trading permitted, overnight holding allowed, weekend holding allowed
- Retail Accessibility
- Open to retail traders
- Based in
- Miami, USA
- Trader availability
- Not clearly stated
- Known For
- ~25%+ of US equity retail volume routed through CS
- CEO
- Peng Zhao
- Team size
- ~2, 000+
Funding programs
Account types and the path to capital
Evaluation
—Not required by this firm.
Instant funding
—Not offered by this firm.
Scaling plan
—No formal scaling plan documented.
Institutional hiring only
Trading rules
What's allowed, what isn't
Asset classes supported
Related terms: trailing drawdown · consistency rule · profit split
Platforms & technology
Where and how you trade
Supported platforms
Payout structure
How and when you get paid
Pros & cons
A balanced view based on documented terms
Strengths
- +Massive capital base
- +Best-in-class tech
- +Global reach
Trade-offs
- −Not open to external traders
- −Highly regulated wholesaler model
Citadel Securities FAQs
Based on terms reviewed August 29, 2026
What should traders verify before choosing Citadel Securities?+
Review the specific program's drawdown rules, payout eligibility, prohibited strategies, platform availability, refund terms and any country restrictions before purchasing. Terms can differ between programs at the same firm. This profile summarizes the latest documented terms we found, but traders should confirm the current rules directly with Citadel Securities before purchasing.
Does Citadel Securities offer evaluation and instant-funding options?+
Citadel Securities does not require a traditional evaluation phase. Program rules, fees and payout terms can differ between paths, so confirm the terms of the specific program you intend to buy.
How do Citadel Securities's payouts and profit split work?+
The published profit split is up to 50% of net profits to the trader, depending on the program; payouts are processed on a annual bonus basis. Payout eligibility begins after the applicable program cycle, and program-specific terms should be confirmed directly with the firm.
What are Citadel Securities's main drawdown and trading restrictions?+
Based on the documented terms we reviewed: news trading is allowed, overnight holding is allowed, weekend holding is allowed, copy trading is not permitted. Drawdown type and consistency requirements can vary by program, so check the rulebook for the exact program before purchase.
Which platforms and markets are available at Citadel Securities?+
Platforms: Proprietary systems. Markets: equities, options. Availability can differ by program and by region — confirm on the firm's platform and product pages before purchasing.
Disclosure
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