Head-to-head
Element Capital vs Tower Research Capital
A direct, side-by-side comparison of Element Capital and Tower Research Capital — profit splits, evaluation fees, payout cadence, supported assets, and trading rules. Data pulled live from our firm directory.
Quick verdict
Element Capital is best for
traders who prefer Firm Capital Model and a New York, NY, USA-based firm.
Full Element Capital profile →Cost & compensation
Cost and compensation path
Published fees and payout timing apply to trader-paid funding programs. Firm-capital and institutional paths are shown separately because their economics usually depend on hiring, allocation, salary, bonus, or profit-sharing terms.
Element Capital
Firm Capital ModelNot applicable for this model
This is a firm-capital or hiring-based trading path, not a trader-paid funding program. Compensation is typically handled through salary, bonus, draw, allocation, or profit-sharing arrangements rather than a published evaluation fee and payout schedule.
Tower Research Capital
Firm Capital ModelNot applicable for this model
This is a firm-capital or hiring-based trading path, not a trader-paid funding program. Compensation is typically handled through salary, bonus, draw, allocation, or profit-sharing arrangements rather than a published evaluation fee and payout schedule.
Decision guide
Best for your trader type
- Highest profit share
50% vs —%
- News traders
Allows trading through news events.
| Attribute | Element Capital Firm Capital Model · est. 2005 | Tower Research Capital Firm Capital Model · est. 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Evaluation fee | — | — |
| Monthly fee | — | — |
| Evaluation required | No | No |
| Instant funding | No | No |
| Capital | ||
| Profit split | — | 50% |
| Max allocation | Institutional | Institutional only |
| Account sizes | Institutional | Institutional only |
| Scaling | — | — |
| Payouts | ||
| Frequency | Quarterly | Annual bonus |
| First payout | — | — |
| Assets | ||
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | No |
| Trading rules | ||
| News trading | — | Yes |
| Overnight holding | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend holding | Yes | Yes |
| Copy trading | No | No |
| Technology | ||
| Platforms | Internal | Proprietary |
| Data feed | — | — |
| Company | ||
| Headquarters | New York, NY, USA | New York, USA |
About Element Capital
Global macro hedge fund led by Jeffrey Talpins, trading rates, FX and commodities.
Full Element Capital profile →About Tower Research Capital
Quantitative proprietary trading firm and global market maker founded by Mark Gorton. Operates high-frequency strategies across equities, futures, options, and currencies from offices in New York, London, and across Asia.
Full Tower Research Capital profile →Trust & stability
Reputation and rule-change activity
Two added decision signals: a weighted reputation score from independent review sources, and a 90-day view of structural rule-change activity where monitored sources are available.
Reputation
canonical- Sources used
- 1
- Confidence
- low
Weighted blend of independent trader-review sources. See methodology.
Rule Stability
last 90dWe do not currently have enough monitored public rule sources for this firm to report rule-change activity honestly.
Reputation
canonical- Sources used
- 1
- Confidence
- low
Weighted blend of independent trader-review sources. See methodology.
Rule Stability
last 90dWe do not currently have enough monitored public rule sources for this firm to report rule-change activity honestly.
Frequently asked
Common questions
- Which has a higher profit split — Element Capital or Tower Research Capital?
- Tower Research Capital pays 50% of trader profits once funded.
- Is Element Capital cheaper to start than Tower Research Capital?
- Element Capital: evaluation from —. Tower Research Capital: evaluation pricing varies.
- Which pays out faster — Element Capital or Tower Research Capital?
- Element Capital payouts: Quarterly. Tower Research Capital payouts: Annual bonus. First-payout eligibility: Element Capital — —; Tower Research Capital — n/a.
- Can I trade news at Element Capital or Tower Research Capital?
- Element Capital: policy unconfirmed. Tower Research Capital: permits news trading.
- Can I hold positions overnight at Element Capital or Tower Research Capital?
- Element Capital: allows overnight holds. Tower Research Capital: allows overnight holds.
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