The prop trading market in 2025 is packed with options – from established giants to fresh Web3 startups. Let’s break down who’s who and what each one offers.

🔎 In This Article, You’ll Learn:

• The biggest competitors to Upscale and what they bring to the table

• What makes Upscale’s approach unique and its key advantages

• The pros and cons of ech top prop trading platform

• Why Upscale could be your best choice among dozens of alternatives

🌓 Let’s split Upscale’s competitors into two main categories. First, we’ll look at the classic leaders in prop trading, like FTMO, TopStep, and The5%ers. Then, we’ll check out the next-gen platforms, such as FundedNext, FundingPips, E8Markets, Breakout Prop, and Bitfunded. This will help you understand the different approaches in prop trading and what sets Upscale apart.

First up: The Classic Prop Trading Leaders

FTMO

— One of the most well-known names in Forex & CFD trading. Founded: 2015, Prague.

🔶 How is it different from Upscale?

FTMO works with classic platforms like MetaTrader, cTrader, and DXTrade, though more traders are now switching to modern tools like TradingView or mini-apps for real-time updates. You can start with a bigger account here, but the minimum deposit is higher, which might not suit everyone. Also, trading fees for stocks, Forex, metals, and other traditional assets are still pretty steep. One key thing: FTMO has a rule that blocks trading 2 minutes before and after major news events — keep that in mind.

TopStep

– For over 10 years, this prop firm has helped traders get funded in classic futures trading. Founded: 2012, Chicago.

🔶 How is it different from Upscale?

TopStep only works through its own TopstepX platform. Trading is limited to classic futures markets, not cryptocurrencies. The platform uses a traditional monthly subscription model for challenge participation, and after passing the challenge, traders must pay a one-time activation fee to get a funded account.

With Upscale, traders pay once for the challenge, and after passing it, they get immediate access to a funded account — no recurring fees or activation costs. Plus, TopStep has strict day-trading rules — positions must be closed by the end of the day, which can be limiting for traders used to 24/7 markets.

The 5%ers

— A prop firm for traders in Forex, crypto, and indices. Founded: 2016, Israel.

🔶 How is it different from Upscale?

The 5%ers operates through classic platforms like MetaTrader and cTrader, plus their own proprietary tools. Upscale, on the other hand, uses the TradingView terminal powered by Pyth Network’s decentralized price feeds — with the added convenience of Telegram bot trading.

The entry threshold at The 5%ers is much higher than Upscale’s, and commissions are steeper. Like most traditional platforms, The 5%ers requires a 1-3 day KYC process, which isn’t ideal for traders who value speed and anonymity. With Upscale, all you need is a Web3 wallet — fund your challenge in just minutes, no paperwork!

Another downside? The 5%ers, like FTMO, enforces a 2-minute trading freeze before and after major news events — another restriction Upscale traders don’t face.

💬 "Yeah, the old-school prop firms have tons of restrictions and crazy fees. What about the new players?"

Let's check out these next-gen platforms:

FundedNext

— A fresh player for Forex and crypto trading. Founded: 2022, UAE.

🔶 How is it different from Upscale?

FundedNext supports classic trading terminals and offers leverage up to 1:100, while Upscale limits it to 1:5 – a more conservative approach that keeps trading predictable, minimizes sharp drawdowns, and avoids turning it into a gambling game.

When it comes to fees, Upscale stands out with the lowest minimum entry and most competitive commissions on the market — just $18 and 0.008%! But that’s not all. Unlike most prop firms, Upscale invests in its traders' growth, helping them improve their skills and achieve consistent results through free courses in .

FundingPips

— A tech-driven prop trading project built by traders, for traders. Founded: 2020, Dubai.

🔶 How is it different from Upscale?

FundingPips requires just $59 to start, but payouts begin at 60% for traders, while Upscale offers 80% from day one. Unlike competitors, Upscale has no verification process, lower fees, and smoother trading via TradingView & Telegram.

E8 Markets

— A prop firm with multiple evaluation options for traders. Founded: 2021, Dallas, USA.

🔶 How is it different from Upscale?

E8 Markets operates through classic trading terminals without Web3 features, which may not suit everyone in today’s trading world. Their trader evaluation structure offers three challenge options: E8 One (1 phase), Classic (2 phases), and Track (3 phases). Each has its own rules — for example, in the 1-phase challenge, traders need to hit a +10% profit target, while on Upscale, it’s just 5%. The daily loss limit is 4% of the starting balance, with a max drawdown of 6%, compared to Upscale’s 5% daily loss limit and 10% max drawdown. To support traders, the platform provides external webinars and materials since it doesn’t have its own Academy.

Breakout Prop

— project with its own trading terminal, focusing mainly on crypto assets. Founded: 2023, USA.

🔶 How is it different from Upscale?

Breakout Prop has stricter evaluation rules compared to Upscale. Traders face either a one-step challenge (+10% profit target, 4% daily loss limit, 6% max drawdown) or a two-step challenge (+5% and +10% targets). Meanwhile, Upscale’s profit targets are easier to hit — just +5% and +8%. The minimum entry fee starts at $55, which is higher than Upscale’s. Trading fees are $3.50 per lot (for opening/closing a $10,000 position), while Upscale charges only 0.008% per trade — way more cost-effective.

Bitfunded

— newer player focusing on crypto trading funding. Founded: 2023, UAE.

🔶 How is it different from Upscale?

Bitfunded focuses exclusively on cryptocurrency trading. The challenge fee starts at $79, and payments can be made via credit cards or Solana Pay — though there’s no built-in Web3 wallet integration. Payouts may be subject to internal policies, but exact withdrawal fees or commissions aren’t clearly specified.

Among other emerging players, SpiceProp from the Czech Republic stands out with its forex-focused trading and high leverage up to 1:100. Then there’s PropW, the official prop trading platform of the CoinW exchange. Both launched in 2023-2024 and are still in active development.

Beyond these platforms, newer projects keep popping up in the market. But for a fair comparison, it’s best to focus on established and proven players first.

💬 "So many options out there! But what are the conditions at Upscale? What makes it so special?"

🔶 Upscale’s advantages:

🚀 Just (open/close) with no hidden costs or slippage – one of the best rates in the industry.

🚀 Challenge starts from just $18 – the lowest entry threshold among major prop firms.

🚀 Some of the most flexible challenge rules: two phases with 5% and 8% targets, 5% daily drawdown, and 10% max drawdown limits.

🚀 Upscale’s modern trading terminal runs on a decentralized Pyth Network price feed. With aggregated Pyth prices and zero slippage on BTC, Upscale sets a new standard for fair and profitable trading.

🚀 Traders keep at least 80% of profits, with potential to increase up to 90%.

🚀 No IP restrictions, news trading bans, or hedging limits: Trade from any country, use any strategy (including hedging), and enter trades during high-impact news – no artificial blocks or restrictions.

🚀 Upscale is the only platform offering trading directly in and – no extra terminals needed.

🚀 Fastest onboarding: Sign up and start trading in just minutes – no KYC required.

🚀 Access to 200+ top crypto assets for trading.

🚀 Maximum capital: Up to $100,000 per account, with the ability to manage 4 accounts at once – scaling up to $400,000 total.

🚀 Free education: All Upscale traders get free access to – learn advanced strategies, improve skills, and boost trading performance.

💬 "Agreed, the conditions are top-notch! So what’s next?"

⏰ Time to take action

✍️ Prop trading isn’t some exclusive luxury anymore — it’s a tool for every smart trader. And if you’re still wondering whether to give it a shot, the question isn’t "Do I need access to up to $400,000 in capital?" The real question is: Are you ready to miss out on trading with minimal risk and maximum opportunity?

💎 Check out or visit the . Start transforming your trading life today.

The future of prop trading is already here. And it fits right in your pocket! 🚀

🔗 Links

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💬 — “Wait, are you saying I can actually get $100,000 for trading and not risk all my own money?”
— “Absolutely! Welcome to Upscale!”

🔎 What will you learn in this article?

In this article, you’ll discover how trading with Upscale works, what makes this approach unique, how to get funded with up to $400,000, and why your own trades are the best lessons for trader growth. We’ll break down the benefits of the Telegram format, highlight the platform’s key features, and share tips on how to use Upscale for rapid professional development.

📃 What is Upscale?

💎 is a prop trading platform where traders can get a funded account from $1,000 up to $100,000 and keep up to 80% of the profits. All you need to get started is to pass a challenge and prove your skills.

☯️ Upscale is available both as a web version and a Telegram bot:

is perfect when you’re at home or in the office at your computer: it’s convenient for analyzing charts on a big screen, working with multiple windows, and doing deep trade reviews.

is ideal when you’re on the go or don’t have access to a computer: you can quickly open trades, monitor the market, and chat with the community right from your phone — no need to switch between apps.

💬 “Yeah, trading right in Telegram is awesome! But what determines my account size? Do I get more if I trade better?”

You actually choose your own account size — it all depends on which challenge you decide to take. Upscale challenge pricing is flexible and lets you pick the level that matches your experience and ambitions.

For example, to access a $1,000 funded account, you only need to pay $18. Want to go big and try for $100,000? The participation fee is $899. There are options for every level — from “Minimum Risk” to “Market Legend” — so you can start small and scale up as you gain confidence.

📃 Upscale prop trading challenge plans and pricing

💬 “Yeah, the prices really aren’t sky-high! I mean, I’m not a total newbie, but I’d like to start with a cheaper plan first. Can I switch to a higher one once I get the hang of it?”

Absolutely! With Upscale, you’re not limited to just one account — you can manage up to four trading accounts at the same time from a single profile. This means you can get total funding of up to $400,000.

Want to start with the minimum plan to test the platform and get used to the prop trading conditions? No problem! Once you feel more confident, just add another account with a bigger balance.

🏆 How to join an Upscale challenge?

The whole process takes just a couple of steps and is fully online, whether you use Telegram or the web version.

First, choose your plan and pay for participation using Telegram Stars, USDT, or TON. The bigger the deposit, the better value you get for your challenge fee.

🚀 Let the challenge begin!

The challenge consists of two stages, each lasting 14 days, designed to test your consistency and risk management skills.

For example, for an account of $10,000, at the first stage you need to earn $500, and at the second stage — $800.

🔎 You can learn more about the challenge rules and transitioning to a funded account on .

💬 "Wait, I haven’t read all the trading books yet!"

🎓 In trading, as in life, the best teacher is practice. You can take dozens of courses, but until you start opening real trades, mistakes and victories won’t become your personal lessons. Upscale gives you the chance to learn from firsthand experience — without risking your entire deposit.

💡 Instead of investing a large sum and worrying over every dollar, you simply buy a challenge — your attempt. Didn’t succeed the first time? No problem: you can try again without losing your entire capital, because your risks are limited only to the cost of the challenge. It’s like learning to ride a bike: you get on, try, sometimes fall, but grow more confident each time.

⚡ Plus, Upscale helps traders grow for free right in Telegram. It’s a great way to get theoretical knowledge and practical tips that complement real trading experience.

📈 This approach makes prop trading with Upscale accessible and safe even for beginners — you learn by doing, not just from others’ mistakes, and gradually sharpen your skills without blowing your account to zero.

💰 And the best part? Once you’ve found your footing and started trading profitably, you can scale up to larger sums and keep up to 80% of the profits — while others keep hesitating, clinging to their money, and fearing to take the first step.

💬 Upscale FAQ

1. How do I start trading with a funded account on Upscale?

It's simple: Choose a suitable plan and pay the participation fee (using Telegram Stars, USDT, or TON). Then complete a two-stage challenge with profit targets and loss limits. After passing, you'll receive your funded account and can start trading with real money.

2. How much does the challenge cost?

The cost depends on your chosen account size. The larger the capital, the better the price per $1,000 under management.

3. What assets are available for trading?

Various crypto assets are available including: Major coins: BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, LTC, DOGE, TRX, SOL, TON; Ethereum & Solana ecosystem tokens: UNI, LINK, DYDX, JUP, BONK; Layer 1/Layer 2 coins, memecoins, and DeFi tokens. The full list is always available on Gitbook.

4. How quickly can I withdraw profits?

Profit withdrawals are available after 14 days of receiving your funded account. Payments are made in USDT on the TON network — fast and with no hidden conditions.

5. What fees apply on the platform?

While there are no blockchain transaction or position transfer fees, traders should note: trading commission: Just 0.008% per trade (open/close); funding rate: 0.03% every 8 hours

6. What if I fail the challenge initially?

No worries — you can retry by purchasing a new challenge. Your risks are always limited to the challenge cost, not your entire deposit.

7. Is there free trader education?

Yes! Upscale offers free trading courses and educational materials through Storm Academy — helping you build skills and learn from pros at no extra cost.

8. What's the minimum deposit to start?

The entry-level plan is $18 for a $1,000 account — a low-risk way to try prop trading with minimal investment.

9. What happens if I breach loss limits?

Exceeding daily or total loss limits will lock your account. You'll need to retake the challenge to continue.

10. How do I contact Upscale support?

24/7 support is available directly in Telegram — ask in the .

🔗 Links

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💡 Curious about how to make money in trading without risking your whole savings? Heard about prop trading but not sure what it is? Let’s break it down in simple terms!

In this article, you’ll learn:

What prop trading is and how it works How prop trading is different from trading your own money The pros and cons of prop trading Why more and more traders are choosing prop firms to make money in the markets Tips and hacks for beginners in prop trading.

🧐 What is prop trading?

Prop trading (short for proprietary trading) is when you trade on financial markets using a prop firm’s money, not just your own cash. Instead of risking all your savings, you use the company’s capital and split the profits with them based on an agreed percentage.

📌 Example:

Let’s say you only have $1,000 and want to start trading. If you trade with your own money, you can only make small trades, and even a tiny loss can really hurt your account.

But if you pass a prop firm’s challenge, they might give you $50,000 to trade with. Now you’re trading with way more money, but your risk is only the cost of the challenge (like $100-$200).

If you make 5% profit in a month, that’s $2,500. Your share (let’s say 80%) would be $2,000 — way more than what you could make trading just your own $1,000.

📊 How does a prop firm work?

1. Trader challenge: To get access to a prop firm’s money, you need to pass a challenge or evaluation. This proves you can manage risk and trade profitably.

2. Trading with company funds: After you pass, you get a funded account — anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 or more. If you lose, you only lose the challenge fee, not the whole account.

3. Profit split: Usually, you keep 70-90% of the profits. The rest goes to the prop trading firm.

💰 Why are more traders choosing prop trading?

1. Low Personal Risk: You don’t risk all your money — just the challenge fee.

   If you pay $200 to join a prop challenge and fail, you only lose $200, not your whole trading account. Even if you were trading tens of thousands, your real loss is capped at the entry fee.

2. Access to Big Capital: You can trade with much bigger amounts, which means more potential profit.

   You have $500, but the prop firm gives you $50,000 to trade. If you make 5% in a month, that’s $2,500. Even after splitting with the firm, your cut is way more than what you could make with just your own cash.

3. Clear Rules and Discipline: Prop firms have strict risk management rules, so you don’t blow up your account on a bad day.

   If you start trading too aggressively or break loss limits, the system will stop your trading. This protects you from emotional decisions and keeps you from losing everything in one bad session.

4. Partnership with the Firm: Prop firms want you to win — they make money when you do!

   Projects like Upscale offer free education to help you trade better.

⚖️ Prop trading vs. trading your own money: quick comparison

💬 Prop trading FAQ

1. What’s the minimum deposit for prop trading?

   Usually, you just need to pay for the challenge to get access to the firm’s capital.

2. Can I lose my own money in prop trading?

   You only risk the challenge fee, not your whole deposit.

3. What are the requirements for traders?

   You need to follow risk management rules and prove your skills during the challenge.

4. What can I trade with a prop firm?

   The list of trading assets depends on the prop firm — check their website for details.

5. How do profit payouts work?

   Profits are usually paid monthly or at the end of a set period. Traders typically get 70–90% of the profits, with the rest going to the firm.

6. What happens if I break the rules?

   If you break risk management rules (like going over loss limits), your trading might be paused or your account closed. This protects both you and the firm from big losses.

7. Can I do prop trading while working a regular job?

   Yes! Most prop firms let you trade online whenever you want. For example, Upscale lets you take the challenge and trade both on the web and right in Telegram with .

8. How do I pick a reliable prop firm?

   Check the firm’s reputation, challenge conditions, payout transparency, support, and training resources. Read reviews and avoid companies promising “guaranteed profits.”

✍️ Conclusion

Prop trading is a modern, smart way to earn money in the markets without risking all your own capital. If you’re wondering whether to trade with your own money or a firm’s, try prop trading — it opens up new opportunities for growth and steady income with Upscale!

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What is Prop Trading?

Prop trading (short for proprietary trading) is a model where traders use a company’s capital instead of their own funds. Rather than depositing large sums, traders get access to a sizable account and earn a share of the profits they generate.

This model is called profit-sharing — the trader earns, and the company takes a percentage of their success. All it takes to get started is paying for access and passing a challenge.

🙂 For beginners — it's a chance to start trading with real capital while investing very little and honing your strategy.

😏 For pros — a way to scale profits without locking up personal funds, while tapping into institutional-grade liquidity.

😎 For influencers — a tool to monetize your audience via our referral program and earn from every subscription.

Trade with Upscale

Upscale is the first AI-powered prop trading platform built into Telegram. It gives traders access to up to $100,000 in capital and allows them to withdraw up to 80% of their profits.

📌 Why Upscale?

• Low risk, high capital — manage up to $100K in deposits and keep up to 80% of the profits.

• Simple subscription model — pay in Telegram Stars with transparent terms and zero hidden fees.

• Flexible challenges, low fees — just 0.008% for opening and closing, with no time pressure.

• Advanced trading tools — all accessible in a mobile-first format.

Upscale lets you start with opportunity, not investment.

How to Become a Trader on Upscale

📌 It takes just 3 steps to go from registration to trading:

Step 1: Choose Your Plan and Pay for the Challenge

Unlike traditional trading, prop trading gives you access to large capital with a simple subscription.

💡 The larger the account, the lower the fee percentage-wise.

Payment is made via Telegram Stars — it’s fast, easy, and secure.

Step 2: Pass the Challenge

The challenge is designed to prove you can trade with discipline and manage risks before handling real capital.

Stage 1:

✅ +5% profit

❌ Max daily loss: 5%

❌ Max total loss: 10%

📅 Minimum 3 profit days

📈 Leverage: x5

💵 Min position size: 1% of deposit

Stage 2:

✅ +8% profit

❌ Max daily loss: 5

❌ Max total loss: 10%

📅 Minimum 5 profit days

📈 Leverage: x5

💵 Min position size: 1% of deposit

Step 3: Get Funded and Start Trading

Once you pass the challenge, you get access to a real funded account and can start trading.

• Profit withdrawals (up to 80%) are available 14 days after completing the challenge.

• Payouts are made in USDT on TON — fast and hassle-free.

• No hidden fees or conditions — your profits are truly yours.

🔥 Congrats — you’re officially a prop trader! You manage the capital while the company takes on the risk.

Trading Conditions on Upscale

📌 After passing the challenge, Upscale offers flexible risk management rules:

• Leverage: from x1 to x5

• Max daily loss: 5% (based on the day’s starting balance incl. unrealized P&L)

• Max total loss: 10% (from the initial deposit, incl. unrealized P&L)

• Low fees: only 0.008% per trade (entry & exit)

• Funding fee: 0.03% every 8 hours (applies to both Long and Short)

• Minimum trade size: 1% of your deposit

• Minimum profit days: 5 per 14 days

📌 Didn’t hit 5 profit days this month? Keep trading normally — you can withdraw profits next month.

💰 Important: If you exceed the drawdown limits, your account will be paused. But — all your earned profits remain available for withdrawal. To resume trading, simply complete the challenge again.

🔥 Upscale supports liquid crypto assets with instant order execution, including:

ADA, APT, AVAX, BERA, BNB, BONK, BTC, CAKE, DOGE, DOT, DYDX, ENA, ETH, FIL, JUP, LINK, LTC, OM, ONDO, ORDI, PEPE, PNUT, SOL, SUI, TON, TRUMP, TRX, UNI, WIF, WLD, XLM, XRP, ZRO

💡 Choose your strategy — scalping, swing trading, or long-term investing — and manage serious capital on your terms.

💎 Ready to trade with serious capital and no personal risk? Get started now!

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