07/27/2026
Can Self-Regulation Bring More Trust to Prop Trading?
The Financial Commission has launched a voluntary Prop Firm Certification framework aimed at bringing greater transparency and accountability to one of retail trading’s fastest-growing sectors. The program evaluates firms on trading rules, evaluation criteria, payout policies, financial resilience, risk controls, and complaint handling, while introducing independent dispute resolution to a market that has long operated without common standards.
The initiative seeks to address some of the industry’s biggest pain points, including payout disputes, drawdown calculations, anti-abuse policies, and financial stability. According to Nikolai Isayev, Chief Operating Officer of the Financial Commission, “By pairing a code of conduct that is rigorous but not overbearing… we give firms a realistic path to prove they play fair, and give traders confidence in who they trade with.” The framework also requires certified firms to publish clear evaluation and payout rules, document any rule changes, undergo ongoing monitoring, and provide financial information demonstrating their ability to meet payout obligations.
The certification has been shaped by an expert committee that includes Ruben Abitbol (RUBIK), John Christofides (Truvian), Justin Hertzberg (FPFX Technologies), Kathy Lien (Prop Trader Edge), Javier Hertfelder (FXStreet), Camilo Tobar (Swiset), and Stanislav Galandzovskyi. Abitbol emphasized that accountability is needed on both sides of the market, noting: “On one side, some firms make inconsistent or poorly justified decisions that negatively affect legitimate traders. On the other, some traders abuse the system by making false accusations, launching defamation campaigns, or attempting to blackmail firms… Neither is healthy for the industry.”
The framework is not a regulatory license and does not guarantee a firm’s solvency or future performance. Its long-term credibility will instead depend on consistent enforcement, transparent monitoring, and the willingness to suspend or revoke certifications when firms fail to meet the required standards. As the prop trading industry continues to mature, independent oversight could become an important step toward improving trust for both firms and traders.
Learn more:
https://financefeeds.com/financial-commission-launches-prop-firm-certification-as-industry-seeks-rules-on-payouts-and-trader-abuse/
