CTI Calls for Greater Transparency in the Prop Trading Industry

Dubai, UAE - November 25, 2025 - As trust in the proprietary trading industry comes under growing pressure, City Traders Imperium (CTI) is speaking out about the need for greater transparency and accountability across the space. Amid a rise in questionable practices and trader complaints, CTI calls on prop firms to move beyond aggressive marketing and opaque rules and focus instead on long-term trader success.

“The prop trading model should be about giving traders an opportunity to grow - not profiting from failure,” said Martin Najat, Co-Founder of City Traders Imperium. “Unfortunately, that line has been blurred by firms that prioritize evaluation fees over ethical funding.”

CTI’s position comes in response to a wave of scrutiny facing the industry. In recent months, several firms have been accused of operating entirely on simulated accounts, hiding payout policies, or manipulating rules mid-challenge. In one widely reported case, Finance Magnates detailed how a prop firm disappeared with over $85 million in trader funds, raising urgent questions about oversight and legitimacy.

Traders have also taken to forums and YouTube to share red flags: strict or shifting rules, delayed payouts, inflated success claims, and a lack of transparency around ownership or regulation.

Unlike firms that rely heavily on challenge fees, CTI emphasizes trader development, not just capital access. Its model is built around fair evaluations, clear expectations, and consistent payouts, designed to support traders as they grow and develop.

“We don’t believe in tricking people into funding challenges they’re set up to fail,” Najat said. “If a firm is confident in its model, it should have no problem being upfront about the details.”

CTI is encouraging firms to take a closer look at how they operate and what they communicate to traders. That includes setting clear and reasonable evaluation rules, being transparent about profit split structures, issuing payouts on time without hidden conditions, and being upfront about whether funded accounts are simulated or live. These standards, while simple, remain elusive in much of the current market.

In addition, CTI highlights an industry reality many firms avoid discussing: the only sustainable long-term model for proprietary trading firms is one that responsibly monetises trader performance data through A-booking profitable traders.

While some firms rely almost entirely on evaluation fees, creating a business model dependent on trader churn, A-booking aligns incentives between the firm and its traders. By routing successful traders’ strategies to real execution, firms create genuine economic value while giving traders the opportunity to grow with a model grounded in transparency, not marketing hype.

“When firms monetise real trading skill rather than failure, everyone wins,” Najat said. “A-booking isn’t just a technical choice; it’s the foundation of a stable prop ecosystem. It ensures firms can remain healthy without relying on endless challenge sales, and it rewards traders for performance rather than penalising them with hidden traps.”

“The regulatory gaps are real. But that doesn’t excuse shady business models,” Najat added. “It’s on firms to earn trust through transparency - regulation or not.”

CTI’s message to traders is equally clear: do your due diligence, ask hard questions, and don’t settle for unclear answers. If a firm won’t tell you how it operates, where it's registered, or how it handles payouts, that’s not innovation - it’s a red flag.

At the same time, the firm is doubling down on its long-term vision: a healthier, more sustainable industry: one where success is measured not by challenge fees collected, but by the traders who go on to thrive.

Learn more at: citytradersimperium.com

About City Traders Imperium

City Traders Imperium (CTI) is a proprietary trading firm built around one idea: traders thrive when given structure, support, and time to grow. Since 2018, CTI has helped aspiring and experienced traders build sustainable careers through fair funding models, clear rules, and ongoing education. The company is committed to raising standards in the industry and supporting traders who take their craft seriously.