Dubai, UAE – November 25, 2025 – City Traders Imperium (CTI), a leading proprietary trading firm, is calling for increased transparency and accountability within the proprietary trading industry. As the industry faces growing scrutiny and concerns over questionable practices and trader complaints, CTI is urging prop firms to prioritize long-term trader success over aggressive marketing and opaque rules.
According to Martin Najat, Co-Founder of City Traders Imperium, the prop trading model should be focused on giving traders an opportunity to grow, rather than profiting from their failures. “Unfortunately, this line has been blurred by firms that prioritize evaluation fees over ethical funding,” he said.
CTI’s stance comes in response to recent scrutiny facing the industry. In the past few months, several firms have been accused of operating solely on simulated accounts, concealing payout policies, and manipulating rules mid-challenge. In one highly publicized case, Finance Magnates reported on a prop firm that disappeared with over $85 million in trader funds, raising serious questions about oversight and legitimacy.
Traders have also taken to forums and YouTube to share red flags and warning signs, such as strict or ever-changing rules, delayed payouts, exaggerated success claims, and a lack of transparency regarding ownership and regulation.
In contrast to firms that heavily rely on challenge fees, CTI focuses on trader development and providing access to capital. Its model is built on fair evaluations, clear expectations, and consistent payouts, all aimed at supporting traders as they grow and develop.
“We do not believe in luring people into funding challenges that are designed for them to fail,” Najat stated. “If a firm is confident in its model, it should have no problem being transparent about the details.”
CTI is urging firms to re-evaluate their practices and communication with traders. This includes setting clear and reasonable evaluation rules, being transparent about profit-sharing structures, issuing timely payouts without hidden conditions, and being upfront about whether funded accounts are simulated or live. These standards, although straightforward, remain elusive in much of the current market.
Additionally, CTI highlights a reality that many firms avoid discussing: the only sustainable long-term model for proprietary trading firms is one that responsibly monetizes trader performance data through A-booking profitable traders.
While some firms heavily rely on evaluation fees, creating a business model that is dependent on trader turnover, 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 monetize real trading skills instead of failure, everyone benefits,” Najat explained. “A-booking is not just a technical choice; it is the foundation of a stable prop ecosystem. It ensures that firms can remain healthy without relying on endless challenge sales, and it rewards traders for their performance rather than penalizing them with hidden traps.”
Najat added, “While there may be regulatory gaps, that does not excuse shady business models. It is the responsibility of firms to earn the trust of traders through transparency, regardless of regulation.”
CTI’s message to traders is clear: do your due diligence, ask tough questions, and do not settle for unclear answers. If a firm is not willing to disclose its operations, registration, or payout processes, it is not innovation – it is a red flag.
At the same time, the firm is reaffirming its long-term vision – a healthier, more sustainable industry – where success is measured not by challenge fees collected, but by the traders who go on to thrive.
To learn more about City Traders Imperium, visit citytradersimperium.com.
About City Traders Imperium
City Traders Imperium (CTI) is a premier proprietary trading firm founded on the belief that 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 dedicated to raising the standards within the industry and supporting traders who take their craft seriously.
