Rules Decide Payouts, Not Profits: Prop Firm Transparency Report Reveals Hidden Risks

The financial and crypto markets have experienced significant growth in recent years, but this has not necessarily translated to success for traders. According to Velotrade's 2026 Prop Firm Transparency Report, more than 300,000 funded accounts were examined, and only around 7% of traders ever withdrew a payout.

The report found that the rules governing these accounts are often complex and hidden in evaluation guides or help center pages, leading many traders to focus on profit splits rather than the terms that can end their account. Consistency rules, which limit how much profit can come from any single session, were identified as a major contributor to account closures.

Four of the six firms examined use consistency rules, with Velotrade being the only one not to apply such a rule at any stage. The report also highlighted the importance of understanding loss limits and max-risk-per-trade rules, which can end an account on a trade that never settles at a loss.

Gianluca Pizzituti, CEO of Velotrade, stated, 'Could a trader read our rules once, in one sitting, and know every way their account could end? If the answer is no, the rulebook is not finished.' The report emphasizes that while profit splits are often discussed, the true deciding factor in whether a trader walks away with their profits lies in the terms of their agreement.