If you're a US trader, you've probably seen the headlines: forex and CFD prop firms banning American customers and getting squeezed by regulators. Here's the good news — the best futures prop firms for US traders are a different world entirely, and most of the top ones are US-based and built specifically for American traders.
I'm the founder of FundedScore, and I've funded evaluations across these firms from the US myself. Here's why futures are the stable path, and which firms to actually use.
Why US traders are better off in futures (firms we track):
- All 8 firms trade on regulated US exchanges (CME Group)
- The leading firms are headquartered in the USA — Austin, Chicago, Charlotte, Delaware
- 90% profit split, paid in USD, with a US 1099 at tax time
- Far less regulatory risk than the CFD products pushed out of the US
Why futures prop firms welcome US traders
The forex prop firms pulling out of the US mostly offered CFD-style products that regulators (CFTC, NFA) restrict for American retail traders. Futures are fundamentally different:
- Futures trade on regulated US exchanges (CME Group) with real, centralized market data.
- The leading futures prop firms are headquartered in the USA and designed around US market hours and instruments.
- That means far less regulatory risk to you — and to the payout-focused experience you actually want.
This is exactly why FundedScore focuses on futures: it's the segment that's stable for US traders right now. If you're new to the model entirely, start with what is a futures prop firm.
Best futures prop firms for US traders
- Apex Trader Funding — US-based (Austin, TX), the most popular choice for US futures traders, with frequent discounts and multi-account scaling.
- Topstep — Chicago-based, the longest-running futures prop firm, ideal if you want a proven, US-regulated-market operator.
- Take Profit Trader — US firm with a withdraw-from-day-one funded model.
- MyFundedFutures — US-based (Charlotte, NC) with a beginner-friendly static drawdown.
All four trade US-exchange futures (E-mini and Micro S&P, Nasdaq, crude, gold, etc.). Compare them side by side in our comparison table, or see the full best futures prop firms ranking. Outside the US? We also cover Canada, the UK and India.
What US traders should check before signing up
The firms accept you — but a few practical things decide your experience:
- Platform access — make sure your preferred platform (NinjaTrader, Tradovate, Rithmic, TradingView) is supported.
- Data fees — live CME data may carry a small monthly fee; factor it into total cost.
- Tax paperwork — US-funded futures payouts typically come with a 1099; keep records of fees paid and profits withdrawn.
- Drawdown type — the rule that fails most US traders isn't regulation, it's the trailing vs static drawdown. Pick one you can survive.
How a US beginner should start
Same order of operations I'd give anyone, with the US advantage that you're trading your home markets in your own time zone:
- Start with a forgiving drawdown. A static-drawdown firm like MyFundedFutures or end-of-day model won't end your run on a normal pullback.
- Pick a cheap one-step evaluation to keep your cost of learning low — see the cheapest evaluations.
- Trade the US cash session. 9:30am–4:00pm ET is your most liquid window, and it's your local time.
- Prove it, then scale. Pass one eval, take a payout, then build a rotation — the path in how to scale a funded futures account.
One more reassurance for US traders: because these firms trade exchange-listed CME contracts rather than off-exchange CFDs, you're dealing with the same instruments and centralized pricing that institutions use. That structural difference is why futures prop firms haven't faced the US restrictions that forced many forex props to drop American clients — and why the segment is likely to stay stable for US traders going forward.
For US traders, futures prop firms are the safer, more stable path right now — and the best ones are right here at home. Read the full trader-tested reviews before you pick.
Frequently asked questions
Do futures prop firms accept US traders? Yes — most of the leading futures prop firms are US-based and built specifically for American traders, unlike many forex/CFD props that have restricted US customers for regulatory reasons.
Why did forex prop firms ban US traders but futures firms didn't? Forex props often offered CFD-style products that US regulators (CFTC/NFA) restrict for retail traders. Futures trade on regulated US exchanges (CME), so the leading futures firms operate freely in the US.
Which futures prop firm is best for US beginners? A static-drawdown firm like MyFundedFutures is the gentlest start, while Topstep is the most-trusted thanks to its long US payout track record.
Are futures prop firms regulated in the US? The firms themselves aren't broker-dealers, but they fund you to trade on CFTC-regulated US exchanges (CME Group) with centralized pricing — a very different, more stable setup than the off-exchange CFDs that got many forex props restricted in the US.
Do I need to be a US citizen to use these firms? No. These US-based firms serve American traders and international ones alike — you're judged on passing the evaluation and following the rules, not your citizenship. See the Canada and UK guides for non-US specifics.
Related guides
- Best futures prop firms (2026): a funded trader's ranking
- Best futures prop firms in Canada
- Trailing vs Static Drawdown explained
- Cheapest futures prop firm evaluations
Trading futures carries substantial risk of loss. Nothing here is financial advice.
