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Why Most Prop Traders Fail (Even the Skilled Ones)When speaking with Prop Traders, we have found the issue was not about bad setups; it’s emotions under pressure that is the problem Fear after a loss. Greed after a win. That’s when discipline slips and accounts die. Here’s what helps: Before each session, ask ? “Would I take this trade if I weren’t trying to prove something?” This one question has saved more accounts than any indicator I’ve been helping traders stay calm when it matters most. If you’ve ever blown up knowing exactly what you should’ve done, DM me and I’ll show you what’s been working.
BMV:TSLAEducation
by Mindbloome-Trading
2
Futures vs Spot: What Traders Need to Know1. Introduction In crypto, two of the most common ways to trade are spot markets and futures markets. Both can be profitable, but they operate differently and knowing the differences is critical for survival. Spot trading is straightforward: you buy the asset, you own it. Futures trading is more complex: you speculate on the asset’s price without actually owning it. This guide explains the differences, benefits, and risks of each so you can decide which suits your style. 2. What Is Spot Trading? Spot trading is simple. You buy the asset, you own it. There is no leverage. You pay the full price. Profit and loss move one-to-one with the asset’s price. Pros Simple to understand. No liquidation risk. Can benefit from staking or long-term custody. Cons Limited upside with small capital. Cannot profit when the market falls. 3. What Is Futures Trading? Futures are contracts. You do not own the asset, only exposure to its price. They allow leverage, often up to 10x or more. You can go long to profit from rising markets or short to profit from falling ones. Contracts can have expiry dates or be perpetual. Pros Flexibility to trade both directions. Efficient capital use with leverage. Useful for hedging spot positions. Cons Liquidation risk. Complex funding fees on perpetuals. Temptation to overtrade. 4. Key Differences: Spot vs Futures Spot = You own the asset. Futures = You own a contract. Spot = No leverage. Futures = High leverage possible. Spot = Profits only when price rises. Futures = Profits when price rises or falls. Spot = Best for beginners and investors. Futures = Best for experienced traders and hedgers. Spot = simplicity. Futures = flexibility, but higher risk. 5. Why Futures Can Be Risky Leverage is attractive, but it cuts both ways: A 10 percent drop with 10x leverage equals a 100 percent account loss. Liquidations close positions automatically if collateral is too low. 6. When to Use Spot vs Futures Use spot if you want to own crypto long-term. Use spot if you prefer simplicity and no liquidation stress. Use futures if you want to hedge your holdings. Use futures if you need market exposure with limited capital. Use futures only if you have strict discipline and risk control. 7. Combining Spot and Futures Many professionals use both: Hold spot ETH as a long-term investment. Use futures shorts to hedge during downturns. This balances long-term conviction with short-term protection. Think of it like insurance: futures protect spot positions when markets get volatile. 8. Risk Management Is the Deciding Factor Whether you trade spot or futures, risk management decides survival: In spot: limit allocation per asset. In futures: control leverage, set stop losses, and manage liquidation risk. In both: size positions by account % risk. Without a risk plan, futures become gambling and even spot can lead to poor results.
Education
by HyroTrader
15
PROP TRADING - BLESSING OR TRADING GROUND?🧠 Prop Trading – Blessing or Training Ground? 📝 Summary Prop trading looks like the fast track to capital: low costs, high profits. In reality, most providers are built on fees rather than trader success. For beginners, it can be valuable – as a training platform for risk, drawdown & psychology. For professionals, it’s rarely a long-term home – the structures aren’t made for that. 1️⃣ The Temptation Prop trading sells a dream: 👉 “Pay little – get capital – earn big.” Entry with small fees or even free challenges No bank account, no license required Promise of quick profit For many, it feels like a shortcut – cheap in, fast up. But firms have built their models psychologically perfect. 2️⃣ The Challenge Structure Phase 1 → e.g. +10% target with limited drawdown Phase 2 → seemingly easier: only +5% target Afterwards → “Funded Account” + fee refund But don’t underestimate the details: Strict drawdown rules News trading bans, slippage, spread expansions Execution delays in volatile phases 👉 If you use it wisely, you learn discipline, risk management, and patience – things no other “training” will teach you. 3️⃣ The Funded Account – Reality vs. Illusion Even if you are “funded”: In almost all cases, it remains a demo account. First payouts (3'000–5'000 CHF) are often possible. After that, your behavior is closely checked for scalability. Traders who earn too much too quickly often face limits: Internal rule restrictions Additional reviews Accounts frozen at the first irregularities 4️⃣ Why Professionals Rarely Stay Firms say: “We are looking for top traders.” In reality, they look for traders who fit the business model – pay fees regularly, stay within risk. Consistently strong professional traders don’t fit long term, because they could outgrow the system. 5️⃣ The Bait: Certificate & “Diploma” Many prop firms lure you with the promise of becoming a “certified trader.” Often you get a certificate already after Phase 1 (PDF or badge). Psychologically clever: the euphoria is huge – you instantly feel like a pro. Phase 2 then looks easier – lower percentage target, less pressure. Many traders think: “I already have a certificate, I’m a pro now – I’ll crush this.” But here’s the trap: Some need 20–30 attempts to pass. In total, they pay thousands in fees – for a piece of paper with no value. Step by step, the trader is pulled into a system where it’s no longer about capital, but about repeated fee payments. 👉 Important for beginners: Always take a break between challenge phases. Let the euphoria cool off, reflect on mistakes, and adjust risk management. Otherwise, the firm’s psychology will overwhelm you. 6️⃣ Scam or Learning Opportunity? 👉 From my own experience after many years of trading and testing prop firms: For beginners, it can be gold. Simulated rules force you into discipline. You learn to handle drawdowns, risk limits, and trading psychology. Free or low-cost challenges = almost like a training program. For professionals, it’s no home. Payouts are capped. A real career needs your own structure (capital, company, partnerships, family office). 7️⃣ Conclusion Prop trading is not a scam – but also not a professional career path. For beginners: a valuable training ground For pros: a temporary stop, not the future For everyone: question the price of your “diploma” – it’s not real value, just marketing. 👉 Treat prop trading as education – not the end goal. Use it to sharpen your rules. But in parallel, build your own capital and your own structure. 🔚 Final Thought: “A prop account can teach you rules – but true freedom can only be built with your own capital.”
SP:SPXEducation
by WERKTrader
2
GBP/USD Base Case for the Week Ahead (Structural View)The path of least resistance is eventually lower for Cable. Using short-term strength (e.g., from hot UK data or a weak Dollar) as opportunities to establish or add to strategic short positions for a major move lower. For This Week: Be agile. Recognise that price action will be a battle between: Short-Term Sterling Longs: Betting on the carry trade and a weak dollar. Long-Term Sterling Shorts: Betting on the UK's fundamental decay.. Key Levels remain: 1.400 demand and 1.500 to 1.600 for supply. With 1.3725 and above for strategic shorts. A break below 1.400 would signal the institutional shorts have already built their book. Base case is more distribution above 1.500 and bounce from 1.400 suggests the carry trade is still in play for a little while longer.
by PointBreak42
2
Sep 10 MES Recap: Watching MAG7, Session Highs/Lows, and Higher MES Journal – September 10, 2025 Today I traded MES using supply and demand levels, while also tracking leadership from the MAG7 (with QQQ as my main proxy). Track the MAG7 with me on TradingView using the MAG7 List . I didn’t trade with this strategy until a few guys in my Discord recommended it. I had a bit of a learning curve, but I finished green on most accounts for the first time in a while. Context I Tracked Asian session high/low: 6,514 / 6,492 London session high/low: 6,528 / 6,506 Previous day high/low: 6,536.25 / 6,489.25 PPI report (Aug 2025): -0.1% vs forecast, shifted bias from bullish to bearish intraday VWAP levels on both ES and QQQ Wins Stayed green overall on funded accounts with payout potential. Saw the end-of-day pump confirmed by MAG7, even after an initial retrace. Reinforced my supply/demand and VWAP process. Losses and Lessons Learned Entered one trade without higher timeframe confirmation, which cost me a FundingTicks eval account (treating this loss as tuition). Learned that higher timeframes (1H/4H/Daily) must confirm intraday levels before entering. Looking Forward I’ll combine: Supply/Demand + Session Highs/Lows Leader ETF (QQQ/MGK/MAG7) Higher Timeframes (1H/4H/Daily) This approach gives me more conviction and fewer blind trades. Indicators Since I’m still learning how to mark levels properly, I’m starting out with indicators to help reinforce that I’m using potentially correct levels. I primarily used: Asian & London Sessions High/Lows Previous Highs & Lows Supply and Demand Visible Range TradingView default VWAP indicator
CME_MINI:ES1!
by EliasVictor
1
Day 17 — Trading Only S&P Futures | A+ Setup, Done by 10AMWelcome to Day 17 of Trading Only S&P Futures! Today was all about conviction. I spotted a rare A+ setup: X7 ES buy signals, bullish market structure, and a buy right at MOB support. That kind of alignment doesn’t happen often — so I sized up 3x my usual and went long. The trade worked perfectly, and I wrapped up the day by 10AM with +295.37, making this the fastest finish to a session I’ve ever had in this challenge. 📰 News Highlights STOCKS CLOSE HIGHER, VIX DIPS AS NVIDIA NASDAQ:NVDA EARNINGS LOOM 🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow Above 6450 = Remain Bullish Below 6435 = Flip Bearish
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
5
Day 8 — Trading Only S&P Futures — From -400 to +155Welcome to Day 8 of Trading Only S&P Futures! Today was a battle of patience and discipline. I started the day with a -400 loss from an overnight short order that got stopped out before the market even opened. It was tempting to close up shop, but I traded small, stayed disciplined, and waited for the right setup. Once I saw the X7 Sell Signal align with X3 Bearish Structure, I sized up — turning the day from deep red to +155 before fees. 📈 What you’ll learn How to manage a big overnight loss without spiraling The importance of sizing down until confidence returns Using structure + signal alignment for A+ setups Patience in clawing back losses ⏰ Timestamps 0:00 — Intro & Day 8 Recap 0:40 — The Overnight Loss & Mindset Shift 1:40 — Clawing Back With Small Trades 2:20 — The X7 + X3 Bearish Alignment Trade 3:00 — Market News & Impact 3:30 — Key Levels for Tomorrow 📰 News Highlights DOW jumps over 400 points, VIX falls as stocks end higher on rate cut bets. 🔔 VX Algo Signals (9:30am – 2pm EST) 3:00 AM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! 9:30 AM VXAlgo ES X1 Sell Signal 9:42 AM VXAlgo NQ X1 Sell Signal 10:00 AM VXAlgo ES X1 Sell Signal 10:26 AM VXAlgo ES X7 Sell signal 10:30 AM Market Structure flipped bearish on VX Algo X3! 11:20 AM VXAlgo ES X1 Buy signal (double buy) 1:25 PM VXAlgo NQ X3 Buy Signal 2:13 PM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! 🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow Above 6440 = Remain Bullish Below 6410 = Bearish
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 1 Trading Only S&P Futures — Starting with $200 Profit Day 1 — Trading Only S&P Futures Daily P/L:+ 204 :moneybag: Sleep: 8 hours Emotions: Tired and sored from muay thai. :thought_balloon: Today’s Trade thoughts: I was leaning bearish in the market because we had such strong selling pressure on Friday butonce we broke over the level i posted last week at 6330, I gave up on my bias and I just followed the signals and traded the the X1dd buy signal with @gohawks14 and shorted the Max gamma resistance around 6352 and called a day when i made $200. I think for this week as we start the trading challenge, I want to have one account where i just make $200 and call it a day so this way i can build consistency and get my trading % up. :bell:News Highlights: DOW REBOUNDS NEARLY 600 POINTS, VIX PLUNGES AS U.S. STOCKS END SHARPLY HIGHER ON RATE-CUT OPTIMISM :bar_chart: VX Algo Signals (9:30am – 2pm EST): 9:00 AM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! 10:10 AM VXAlgo NQ X1 Sell Signal 10:40 AM VXAlgo ES X1 Sell Signal 11:40 AM VXAlgo NQ X1DD Buy Signal (Double buy signal) 11:40 AM VXAlgo ES X1 Buy signal 12:40 PM VXAlgo NQ X1 Sell Signal 1:21 PM VXAlgo ES X1 Sell Signal 2:00 PM VXAlgo ES X3 Sell Signal :chart_with_upwards_trend: Key Levels for Tomorrow: Above 6332 = Bullish Below 6300 = Bearish :link: Recap & Charts: www.tradingview.com
CME_MINI:MES1!
by DiYWALLST
1
07/30/25 Trade Journal, and ES_F Stock Market analysis EOD accountability report: +960 Sleep: 5 hours Overall health: still struggling with sleep due to heat waves VX Algo System Signals from (9:30am to 2pm) — 8:30 AM Market Structure flipped bearish on VX Algo X3!✅ — 9:45 AM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! ✅ — 10:30 AM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3!❌ — 11:30 AM Market Structure flipped bearish on VX Algo X3!❌ — 12:00 PM VXAlgo NQ X1DD Buy Signal, ✅ — 12:30 PM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3!✅ What’s are some news or takeaway from today? and What major news or event impacted the market today? I have started to noticed that the last 3 days, we have been getting false triggers on market structure signals and it almost feels MM are trying to do it to break people's algo that trade on that. This is a good reminder that no matter how successful the signal has been for the last 30 days, you still need to have risk management. additionally, it's also a good way to test people's faith and trick new traders in going back to doing random things because it makes them think market can behave randomly and nothing works. this is why i always tell people to religiously test out a system for 30 days before giving up. News *FEDERAL RESERVE SKIPS RATE CUT, KEEPS FED FUNDS RATE AT 4.50% What are the critical support levels to watch? --> Above 6410= Bullish, Under 6400= Bearish
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
1
07/24/25 Trade Journal, and ES_F Stock Market analysis EOD accountability report: +1452 Sleep: 4 hours Overall health: need to catch up on sleep ** VX Algo System Signals from (9:30am to 2pm) ** — 9:37 AM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! :white_check_mark: — 10:10 AM VXAlgo ES X1 Sell Signal :white_check_mark: — 12:30 PM Market Structure flipped bearish on VX Algo X3! :x: — 1:00 PM VXAlgo NQ X1DD Buy Signal :white_check_mark: — 1:30 PM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3:white_check_mark: **What’s are some news or takeaway from today? and What major news or event impacted the market today? ** Today's market was a bit wild in the morning with a lot of big moves, sot here was opportunity to money if followed the signals. I mostly finished trading by 12:30 because there was so many big moves. **News** (US) Pres Trump: Regarding firing Powell, would be a big move, it's not necessary; No pressure for Powell to resign; Have 1-3 names in mind for Fed Chair position **What are the critical support levels to watch?** --> Above 6370= Bullish, Under 6355= Bearish Video Recaps -->https://www.tradingview.com/u/WallSt007/#published-charts
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
07/23/25 Trade Journal, and ES_F Stock Market analysis EOD accountability report: -1243 Sleep: 4 hours Overall health: having issues with sleep the last 2 nights VX Algo System Signals from (9:30am to 2pm) 9:23 AM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! 9:34 AM Market Structure flipped bearish on VX Algo X3! 11:47 AM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! 12:17 PM NQ X1 Sell Signal (triple sell) What’s are some news or takeaway from today? and What major news or event impacted the market today? After going on a long green streak, I got a bit greedy and wanted to make a big profit and went a bit risky dicky at the end of the session, having been able to read everything pretty well, I was pretty sure $6400 was going to be a pretty tight resistance between reading the gammabot data and options data, it showed that we would stall at $6400 on ES so i decided to put a few big ES short positions there with a tight stoploss at 6405 thinking, it surely can't go wrong with only a few minutes left in the session. and surely it did, it went completely wrong and i went from being positive for the day to negative and throwing my profits away. News *STOCKS SURGE AFTER US-JAPAN TRADE DEAL AS S&P 500 AND NASDAQ CLINCH FRESH RECORDS What are the critical support levels to watch? --> Above 6339= Bullish, Under 6320= Bearish Video Recaps -->https://www.tradingview.com/u/WallSt007/#published-charts
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
11
07/22/25 Trade Journal, and ES_F Stock Market analysis EOD accountability report: + Sleep: 6 hours Overall health: Good ** VX Algo System Signals from (9:30am to 2pm) ** — 9:40 AM Market Structure flipped bearish on VX Algo X3! — 10:20 AM VXAlgo ES X1 Buy signal — 11:30 AM VXAlgo NQ X1DD Sell Signal — 2:00 PM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! **What’s are some news or takeaway from today? and What major news or event impacted the market today? ** Very clean trading day for me, signals worked out really well and everything played out accordingly **News** S&P 500 CLOSES AT A NEW ALL-TIME HIGH ABOVE 6,000 **What are the critical support levels to watch?** --> Above 6339= Bullish, Under 6320= Bearish Video Recaps -->https://www.tradingview.com/u/WallSt007/#published-charts
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
DIYWallSt Trade Journal:$238 Lessons From Monthly Expiration07/18/25 Trade Journal, and ES_F Stock Market analysis EOD accountability report: +238.75 Sleep: 5. hours Overall health: Was working late last night and didn't get much sleep. VX Algo System Signals from (9:30am to 2pm) — 8:30 AM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! — 10:30 AM Market Structure flipped bearish on VX Algo X3! — 11:10 AM VXAlgo ES X1 Buy signal (didn't work that well) — 12:10 PM VXAlgo NQ X1DD Sell Signal — 12:19 PM Market Structure flipped bullish on VX Algo X3! What’s are some news or takeaway from today? and What major news or event impacted the market today? Today was monthly expiration for options and we got a lot of X7 Sell signals but structure was bullish so I tried to take a long at MOB and got burned. Flipped bearish and started shorting the rest of the day and ended up making money back. News *US STOCKS MOVE LOWER AFTER REPORT SAYS TRUMP PUSHES FOR 15-20% MINIMUM TARIFF ON ALL EU GOODS What are the critical support levels to watch? --> Above 6335= Bullish, Under 6315= Bearish Video Recaps -->https://www.tradingview.com/u/WallSt007/#published-charts
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
1
DIYWallSt Trade Journal: How I Navigated Powell Firing Rumors & 07/16/25 Trade Journal, and ES_F Stock Market analysis EOD accountability report: +428.75 Sleep: 7 hours Overall health: Good VX Algo System Signals from (9:30am to 2pm) — 4:17 AM Market Structure flipped bullish — 9:50 AM Market Structure flipped bearish — 12:00 PM VXAlgo NQ X3 Buy Signal — 1:02 PMMarket Structure flipped bullish What’s are some news or takeaway from today? and What major news or event impacted the market today? Today was a crazy trading day with a bunch of wild moves because Trump said they were going to fire Powell and then cancelled the threat. Overall health and sleep have been good this week and our trading balance is reflecting that. News — 10:30 AM *SCOTT BESSENT: “FORMAL PROCESS” TO REPLACE FED CHAIR POWELL UNDERWAY — 12:11 PM *TRUMP ASKED IF HE WILL FIRE POWELL: NOT PLANNING ON DOING ANYTHING What are the critical support levels to watch? --> Above 6290= Bullish, Under 6280= Bearish Video Recaps -->https://www.tradingview.com/u/WallSt007/#published-charts
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
1
Using 1 min time frame for entries on VX algo & day tradingwhat time frames do you use to confirm entries outside of a buy signal? If I am day trading, I will mainly use the 1 minute time frame to look for moving average support and resistance, and read the candle stick patterns as well from that chart. However, there are times I'll switch to a 5 minute and 10 minute time frame to take a look at levels for moving averages and see what the candle stick patterns are from there. So for example, today we had 3 of the x1 sell signals around 9:31, so we pull up the 1 min chart, we are getting confirm break of the 1st moving average support = bearish confirmation #1, follow by DHC = Bearish confirmation #2 , and the sell signal is already 3 confirmations, so we need to short ASAP.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
43