Prop Firms Accepting Crypto Payments Surge to 65% of Industry in 2026
Dr. Algo
Prop Deal Intelligence Hub
Crypto payment acceptance has reached 65% of active prop firms in 2026, with Bitcoin, USDT, and USDC emerging as standard payment rails alongside traditional bank transfers.
Prop Firms Accepting Crypto Payments Surge to 65% of Industry in 2026
Cryptocurrency has become a mainstream payment method for prop trading evaluations. By April 2026, approximately 65% of active prop firms accept at least one cryptocurrency as payment — up from approximately 30% in 2024. The shift is driven by trader demand, lower processing fees, and the practical advantage of borderless transactions.
Ask Propfirm examines which crypto methods are most widely accepted and what traders need to know.
Crypto Payment Acceptance by Coin Type
| Cryptocurrency | % of Firms Accepting | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USDT (Tether) | 58% | Most common — stable value |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 42% | Still popular despite volatility |
| USDC (Circle) | 35% | Growing due to US regulatory trust |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 28% | Lower adoption due to gas fee unpredictability |
| Litecoin (LTC) | 18% | Legacy option at older firms |
| BNB (Binance) | 12% | Popular in Asian markets |
| Other (MATIC, SOL, etc.) | 8% | Firm-specific options |
Which Networks Do Firms Prefer?
Beyond the coins themselves, the blockchain network matters:
| Network | Primary Use Case | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDT on TRON (TRC20) | High-volume firm payments | Near-zero fees, fast | Network centralization |
| USDT on Ethereum (ERC20) | Legacy option | Widely supported | $5–15 gas fees |
| USDT on Polygon | Growing option | Low fees, fast | Less universal |
| Bitcoin (mainnet) | Premium/large payments | Most recognized | Higher fees, slower |
| USDC on Ethereum | US-compliant payments | Regulated issuer | Gas fees |
TRC20 USDT has become the de facto standard for prop firm crypto payments — near-zero transaction fees and 3-second confirmation times make it ideal for small-to-medium payment amounts.
Which Major Firms Accept Crypto?
| Firm | BTC | USDT | USDC | ETH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMO | No | Yes (TRC20/ERC20) | Yes | No |
| Apex Trader Funding | No | No | No | No |
| Topstep | No | No | No | No |
| FundedNext | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| The Funded Trader | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| MyFundedFX | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Blue Guardian | No | Yes | No | No |
| Funding Pips | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FXIFY | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Notable: Futures-focused firms (Apex, Topstep) do not accept crypto, likely due to US CFTC compliance considerations. This is a meaningful gap for crypto-native traders who prefer these firms.
Benefits of Paying with Crypto
- No bank fees: Traditional international wires cost $15–40 per transaction; USDT on TRC20 costs <$1
- Instant settlement: Crypto payments clear in minutes vs. 1–3 days for SWIFT
- Privacy: Crypto transactions require less personal banking information
- Global access: Traders in countries with restricted USD access can pay with crypto more easily
- No chargebacks: Once confirmed, crypto payments cannot be reversed — reducing fraud risk for firms
Crypto Payouts: Growing Availability
Beyond receiving payments in crypto, several firms now offer crypto payouts to funded traders:
- FundedNext — USDT payouts available alongside bank transfer
- MyFundedFX — USDC payouts via Ethereum
- Funding Pips — USDT (TRC20) payouts
Crypto payouts typically process faster than bank wire payouts (hours vs. days) and carry lower transaction fees for international traders.
Dr. Algo's Assessment
Crypto payment acceptance has crossed the mainstream threshold. For international traders, paying evaluation fees in USDT (TRC20) is now the cheapest and fastest option available. Futures firms' absence from crypto payment acceptance is a practical limitation worth factoring into firm selection if you're crypto-native.
For full payment option details by firm, visit Ask Propfirm, browse forex prop firms or futures prop firms.