Spotware Systems has signed a technology agreement with FundingRock, a prop trading firm running simulated evaluation programs, making cTrader the platform supporting FundingRock's trader challenges, the companies said on Thursday.
Under the agreement, FundingRock's users will gain access to cTrader's charting, execution and risk management tools across mobile, desktop and web, according to a joint statement. The platform, which Spotware says serves more than 11 million traders, will also list FundingRock's prop challenges in the cTrader Store's dedicated Prop Challenges section, a marketplace that the company states attracts more than 10,000 visitors daily.
Prop Trading Shakeout and Platform Shift
The deal comes at a time when prop trading firms are under mounting pressure to demonstrate legitimacy. The sector saw an estimated 80 to 100 firms shut down in 2024, with the shakeout extending into 2025 and 2026. Retroactive rule changes, payout delays and trust breakdowns have driven traders away from less established operators.
This backdrop has turned platform selection into a competitive differentiator. Many prop firms that previously relied on MetaTrader shifted after MetaQuotes tightened compliance enforcement, particularly for firms serving the U.S. market. cTrader, DXtrade from Devexperts and Match-Trader have all gained market share in the aftermath, with cTrader described as especially active in signing new prop firm clients.
Spotware’s Growing Prop Trading Footprint
Spotware has expanded its presence in the prop trading segment over the past 18 months. FTMO and Instant Funding began using Spotware's demo account infrastructure for trial programs earlier this year, while Goat Funded Trader, FunderPro, The Trading Pit, BrightFunded and others have integrated the platform in the same period. Spotware also moved into Latin American prop trading through a deal with TFunded last month. According to its most recent disclosures, the company now serves more than 300 brokers and prop firms.
Spotware highlights what it calls a Traders First approach, which includes trade receipt functionality intended to give users visibility into how each order is processed. Yiota Hadjilouka, Spotware's chief operating officer, said FundingRock's focus on credibility "fits closely with our Traders First™ approach."
FundingRock’s Evaluation Model and Alignment Claims
FundingRock describes itself as a skill-based evaluation platform operating in a simulated trading environment. It states that it offers account sizes ranging from $5,000 to $200,000 with two-phase evaluation programs, provides daily payouts and publishes its trading rules and risk parameters upfront.
"We are fixing prop trading by aligning our interest with yours, creating a relationship based on transparency and mutual trust," said Meir Hefetz, FundingRock's CEO. "We fund you with substantial capital and issue daily rewards while striving to provide the best trading conditions."
Role of cTrader Store and New Lead Program
A key commercial element of the agreement is the cTrader Store, which functions as both a marketplace for trading tools and a distribution channel for prop firms. The Store features dedicated sections where prop firms can list their challenges, enabling traders to compare evaluation criteria, drawdown limits, profit splits and pricing.
The FundingRock deal follows Spotware's launch of cTrader Leads just one day earlier. cTrader Leads is described as a separate program that routes traders from Spotware's product ecosystem to participating brokers at no cost. Spotware estimates that total acquisition costs for a single depositing trader can be as high as $800 in the FX sector.
