Coinbase launching stock trading is a massive headline, but for prop firm traders like me, it’s a frustrating reminder of the golden handcuffs we wear. I've passed 12 challenges and received over $180K in payouts by learning one thing: the rules of the game are more important than the game itself. And the rules say trading a volatile stock like $CO...

The housing market is telling us a recession isn't coming, it's already here, and I'm positioning my funded accounts to trade the fallout. While everyone is glued to CPI prints, the real data dropped this week: a record gap of over 600,000 more homes for sale than buyers to purchase them. This isn't just a cooling market; it's a buyer's strike. For...

Headlines don't move markets, order flow does. You probably saw the news that FedEx (FDX) is suing the US government for a tariff refund. My phone blew up with alerts. But honestly? I don't care about the legal arguments or the long-term implications. While analysts like Sarah Chen are probably digging through the filings to see how this affects Q4...

The crypto world is buzzing about Hong Kong's RedotPay eyeing a US IPO to raise over $1 billion. The first question I see in trading chats is, "How do we play this?" Wrong question. Completely. After failing over 20 prop firm challenges in my career, I can tell you the right question is, "How do I prevent this headline from making me do something s...

Everyone's losing their minds over NEAR launching a super-app. That's great. But from where I'm sitting, watching my P&L on three different funded accounts, the only 'super-app' I care about is my risk calculator. I've seen more accounts blown up by chasing news than I've seen saved by a game-changing announcement. The announcement of NEAR launchin...

So, the Pentagon is getting its hands on Grok AI. The headlines are screaming. AI coins are getting a little speculative bid. And my first thought this morning? I couldn't care less. This is the kind of news that gets retail traders absolutely wrecked. It's pure, uncut narrative, and it's a dangerous drug. While everyone is chasing the story, I'm w...

The Kalshi prediction markets are flashing a potential 'blue wave,' and for a forex trader like me, that means one thing: preparing for a major shift in USD volatility. I started trading in 2020 and got into prop firms a year later. I can tell you from experience—failing my first six challenges taught me that political events aren't for making hero...

The crypto world is losing its mind this morning over Trump's World Liberty Financial (WLFI) claiming a 'coordinated attack' on their USD1 stablecoin. Hacked accounts, FUD, big shorts. Sounds dramatic. Everyone's screaming about the next Terra/Luna. But me? I see it as a free masterclass in prop firm risk management. This isn't a crisis for the mar...

By On-Chain Forensics & Regulatory Desk | Last Updated: February 23, 2026

Every week, I see retail traders pile into LEAPS (Long-Term Equity Anticipation Securities) thinking they've found a clever, capital-efficient way to 'buy and hold' a stock. They buy a call option two years out, close their laptop, and hope for the best. This is, to put it bluntly, a lazy and deeply flawed approach. You're not buying a stock. You'r...