In the world of prop trading, traders obsess over platforms, spreads and strategy. But behind the scenes, firms are grappling with a less flashy but increasingly critical challenge — payments.
We spoke with Jelle Huisman of AP7Pay, a consultancy focused on payment infrastructure, to unpack why moving money — from challenge fees to revenue-sharing payouts — is becoming a pain point for prop firms. AP7Pay is registered in Bulgaria and operates offices in the Netherlands, Spain, the US, and the UK. The firm works with both low-risk and high-risk merchants to streamline payment flows. Its software connects to hundreds of payment providers and acquiring banks, aiming to reduce friction and improve acceptance rates. But as prop trading scales globally, the pressure to rethink how money moves is only getting louder.
Huisman points to growing interest in crypto and stablecoins as potential solutions, especially for firms looking to bypass legacy banking delays and cut costs. But adoption isn’t just about tech — it’s about trust, compliance and making sure traders actually get paid on time.
PI: Please share a brief overview of your professional background and experience in the payment processing industry.
Jelle Huisman: “I have a financial background and have worked in financial-related industries for about 25 years now. I have worked for retail investment firms and, in the last ten years, also for the world’s biggest forex and CFD provider, as well as several renowned cross-border payment providers. Therefore, I have good inside knowledge about the payment requirements of these kinds of companies.
As an entrepreneur, I started my first e-commerce business in 2012, in an industry that was considered high-risk, at the time. Since we had troubles finding suitable payment solutions for our business, we developed our own, which we also started offering to similar companies facing the same challenges. Fast forward to 2025, we have direct agreements with banks, acquirers and payment providers, and offer a wide range of worldwide payment solutions to merchants in mainly high-risk verticals, such as forex/CFD and, of course, prop trading.”
PI: What signals or data points convinced you that prop trading is “the new forex”?
Jelle Huisman: “Prop trading is growing and getting all the attention right now. When I look around, I see traditional forex and CFD brokers add prop trading functionality, looking for information around prop trading and even buying existing prop trading companies and brands.
Prop trading companies provide capital, which is interesting in comparison to depositing and risking your own capital. This resonates with the new generation. Prop firms present a challenge, a game, a goal. Traditional brokers sell spreads and platforms. One feels excited and growth-oriented. The other feels like online banking. Prop firms are often started by younger founders, many of whom were traders or marketers first, not legacy finance professionals. They understand content, social media and how to build a community.
Read More: How One Trader Built a Prop Firm From the Ground Up — Interview With Luca Cerullo of Prop Number One
They lean into modern branding, fast onboarding, influencer marketing, Discord servers and even lifestyle content. This makes them instantly more relatable to a generation that was born with a smartphone in their hands, raised on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok.
Meanwhile, many traditional brokers still rely on outdated affiliate models, SEO and compliance-heavy messaging that doesn’t resonate with today’s retail trader.”
PI: What key differences do you see in the payment requirements of prop firms, compared to traditional forex/CFD brokers?
Jelle Huisman: “Forex and CFD brokers need payment solutions that allow seamless processing of large amounts of payments per day, from small to mid-sized transactions. Since deposits for prop trading accounts are not meant to fund trading accounts but are typically a fee payment to access an account or a challenge, payments are more like regular merchant payments for which customers need payment methods, like card, crypto and APMs. Where forex and CFD providers have to process withdrawals back to clients, prop trading companies need a payout rail for revenue sharing.”
PI: Since prop firms serve traders worldwide, what are the main challenges in providing fast, secure and compliant payouts across multiple regions?
Jelle Huisman: “Payouts need to be as flexible and seamless and the possibilities that prop firms offer for deposits. The main challenge is finding and using the payout method that is not only preferred but, at the same time, also cost-effective. Payment behavior and the payment methods that customers use will differ per country or region.”
PI: Recently, ATFunded suspended new account purchases in Pakistan due to payment processor pressure and rising fraud. What is your take on it? Are you seeing similar regional challenges in your work, and how do payment providers typically respond to such risks?
Jelle Huisman: “Forex and CFD providers take client deposits and hold client money. Prop trading firms don’t. In that sense you could even argue that prop trading is less high risk than forex and CFD trading. How payment processors deal with this still differs a lot. They might consider prop trading as less risky and payments for these more like regular e-commerce payments, or they might treat prop trading firms as brokerage companies and simply consider them high-risk.
Fraud concerns will always be relevant, and for prop trading firms, these might differ from forex and CFD providers. Traders might dispute trades and prop traders might dispute fee payments. Fraud concerns in prop trading might be less, however, although there are examples of prop challenges being paid with stolen cards.”
PI: How do you balance regulatory compliance (KYC/AML) with the need to deliver a smooth and fast payment experience for traders?
Jelle Huisman: “With prop trading, the risk is more on the merchant side, like using stolen cards for fee payments or refund abuse. Usually, KYC/AML requirements for prop trading are lower than for forex and CFD trading. Proper KYC procedures for payout remain most important.”
PI: Which payment methods, e.g., instant payouts, crypto or local solutions, are currently most in demand among prop traders?
Jelle Huisman: “This depends on the kind of available payment methods and the relevant country or region. Card payments remain key, while crypto and APMs offer more possibilities for local tailoring and optimizing the cost of payment processing.”
PI: Do you believe payment solutions will become a major differentiator among prop firms in the future?
Jelle Huisman: “Yes and no. Payments generally will have to be as seamless and instant as possible. Prop firms that have this sorted will be able to differentiate themselves. Customers, however, generally don’t think about payments much and expect to be able to pay seamlessly and fast using their preferred payment method.”
PI: How do you see emerging technologies, such as blockchain-based payments or stablecoins, impacting payout efficiency and accessibility for prop firms?
Jelle Huisman: “Blockchain-based payments and especially stablecoins are gaining traction faster than expected and will undoubtedly impact prop firms as well. Payouts will become cheaper and faster since settlements can be done 24/7 and can even add revenue streams for prop firms.”
PI: What advice would you give to a payment provider looking to serve prop trading firms effectively?
Jelle Huisman: “Payment providers must not assume that prop trading firms are the same as, or similar to, forex and CFD providers. Looking at a client’s payment requirements on a case-by-case basis is important. The country or region a prop trading firm is targeting might impact this a lot. Prop trading firms operate like digital merchants, with their payments resembling SaaS and e-commerce.”
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and thoughts expressed in this article are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official position of Prop Insider, its management, employees or affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice.
