Prop trading is evolving fast, but not every trend is healthy.
At iFX EXPO International 2025, Swiset’s Co‑Founder and COO, Andres Jimenez, shared insights on how firms can improve trader quality and why some current practices may backfire.
Jimenez explained that many prop firms chase growth through flashy dashboards, leaderboards, and gamified challenges. While those features can drive sign‑ups, he warned that they often attract the wrong crowd – traders who focus on quick payouts instead of building sustainable skills.
“If your model relies too much on game mechanics, you risk bringing in traders who aren’t aligned with your funding goals,” he said.
Tech and Strategy, Not Just Marketing
In early 2024, Swiset shifted from simply providing CRM tools to acquiring and developing its own prop trading technology. The goal, Jimenez said, is to empower traders with analytics and AI‑driven feedback rather than just adding more accounts.
He believes AI can help firms identify traders who are genuinely committed, improving evaluation quality and long‑term performance.
The Role of Algorithms
Jimenez also highlighted that algorithmic strategies are a double‑edged sword. Some systems genuinely help traders trade better, while others exploit evaluation models without delivering real‑world results.
Passing a challenge with such a method, he noted, often leads to rapid account failure once live trading begins.
A Note on Latin America
Despite high failure rates worldwide, Jimenez observed that many Latin American traders keep pushing forward, often repeating smaller challenges rather than depositing large sums.
This perseverance, he said, shows a drive that firms can nurture if given the right tools.
The Bigger Picture
With more brokers entering the prop space and more props building their own execution layers, Jimenez stressed that success depends on aligning every part of the business with a clear strategy:
“It’s not just about tech or marketing – your strategy defines your brand, and your brand reflects your strategy.”
