The comparison site PropFirmMatch admitted that it sent clients of prop firms through its affiliate links. The admission came in October 2026. After it, three companies ended their partnership with the platform.
PropFirmMatch compares prop firms and maintains their ratings. An affiliate link is an address with the platform's tag, for a click on which it gets paid. A listing is a place in such a catalog, and the head of Topstep named its price: $10,000 per month.
This matters to a trader for one reason. People use such ratings to choose whom to give their money to for a challenge.
Who left the platform?
The admission. In October 2026, PropFirmMatch stated that clicks on company cards and promo codes went through the site's affiliate links. The platform added that "this should not have happened."
- Apex - ended its cooperation with PropFirmMatch.
- Tradeify - ended its cooperation with PropFirmMatch.
- Goat Funded Trader - ended its cooperation with PropFirmMatch.
What do such ratings show?
Basis of calculation. "Best-selling" ratings are built on purchases made through the site itself. That is, they show advertising reach, promo codes and commercial agreements.
They do not measure a company's behavior. Here is what stays behind the scenes:
- Rules - whether the company publishes clear terms.
- Consistent approach - whether it applies the rules equally to everyone.
- Drawdown - whether it discloses the calculation formula.
- Payouts - whether it pays on time.
Who checks prop firms?
No license. In most jurisdictions, there is no separate license for prop firms that sell challenges. The trader trades in a simulation, and the company sells a selection service.
- Groups with brokers - some companies are part of structures with licensed brokers, but the prop business itself usually does not fall under that license.
- No registry - no one maintains a list of "regulated prop firms."
How does FinaCom certification work?
In July 2026, the Financial Commission (FinaCom) launched prop firm Certification - the first self-regulatory mechanism in the industry. FinaCom is an independent dispute resolution organization for the forex and contracts for difference market.
- Review. The certificate is issued after a review of regulations, selection criteria, payout policy, risk control and complaint handling procedures.
- Transparency. The company discloses financial data and undergoes a stress test.
- Oversight. This is followed by ongoing supervision, annual renewal and the possibility of revocation.
- Trader protection. Clients of certified companies get access to independent dispute resolution, and the code of conduct prohibits partners from misleading people about returns and risks.
What does this mean for the trader?
Nikolay Isaev, Chief Operating Officer of the Financial Commission, on the scandal: "Neutrality is not a label you assign to yourself."
Limits of the certificate. Certification is voluntary, is not a license and does not guarantee solvency. The list of certified companies is published on the FinaCom website.
It is more convenient to check terms and rules in the prop firm catalog, while the mechanics of selection and payouts are covered by the academy.
Did you choose a prop firm based on a "top-10" list?
Such a list looks like an independent assessment. But a place in it is sometimes paid for according to a price list. What you have to look at is the regulations: the drawdown calculation formula, the dispute resolution procedure when a payout is refused, and how long the company has been on the market. This must be checked against the company's own documents, before paying for the selection. Half an hour of cross-checking pays off with the first payout that goes through without surprises.