A new industry survey by PipFarm has uncovered key behavioral trends in the prop trading community—revealing that a majority of traders are diversifying across multiple firms, while many continue to face emotional and psychological hurdles.
Multi-Firm Strategy on the Rise
According to the survey of 2,777 traders, 63% work with more than one prop firm at the same time. Among them, 51% use two firms, and 30% manage accounts with three or more.
The most common reasons?
- Risk diversification (34.3%)
- Access to more capital (33.8%)
- Keeping active while awaiting payouts or evaluations (25.8%)
Mental Pressure Still High
Despite a strong passion for trading (94% enjoy it, 96% want to continue long-term), traders report ongoing struggles with:
- Discipline and emotional control after losses (37%+)
- Financial stress (35%)
- Low self-perceived success – Only 11.2% feel “very successful”
Many have turned to self-development tools, including:
- Psychology podcasts (43%)
- Journaling (41.5%)
- Trading mindset books (39.8%)
Lifestyle Habits & Trading Patterns
- Most traders place 1-2 trades daily
- Average screen time: 2–4 hours/day
- Nearly half sleep 6–7 hours, while 24.5% sleep less than 6
- Entry fees remain low, with over 59% paying under $100 for their first challenge
The Big Picture
As the prop trading space continues to grow, the data shows a mature but cautious community: one that’s becoming more strategic with firm selection, while actively trying to improve their mental game. Still, challenges remain—especially around performance pressure and personal expectations.
