FOREX NEWS & BLOG

Prop Firm ATFunded Reports 6% of Traders Reached Funded Status in June Trading Data

Prop Firm ATFunded Reports 6% of Traders Reached Funded Status in June Trading Data

July 8, 2025 8:39 am |

Prop firm
ATFunded, the trading brand of the popular retail FX and CFD broker ATFX, disclosed
that just over 6% of its traders ultimately secure funded accounts, according
to performance data the company shared for June trading activity.

ATFunded Reports Only 6%
of Traders Reach Funded Status

The firm
posted statistics on social media showing that 22.6% of traders advanced from
its initial Phase 1 evaluation to Phase 2, while 26.9% of those Phase 2
participants went on to receive funded trading accounts. When combined, these
figures reveal an overall success rate of approximately 6% for traders entering
the program.

These
statistics, however, align with the broader market average. Nearly a year ago,
FinanceMagnates.com reported that only 7% of 300,000 prop trading accounts
reached a payout, based on data from FPFX Tech. This year, The Funded Trader
revealed that only 1 in 20 traders manages to pass a prop firm challenge.

ATFunded, launched
in October 2024, operates a multi-stage evaluation process common among
proprietary trading firms, where aspiring traders must demonstrate consistent
profitability and risk management skills before receiving capital to trade.

The USD/JPY
currency pair emerged as both the most actively traded and most profitable
instrument among ATFunded’s trader base during June. This aligns with broader
forex market trends, as the dollar-yen pair has seen increased volatility amid
shifting monetary policy expectations between the Federal Reserve and Bank of
Japan.

ATFunded Pro Launch

The prop
trading firm also announced the imminent launch of ATFunded Pro, a new offering
that the company describes as “simpler” and “smarter” than
its current evaluation system. Originally scheduled to debut on July 7, the
launch has been pushed back by one day to ensure what the company calls a “flawless” rollout.

ATFunded
teased the new product on social media, claiming it would “change the
game”, providing limited details about the new evaluation program. The
information provided suggests it will be a single-phase challenge with a profit
target of 6%. Currently, the target is 8% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2.

The delay
announcement came just hours before the planned launch, with the company citing
final quality checks as the reason for the postponement.

ATFunded
Pro is now set to launch on July 8, with the company promising that the
additional development time will deliver “the best possible experience
from day one.” The announcement reflects the competitive pressure in the
proprietary trading space, where firms regularly introduce new evaluation
formats to attract traders.

The prop
trading industry is challenging not only for retail clients but also for the
firms themselves. According to Finance Magnates Intelligence, as many as 100
prop firms shut down in 2024. Justin Hertzberg, CEO of FPFX, expects this trend
to continue in the current and coming years.

This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

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USDJPY Technical Analysis – JPY lacks bullish drivers

USDJPY Technical Analysis – JPY lacks bullish drivers

July 8, 2025 8:02 am |

Fundamental
Overview

The USD remained supported since last Thursday’s US NFP report as the data came out better
than expected and triggered a hawkish repricing in interest rates expectations.
Unfortunately for the greenback, that wasn’t enough as wage growth came out on
the softer side which limited further repricing and more sustained gains.

On the JPY side, we got
some disappointing wage growth figures yesterday and the US-Japan negotiations
don’t look to be going well. As a reminder, the BoJ continues to place a great
deal on the US-Japan trade deal before looking at adjusting rates. So, negative
news on the trade front erodes the hopes for another rate hike by year-end.

USDJPY
Technical Analysis – Daily Timeframe

On the daily chart, we can
see that USDJPY reached the top of the range around the 146.28 level. The
buyers will likely continue to keep pushing into the 148.28 resistance
where we can expect the sellers to step in with a defined risk above the
resistance to position for another drop back into the 142.35 support.

USDJPY Technical
Analysis – 4 hour Timeframe

On the 4 hour chart, we can
see more clearly the range between the 142.35 support and the 146.28 resistance.
The sellers will likely step in around these levels with a defined risk above
the resistance to position for a drop back into the 144.35 zone. The buyers, on
the other hand, will look for a break higher to increase the bullish bets into
the 148.28 level next.

USDJPY Technical
Analysis – 1 hour Timeframe

On the 1 hour chart, we can
see that we have a minor upward trendline defining the bullish momentum on
this timeframe. The buyers will likely continue to lean on the trendline to
keep pushing into new highs, while the sellers will want to see the price
breaking below the trendline and the 144.35 zone to gain more conviction for
further downside. The red lines define the average daily range for today.

Upcoming
Catalysts

This week, the only notable events are the US tariff letters
and trade deals expected to be fully rolled out by tomorrow, and the US Jobless
Claims figures on Thursday.

Watch the video below

This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at www.forexlive.com.

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Japan trade negotiator Akazawa says cannot tolerate 25% tariffs on autos

Japan trade negotiator Akazawa says cannot tolerate 25% tariffs on autos

July 8, 2025 7:38 am |

  • Will not set a deadline in negotiating with US on trade
  • And that includes the 1 August date set currently
  • There is no point in striking a deal with the US without agreement on tariffs on autos
  • Japan has already put all the necessary issues on the table
  • Autos are a key sector that is core to Japan’s economy
  • Will not sacrifice agriculture sector for sake of trade deal with the US

Akazawa continues to talk a tough game for the time being. However, the pressure is going to ramp up as tariffs against Japan will increase to 25% after 1 August. With a deal still not in sight, we’ll have to see where the can will be kicked down the road next following that.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.

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Ethereum’s next move could be a plunge or an explosive short squeeze

Ethereum’s next move could be a plunge or an explosive short squeeze

July 8, 2025 7:28 am |

What is the Commitment of Traders (COT) Report?

The COT report is a weekly snapshot released by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). It shows how different types of traders are positioned in futures markets—meaning whether they’re betting prices will rise or fall.

Why does it matter?

Understanding trader positioning can help predict possible price moves. For example, if many traders expect prices to fall, it may signal caution.

How does it work, step-by-step?

  1. Traders open futures positions:
    Imagine large traders think Ethereum’s price will fall soon. They open “short” positions, betting prices will drop. Others, expecting prices to rise, open “long” positions.

  2. Reporting by traders:
    Every Tuesday, firms that manage futures positions report their holdings to the CFTC.

  3. CFTC receives and verifies data:
    On Wednesday, the CFTC gathers these reports and checks for accuracy.

  4. Weekly release:
    By Friday afternoon, the CFTC publishes this information in the weekly COT report.

Trader categories explained simply:

  • Leveraged Funds (Speculators): Traders looking for quick profits.
    Example: A hedge fund betting ETH prices will fall by heavily shorting contracts.

  • Dealer Intermediaries (Market Makers): Banks and brokers providing liquidity, usually hedging risk.
    Example: A bank buying futures contracts to offset risk from customer transactions.

  • Asset Managers/Institutions: Long-term investors who manage retirement funds or mutual funds.
    Example: A pension fund holding long futures positions to invest for the long-term growth of Ethereum.

  • Other Reportables: Large traders who don’t fit neatly into other categories.

  • Nonreportable (Small traders): Smaller investors whose holdings are too small to be individually reported.

Simple Example:

Let’s say last week’s report showed leveraged funds holding 1,000 contracts betting ETH prices will go down (“short”) and only 100 contracts betting they’ll rise (“long”). This means speculative traders expect ETH’s price to fall soon.

Why it might help your trading:

  • If most traders are very bearish (expect prices to fall), it might indicate prices could continue dropping.

  • Conversely, extreme bearishness might also mean that if prices start rising unexpectedly, these bearish traders must quickly buy to close their losing positions, rapidly driving prices higher (a “short squeeze”).

This report helps you understand the “big picture,” allowing you to make informed trading decisions based on what major players in the market are doing.

ETH related positions from the COT Report

As of July 1, 2025, leveraged funds hold a substantial short position on Ethereum futures: they have 12,574 short contracts (51.7% of total open interest) compared to only 1,275 long contracts (5.2%). This clearly shows their expectation that Ethereum’s price will decline. In contrast, Dealer Intermediaries are primarily long (66.5%), likely reflecting their role in hedging or providing liquidity. Asset Managers and Institutions also lean toward the bullish side, with 12.4% of total open interest long compared to just 2.2% short.

Putting it Together – The Guestimate:

Given the current setup, here’s my guestimate for Ethereum’s next move:

  • Immediate Term (next few days to a week or two): Increased Downward Pressure and Volatility. The substantial short position from leveraged funds is likely to exert strong downward pressure on Ethereum’s price in the very short term. We could see a move lower as these funds try to capitalize on their short bets. This might manifest as quick dips or a sustained downtrend, potentially testing significant support levels.

  • Medium Term (next few weeks to a month): Potential for Reversal or Consolidation Around Support. If the price does decline, the bullish leanings of Asset Managers and Institutions could act as a floor. They might start accumulating at lower prices, which could lead to a bounce or a period of consolidation. The market will be watching to see if new long positions emerge from non-leveraged players to counter the speculative shorts.

  • Key Indicator to Watch: How far leveraged funds are willing to press their shorts. If they continue to add significantly, the downtrend could be more severe. Conversely, if they start covering their shorts (buying back contracts to close their positions), it could signal a reversal and lead to a sharp upward move (a “short squeeze”).

For individual crypto traders, closely monitoring Ethereum price movements and weekly changes in leveraged fund positioning is crucial, along with price action at potential supports! Extreme bearish sentiment could either suggest the need for caution or signal an opportunity if market sentiment shifts quickly and unexpectedly.

Trade ETH and crypto at your own risk only. This is not financial advice. ForexLive.com will soon be evolving to investingLive.com

This article was written by Itai Levitan at www.forexlive.com.

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Revolut Taps $48 Billion Remittance Market: Enables Users to Send Money to China

Revolut Taps $48 Billion Remittance Market: Enables Users to Send Money to China

July 8, 2025 7:05 am |

Revolut targets the overseas Chinese diaspora as it has enabled customers to send money to China in Chinese yuan, following a partnership with Ant International’s Alipay. It stressed that the service will be “compliant, stable and fast.”

Announced today (Tuesday), the British fintech company detailed that its customers can send money to China using the recipient’s Alipay ID, name, and address. Also, the transfers will be processed instantly.

Standard Revolut customers will need to pay 0.15 per cent or a minimum fee of SG$5.90 per transaction, while Premium customers will pay 0.12 per cent or a minimum of SG$4.72. There will be no transaction fee for the platform’s Metal customers.

You may also like: Zopa vs Revolut et al – Fintech Heavyweights Are Just Getting Started

Targeting a Top Remittance Market

While Revolut has positioned itself as one of the top fintech platforms, Alipay is one of the most widely used payment apps in China. Launched in 2004, Alipay is one of the 36 e-wallets supported by Alipay+ under Ant International.

Revolut’s partnership with Ant is strategic. The country, run by the Communist government, receives an estimated inflow of $48 billion every year, placing it among the top five countries in terms of received remittances.

The fintech also pointed out that China is the leading destination for remittance from Singapore, mostly due to the city-state’s large Chinese diaspora. However, the remittance facility to China will be available to Revolut’s over 50 million global customer base.

“China is one of the world’s largest remittance markets and we see strong demand from our customers for a secure and affordable way to send money there,” said Raymond Ng, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore and Southeast Asia at Revolut.

Revolut Is Expanding

Meanwhile, Revolut is focusing on its aggressive global expansion. Last month, it agreed to acquire Banco Cetelem in Argentina from BNP Paribas, marking its first direct entry into the South American banking market.

It is also looking to expand its presence in Israel and is in talks with the Bank of Israel to acquire a “lean bank” licence in the country.

Revolut started as a challenger bank but received a banking licence in the country after years of delay. It also obtained a banking licence in Mexico last year and already operates in the European Union with a Lithuanian banking licence. It is further seeking a banking licence in New Zealand and plans to invest more than €1 billion (US$1.1 billion) in France, where it will apply for a French banking licence.

This article was written by Arnab Shome at www.financemagnates.com.

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