Axcera December 2025 Highlights
December was a quieter month for product releases, but an important one for industry direction. As prop trading matures, firms are rethinking their models, infrastructure, and long-term strategy. Throughout the month, Axcera focused on publishing insights that reflect where the industry is heading in 2026 and what firms must prepare for.
This recap highlights the key themes and content released in December.
1. The Shift Toward Retention-First Prop Trading
In our December feature article, “The Future of Prop Trading Is Not Challenges. It Is Retention,” we explored a major industry transition. Prop firms can no longer rely on high challenge churn alone. Rising acquisition costs, regulatory pressure, and trader expectations are pushing the industry toward long-term engagement and sustained trader success.
The article outlines:
- Why challenge-only models are fragile
- How firms benefit from keeping traders active for longer
- Programme designs that support sustainable retention
- The role of CRM, automation, and lifecycle tracking
Retention is becoming a core business strategy, not a marketing message.
Read the full article here: [Insert URL]
2. Infrastructure Is Being Tested as Prop Firms Scale
Our second December article, “Prop Trading Is Scaling Fast. Most Systems Are Falling Behind,” focused on the operational pressure created by rapid industry growth.
As firms introduce daily payouts, multi-platform setups, and larger trader volumes, legacy systems are creating friction and risk. Many operations teams are still relying on spreadsheets and manual checks that simply do not scale.
The article highlights:
- The growing need for real-time risk
- Transparency as a competitive advantage
- Automated payout logic
- Compliance frameworks for a maturing industry
- Infrastructure flexibility for hybrid B2B/B2C models
The message is clear: firms that scale in 2026 will depend on infrastructure designed for transparency, automation, and operational precision.
Read the full article here: [Insert URL]
3. What We Heard From the Market in December
Across discussions with licensees and prospects, several themes were consistent:
- Retention is now a priority metric for leadership
- Operations teams are seeking more automation as workloads increase
- Firms expect stricter compliance expectations in 2026
- Technology decisions are becoming more strategic and forward-looking
These insights are shaping Axcera’s roadmap for early 2026.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Axcera enters the new year focused on:
- Supporting retention-first prop firm models
- Expanding automated risk and payout workflows
- Delivering deeper integrations and unified reporting
The goal remains the same: infrastructure that scales with the firm and strengthens operational resilience.
Recap
December was a month of reflection and direction. While not defined by major releases, it reinforced the industry’s movement toward trader retention, automation, and infrastructure-driven growth. Axcera’s December publications provide clarity for firms preparing for these shifts.
If your firm is planning its 2026 strategy, Axcera can help you build the infrastructure to support it.
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