When My Forex Funds collapsed, the US suddenly became a grey zone for prop firms. Even though prop trading is not the same as brokerage, many firms choose to play it safe and step back. MetaQuotes then added more uncertainty by blocking prop firms from serving US clients altogether.Futures Props Filled in the GapDuring that vacuum, some firms tried to keep their presence through web-based platforms like MatchTrader, DXTrade, and TradeLocker. But those platforms never attracted the same scale of traders. Instead, US traders turned en masse to futures firms — names like TopStep, Apex, and MyFundedFutures — which quickly became dominant in the American market.Related: Devexperts Onboarded over 40 Prop Firms to DXtrade in a Year, Now Focuses on FuturesIt’s still not entirely clear whether futures props and CFD props should be viewed as the same industry or two parallel ones. What is clear is that futures have grown drastically over the last year and will continue to expand. Today, the industry feels evenly split, with CFD prop firms and futures props each holding roughly half of the market cap, highlighting just how significant both sides have become.FTMO’s MT5 LeverageNow, the tide is turning again. FTMO’s return to the US is especially notable because it comes with MetaTrader 5 — making them the only prop firm able to offer MT5 access to US traders compliantly. This absolute advantage is possible thanks to their partnership with OANDA and the backing of OANDA’s RFED regulation, giving them a level of credibility and access no other firm currently has.Read more: Prop Trading on MetaTrader 5 Is Back in the USAt the same time, The5ers have reopened to US clients through cTrader. Their move wasn’t coincidental — they had been preparing for cTrader for some time, knowing it would be the pathway to re-enter the US market in a compliant way.FTMO | Now in the United States 🇺🇸We're here. Join US.FTMO: https://t.co/WGafjXdgLDFTMO US: https://t.co/RdkLL6U45V pic.twitter.com/fc2of4vqo0— FTMO.com (@FTMO_com) August 26, 2025The key point: any prop firm can now follow the same route, as long as they support it with a strong legal opinion.What makes this moment particularly interesting is the clash between futures and CFD props.Over the past year, futures firms built enormous awareness and credibility in the US Their rules are often stricter, their risk models tighter, and their branding leans more “institutional.” By contrast, CFD-based prop trading — especially in its simulated format — is still more flexible. It offers easier trading rules, broader access to instruments, and a smoother entry point for retail traders. That difference means the CFD model has far more room for growth if awareness spreads again in the US.So the question is: are CFD firms simply reclaiming their old audience, or are they also eyeing the futures crowd? The reality is probably both.Everyone Might Be Looking into FuturesCFD props may not replace futures firms overnight, but they will certainly compete for attention. In fact, we’re already seeing crossover: firms like FundingPips (with FundingTicks) and FundedNext have launched futures programs alongside their CFD offerings. It seems clear that The5ers and FTMO are preparing the ground in a similar way — and through their new US path, they are well positioned to eventually expand into futures as well.Behind all of this is a simple truth: the US matters. Before the MetaQuotes crackdown in early 2024, nearly 30% of traffic to the top prop firms came from American traders. No global player can afford to ignore that market for long. By finding legal and platform pathways back in, firms like FTMO and The5ers are setting a precedent for others to follow.The bigger picture is encouraging. Prop trading is no longer at a standstill in the US. It’s evolving, adapting, and showing resilience. With MetaQuotes still off-limits, cTrader has become the bridge. For traders, this means more choice, better platforms, and more opportunities. For the industry, it marks the beginning of a new chapter.This article was written by Ruben Abitbol at www.financemagnates.com.