Prop Firms Tighten Rules: No More Metals or Nat Gas Trading?

Many popular prop firms have quietly added restrictions on high-volatility futures contracts in 2025–2026 — especially metals (gold, silver) and natural gas. Here's the current landscape:

• Topstep: Explicitly prohibits trading gold (GC), silver (SI), and natural gas (NG) in funded accounts and evaluations. Traders must stick to lower-vol instruments like equity index futures (ES, NQ) or currencies.

• Apex Trader Funding: No longer allows metals or Nat Gas in most funded accounts — citing excessive volatility and risk to firm capital.

• MyFundedFutures & FundedNext: Similar bans or severe drawdown limits on GC, SI, and NG contracts.

• Why? Prop firms are protecting their capital from massive swings (e.g., Nat Gas can move 10–20% in a day on weather/news). High-vol assets increase the chance of large drawdowns, even for skilled traders.

What this means for you: If you're trading metals or Nat Gas, these restrictions eliminate most funded accounts. Focus on allowed instruments (indices, forex futures, energies like crude) or explore non-prop strategies.Have you been affected by these bans?

If you want to continue trading metals and gas try these options & use code: SmoothTrader for the highest discount code.

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Reply and let me know which prop firm you're using — happy to discuss workarounds or alternatives.Stay disciplined,

Smooth Trader