Institutional Capital. Professional Traders.

18th Street Trading is a futures proprietary trading firm built for disciplined traders seeking to establish a professional record, earn greater responsibility, and progress through demonstrated consistency over time.

Entry
One public qualification
Allocation
$50,000
Progression
By invitation only
Market
CME futures
Account equityTrailing loss

The Firm

A different idea of what a proprietary trading firm should be.

We believe the value of a firm is measured by the quality of the traders it develops and the professional relationships it builds over time, not by how many accounts it can sell.

Our objective is to identify serious futures traders, give them a professional environment in which to establish their record, and create a path for those who consistently meet the standard to advance within the firm.

We are building 18th Street for the long term, and for traders who approach their profession the same way.

S Prairie Ave  ·  E 18th St

The Name

18th Street Trading was inspired by Chicago's South Loop, where I'm originally from and where the culture of professional trading shaped much of my own perspective on the markets.

The intersection of South Prairie Avenue and East 18th Street gave the firm its name. It is a personal reference to home, but the meaning goes further.

To me, 18th Street stands for professionalism, discipline, consistency, sound judgment, and trust earned over time.

The name is where the story begins. What we build under that name is what gives it meaning.

The Standard

Professional trading begins with how risk is managed, not how much is made.

01

Risk management
before profitability

Protect the account before pursuing the opportunity. Position size is decided ahead of the trade, not adjusted to reach a target that is nearly in range.

02

Consistency
over aggression

A professional record is built across trading sessions, not through isolated outcomes. One exceptional day tells the firm very little.

03

Process
over emotion

Decisions should remain disciplined whether the previous trade produced a gain or a loss. The method does not change with the last result.

04

Judgment
over activity

Not every market requires a trade. Knowing when not to participate is part of the profession, and it is one of the clearest signals of a mature operator.

05

Responsibility
is earned

Greater opportunity follows demonstrated consistency, sound risk management, and professional conduct over time. Nothing here is automatic.

Starting balance Session 01 Session 12 Starting balance Session 01 Session 12

Account equity  /  Trailing loss threshold
The threshold advances on qualifying end-of-day performance, then locks at the starting balance and does not move again.

Capital allocations may change. Responsibility may increase.
The standard never does.

One Beginning

One qualification. One $50,000 account. One standard.

There is no menu of larger accounts to purchase and no higher starting point available for a higher price. That is deliberate.

We believe greater opportunity should follow demonstrated performance, not purchasing power. Beginning from the same point allows every trader to establish a professional record under the same expectations for consistency, discipline, judgment, and risk management.

Meets the standard Does not Best day within 33.33% One day carries it Meets the standard Best day within 33.33% Does not One day carries it

The consistency requirement measures the best trading session against total gains.
A record built across sessions, not on a single result.

Some traders will advance. Others will not. No outcome is guaranteed. But every trader is given the same opportunity to earn what comes next.

Progression

Greater opportunity is earned.

Larger capital allocations are not available for public purchase, nor are they unlocked automatically by reaching a predetermined threshold. They are reserved for traders whose body of work demonstrates the consistency, discipline, judgment, and risk management expected at the next stage.

When that record warrants consideration, the firm may extend a private invitation to qualify for greater responsibility. Progression is not a reward for a single result. It reflects trust established through sustained professional performance.

01
AssessmentThe firm's only public entry point. Every trader begins here under the same standards.
$50,000Public entry
02
Funded TraderQualification establishes funded status and begins the professional record the firm evaluates over time.
$50,000On qualification
03
Institutional TraderNot publicly available. A private invitation provides the opportunity to qualify — it does not grant the account.
$100,000Invitation
04
Capital PartnerThe highest designation within the firm, and its largest capital allocation.
$150,000Invitation
Assessment$50,000 Funded$50,000 Institutional$100,000 Capital Partner$150,000 Assessment  ·  $50,000 Funded  ·  $50,000 Institutional  ·  $100,000 Capital Partner  ·  $150,000

Allocation rises only where the record supports it. The two upper stages are not publicly available.

Capital may increase.
The standard never does.

A Letter From the Founder

Serious futures traders deserve a firm that recognizes professionalism, not just profitability.

Trading has taught me that a single day, trade, or payout tells you very little about a trader. What matters is what can be demonstrated repeatedly: discipline under pressure, respect for risk, sound judgment, and the consistency to follow a process when doing so is difficult.

Every trader begins at the same starting point. From there, performance becomes a professional record, and greater responsibility must be earned.

My responsibility is to protect that standard as the firm grows. I personally review every trader considered for invitation into our private Institutional and Capital Partner Qualifications. Those invitations will never be automatic. They must mean something.

If you are looking for shortcuts, 18th Street will not be for you. If you approach trading as a profession and believe opportunity should be earned through the quality of your work, this firm was built with you in mind.

Jay R. Pocius
Founder
18th Street Trading

Capital Access

Every relationship with 18th Street begins with the same qualification.

Meet the firm's published standards, establish your professional record, and earn your first opportunity within 18th Street Trading.

Apply for Capital Access

$50,000 Qualification · Full specifications disclosed before payment