HyroTrader: The First Crypto Prop Firm Integrated with Bybit

HyroTrader was founded in early 2023 by Samuel Drnda, a tech entrepreneur with experience in traditional proprietary trading. From the start, the company set out to solve a structural problem in crypto prop trading: traders were trading crypto products, but not on real crypto exchanges.

Before launching HyroTrader, Drnda worked at a traditional prop trading firm in Prague. During that time, he closely followed the growth of FTMO, which demonstrated how a disciplined prop trading model could scale globally. Crypto prop trading, however, developed without comparable infrastructure standards.

Most crypto prop firms relied on MetaTrader or similar platforms. While functional, these systems were built for forex and CFDs, not for crypto markets. Traders did not interact with real order books, real exchange execution, or real market conditions.

HyroTrader took a different position early on: crypto traders should trade crypto directly on real exchanges.

Building What Did Not Exist

In 2023, this idea was difficult to execute. HyroTrader contacted and spoke with more than 60 crypto exchanges. Most did not offer demo trading at all. Others had demo environments but lacked APIs that could support a proprietary trading model.

Bybit was one of the few exchanges with a functional demo account. Even then, there was no complete API solution that could be used by a prop trading firm.

HyroTrader decided to proceed anyway. Early testing was done without API access. Trades were executed manually, results were checked individually, and feedback was shared directly with the exchange. This process required constant iteration and close cooperation.

The development phase lasted more than six months. There was no reference model. No crypto prop firm had previously connected directly to a major exchange in this way. HyroTrader was building infrastructure that did not yet exist in the industry.

First to Market with Direct Exchange Trading

On 23 December 2023, HyroTrader officially launched the first crypto prop firm directly connected to the Bybit exchange.

HyroTrader was the first firm to make this model work. The first to allow crypto prop traders to trade directly on a real exchange. The first to demonstrate that exchange-based crypto prop trading was possible.

From the beginning, the company communicated a consistent principle: real crypto trading should take place on real crypto exchanges, not on simulated broker platforms.

Market Response and Industry Shift

Following the launch, demand was immediate. Tens of thousands of traders joined HyroTrader. The response confirmed that many traders were looking for transparency, real execution, and exchange-level conditions.

After this model proved viable, other firms began introducing similar exchange-based setups. What initially required months of development and coordination is now becoming the expected standard in crypto prop trading.

HyroTrader views this not as a competitive claim, but as an industry shift. The company’s early work helped establish a new baseline for how crypto prop trading should operate.

Industry Recognition

HyroTrader’s infrastructure-first approach has been recognized by multiple independent trading and crypto-focused platforms, which have listed the company among the best crypto prop trading firms. These include industry publications such as AltFins, Living From Trading, and CryptoNinjas.

In addition, on 19 December 2025, HyroTrader was recognized as Best Crypto Prop Firm of the Year 2025 at the ProFX Awards Dubai 2025 (Second Edition), reflecting broader industry acknowledgment of its contribution to crypto prop trading infrastructure.

Building Toward On-Chain Transparency

Beyond exchange integration, HyroTrader is also developing a decentralized protocol designed to improve transparency in crypto prop trading.

The goal is to make key trading data verifiable and auditable on-chain, rather than relying solely on internal reporting. Transparency remains a challenge across much of the industry, where many firms do not publish verifiable data or operate with limited public accountability.

HyroTrader’s approach is to move toward infrastructure that enables verification rather than trust. This work is ongoing and technically demanding, but aligns with the company’s long-term focus on building durable systems.

Continuing to Lead

HyroTrader plans to introduce two to three additional crypto exchange integrations during 2026. Each integration requires direct cooperation with exchanges, feedback on demo trading systems, API development, and significant engineering effort. Some integrations may not move forward.

The company continues to prioritize long-term infrastructure over shortcuts. Its focus remains on setting standards rather than following trends.

More information about HyroTrader and its exchange-based crypto prop trading model is available at https://www.hyrotrader.com/.

The standard for crypto prop trading has changed. HyroTrader was first to build it.