03/08/2026
One screenshot showing payout. Another screenshot showing inactivity warning....
One of the greatest lessons life has taught me is that money is temporary. You can have money credited to your account and still be unable to access it when you need it most...
A while ago, I started a prop trading program... The response was overwhelming more than 150 traders applied.
After carefully reviewing everyone I accepted only 28 traders. The model was simple I would manage the program, they would execute the assigned tasks and profits would be shared fairly 50/50...
The program performed exceptionally well. Several accounts got funded, and we accumulated over $73,000 in payouts in one of the firms... I thought it was one of the most successful projects I had ever managed.
Confident that everything had gone according to plan I processed the multiple withdrawals to my Kenyan bank account. The funds reflected successfully and I believed the hard part was over.
Unfortunately, that was only the beginning..
The bank placed the account under compliance review while verifying the international transactions. As a result, the funds became temporarily inaccessible as the verification process continued. It was a situation I had never anticipated.
At the same time the traders who had successfully completed the first withdrawal were waiting for their profit shares. Every day I had to explain that the payments were delayed, not because the program had failed, but because the funds were tied up during the banking compliance process. Some members were patient and understood the situation. Others could not wait any longer.
That period brought immense pressure. It's the reason why i stopped trading the prop firm and uta now receiving activity warnings...I wasn't just dealing with a banking process I was carrying the expectations of 28 people who had trusted me. It has been mentally exhausting, and over time the program became associated with stress rather than opportunity..
As you can see from the screenshot, the program itself was genuine and successful. The challenge wasn't making money it was accessing it through the traditional banking system after receiving large and many international payouts.
The experience changed my perspective completely...
Today, I believe every trader should understand how cross border payments work.
Kenyan banks have legal obligations to verify certain international transactions under anti money laundering and KYC regulations. When substantial payments arrive from overseas trading firms, additional checks may be required before funds are released. That doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong with the money it is part of the banks compliance process.
I also believe traders should diversify how they receive their funds. In many cases crypto, especially stablecoins like USDT, has become an efficient alternative for international settlements because it reduces dependence on traditional banking channels while still requiring users to comply with applicable tax and legal obligations.
As for me, I have made peace with my decision. Some of the accounts will eventually become dormant, and I have chosen to let them close. The pressure, the delays, and the responsibility of managing other people's expectations left me with valuable lessons but also a great deal of emotional strain.
Sometimes the greatest success is not building the biggest program it is protecting your peace of mind.
