Trading Topstep with a clean network
Topstep is a futures prop firm that enforces a hard IP block at login for known proxy and VPN ranges. This is the most restrictive connection policy in this guide series.
Topstep's infrastructure connects to US futures markets (CME, Chicago/New York). Their IP policy is a hard login block for data-centre and known proxy ranges. Do not use TradersProxy with Topstep — you will be blocked at login. Use a direct residential ISP connection. TradersProxy is not compatible with Topstep's current policy.
Where Topstep's trading infrastructure actually lives
Topstep is a US-based prop firm focused on CME Group futures — instruments like ES (S&P 500 futures), NQ (Nasdaq 100 futures), CL (crude oil), and similar contracts. Their execution infrastructure connects to CME co-location facilities in Chicago and the broader New York financial data-centre cluster.
This is fundamentally different from forex-focused prop firms like FTMO, which use London broker infrastructure. Topstep's latency baseline is measured in milliseconds to Chicago or New York, not London.
- Primary infrastructure: CME-connected execution, Chicago and New York co-location
- Latency from US Midwest/East Coast: 5–30 ms typical
- Latency from Europe: 80–130 ms typical
- Latency from Asia: 180–250 ms typical
Topstep's IP policy — the hardest line in this guide series
Topstep's policy on proxies and VPNs is explicit: their terms prohibit VPN usage, and their platform enforces this at the login firewall. Known data-centre IP ranges and VPN exit nodes return a hard block — a 403 or similar access denial — before you can log in at all.
This is categorically different from firms like FTMO, where you can log in and trade through a proxy, with the IP check happening later at payout. With Topstep, the block is immediate and at login.
TradersProxy routes through data-centre IP ranges. Topstep blocks data-centre ranges at login. You will not be able to access the Topstep platform through TradersProxy. This is not a shared-IP issue — it is a data-centre IP issue. Even a dedicated IP from a data-centre would face the same block.
What to check before trading Topstep
- Is your connection a residential ISP? Topstep requires a residential or business ISP address, not a data-centre or known proxy range.
- Are you currently connected via VPN or proxy? Disconnect completely before attempting to log in to Topstep.
- Does your IP pass a cleared-cache check? Verify your public IP in an incognito browser to confirm you are on your residential ISP address.
- Have you read Topstep's current terms? Their VPN prohibition is explicit. Any change to their policy would be in the current published terms.
What actually helps for Topstep traders — in honest order
1. Direct residential ISP connection (the only safe path)
For Topstep, a direct residential or business ISP connection is the required approach. There is no proxy or VPS workaround that satisfies their login firewall. If your home connection has high latency to US futures markets, this is a geographic constraint that no proxy can solve under Topstep's current policy.
2. Change ISPs (sometimes helps within your region)
If your residential ISP routes poorly to Chicago or New York, another ISP in your region may have better international transit. This is worth testing but offers no guarantees. Jitter during news events (NFP, FOMC) is the more common pain point than raw latency for Topstep futures traders.
3. Consider whether Topstep's rules suit your setup
If you are a trader outside the US with high latency to CME infrastructure, and Topstep's policy prevents you from using any infrastructure optimisation, it is worth comparing Topstep to other futures prop firms that may have different connection policies. This is not a recommendation to avoid Topstep — it is an honest framing of the constraint.
4. TradersProxy is not compatible with Topstep
This is the honest position. TradersProxy is useful for other prop firms and retail brokers. For Topstep specifically, do not use it. Read the full prop firm network guide →
Topstep network FAQ
Topstep connects to CME Group futures infrastructure in Chicago and New York. This differs from forex prop firms that use London broker infrastructure.
No. Topstep's terms explicitly prohibit VPN usage and their platform blocks known VPN and proxy IP ranges at login. This is a hard block, not a payout-stage review.
No. TradersProxy routes through data-centre IPs, which Topstep blocks at login. Do not use TradersProxy for Topstep. Use a direct residential ISP connection.
VPS IP ranges are typically data-centre ranges, which Topstep blocks. A VPS faces the same login block as a proxy. Check Topstep's current terms for their specific policy on VPS and remote desktop usage.
A direct residential ISP connection is the only login-safe path. Infrastructure options that would help with latency (VPS near CME, proxy routing) are blocked by Topstep's policy. This is a genuine constraint for non-US traders.
Topstep focuses on US futures — CME instruments including ES, NQ, CL, and similar. Their infrastructure connects to CME co-location. This differs from forex-focused firms like FTMO that use London broker infrastructure.
Not while staying within Topstep's current policy. If routing optimisation is important to your trading, compare Topstep to other futures prop firms that may have different connection policies. For forex prop firm accounts, firms like FTMO and FundedNext have less restrictive login-time policies.