PROSPERITY: IMC’S Global Trading Challenge

Prosperity 4 is IMC's global online trading challenge, designed for university students who want to get familiar with algorithmic trading and financial markets. A unique simulation game developed by a team of IMC traders, quantitative researchers, and software engineers to provide an accessible, life-like experience of what it takes to be a trader.

This year, Prosperity 4 challenges you to explore new frontiers as you and your crew set course for outer space. Along the way, you’ll encounter the most remarkable tradable goods and navigate fascinating foreign markets. It will take skill, knowledge, and courage to overcome the challenges you’ll face and turn risk into reward, earning as many XIRECs (Prosperity currency) as possible.

The challenge runs for 16 days in total, divided into two active phases of six days each, with a four-day intermission in between. After signing up, you will have time to explore the basic controls and dynamics of the challenge during the tutorial round. This tutorial round will last until April 14, when your first official mission starts.

Prosperity is your chance to see how your skills stack up against other students across the globe while learning more about trading in a gamified environment that is competitive, collaborative, and fun.

Trade, code, strategise, and optimise your way to the top of the leaderboard!

At the end of the final round, the team that has generated the most profit among all teams will be victorious and be crowned IMC Trading Talent of 2026.

Prosperity Storyline:
You are on your way to Intara, a distant planet that has reached out for help. You and your crew were sent by the eXtended Interplanetary Resource Exchange Network (XIREN) to set up a trading outpost and help the Intarian people turn their planet’s raw potential into profitable trading activities. Before you arrive, you can use the trading simulator from within your spacecraft. Trading options might be limited, but it allows you to experiment with some initial tradable goods, run your first bits of Python code, and get familiar with the Graphical User Interface.

Who should sign up? 
You - if you’re a university student who’s a problem solver with a competitive spirit, and are interested in learning more about the trading industry 

Why should you join? 

• Develop real-world algorithmic and manual trading skills in an interactive environment 
• Enhance your Python programming skills by writing trading algorithms
• Join a global community and compete with the brightest minds across the globe
• Boost career prospects with top performance as a badge of achievement 
• Win a piece of the $50,000 USD prize pool*

How does Prosperity work?

1. Brush up on your trading terminology & Python skills with our e-learning centre on Wiki. Use the Tutorial Round to practice programming your first Python program
2. There are 5 trading rounds, consisting of 2 challenges each 
3. Algorithmic: develop a trading strategy and submit your Python program 
4. Manual: opportunity to boost your profit, independent of the algorithmic challenge 
5. PnL is calculated after each round closes - you’ll be informed via email when your scores are in 
6. Check the leaderboard to see your rank 
7. After all 5 rounds are complete, we will announce the winners

Key dates and rounds:

The 16 days of simulation of Prosperity are divided into 5 rounds. Rounds 1 and 2 last 72 hours, while rounds 3, 4, and 5 each last 48 hours.

At the end of every round - before the timer runs out - all teams will have to submit their algorithmic and manual trades to be processed. 

The algorithms will then participate in a full day of trading against the Prosperity trading bots. 

Note that all algorithms are trading separately, there is no interaction between the algorithms of different players. When a new round starts, the results of the previous round will be disclosed and the leaderboard will be updated accordingly. 

During the game, you can always visit previous rounds in the dashboard, to review information and results. 

But once a round is closed, you can no longer change your submitted trade for that round. When Round 5 ends, the final results will be processed, and the winner of the Prosperity trading challenge will be announced within 2 weeks.

Sign-up and tutorial rounds:

March 16-April 13

• Round 1: April 14-17
• Round 2: April 17-20
• Intermission: April 20-24
• Round 3: April 24-26
• Round 4: April 26-28
• Round 5: April 28-30

Prizes:

• Winner: Receives USD 25,000 cash.
• 1st Runner-Up: Receives USD 10,000 cash.
• 2nd Runner-Up: Receives USD 5,000 cash.
• 4th place: Receives USD 3,500 cash.
• 5th place: Receives USD 1,500 cash.
• Best manual trader: Receives USD 5,000 cash.