How it works
One decision a year. Twenty years. One score.
Every season the market rolls a mood, an event lands on your desk, and you pick one of four moves. Safe moves rarely go wrong but rarely make you; bold moves can make your year or end your job. Promotions come when your numbers clear the next desk's bar. Lose your nerve or your reputation and you get walked out a floor down.
The eight stages
| # | Stage | You manage | Crypto side |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Trader | Your own savings | First Bitcoin Buy |
| 2 | Investment Bank Intern | The coffee run | Exchange Intern |
| 3 | Junior Analyst | A spreadsheet and a reputation | Crypto Coverage |
| 4 | Prop Trader | $5M of the firm's money | Exchange Trading Desk |
| 5 | Senior Trader / PM | $50M book | Crypto Fund PM |
| 6 | Your Own Fund | $200M fund | Token / Exchange Founder |
| 7 | Hedge Fund Manager | $1B+ AUM | Crypto Tycoon |
| 8 | Legend | History | Legend |
The four numbers
- Skill — how good you actually are.
- Rep — what the street thinks you are.
- Nerve — what a crash costs you. It wears down in bad years and comes back in quiet ones.
- Net worth — the scoreboard everyone checks first.
The market
- Bull run — Everything goes up. Even your cousin's coin.
- Bear market — Nothing works. Your best trade this year is a nap.
- Crash — Circuit breakers. Group chats go quiet.
- Bubble — Valuations are a vibe. Your barber has a fund.
The score
0 to 100, from how far you climbed, your net worth, skill, reputation and nerve at retirement. The Daily Desk gives everyone the same seed, so the only difference between players is their decisions. The server replays every submitted career; the leaderboard cannot be edited from the browser.
Questions
Is this real money?
No. TraderBorn is a game. There are no deposits, no prizes and nothing to buy.
Is this financial advice?
No. The banks, exchanges and funds are invented, and the market is a story generator. A good career here says nothing about real trading.
How long is a career?
Twenty in-game years, one decision each. Three to five minutes.
How is the score worked out?
By the revenue you generate by 37, every dollar every year made, on a log scale: $1M is 40, $1B is 80. Every year you pick where you work; every few years a moment with odds lands on your desk. The server replays every career from its seed, so the leaderboard cannot be faked.
Do I need an account?
No. Play as a guest. Leave an email only if you want to hear about the weekly scenario.