Berkeley Trading Competition
The West Coast's first and largest intercollegiate trading competition.
February 27–28, 2027 · UC Berkeley
Two days of live trading and research.
Competitors face a series of trading and quantitative research challenges built by Traders at Berkeley, alongside networking sessions with our industry sponsors.
Applications for BTC 2027 are open. Apply by December 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.
- $25,000 Prize pool, cash
- 150+ In-person participants
- 10+ Industry partners on the floor
On the floor
Meet the firms that trade the markets.
Between rounds, participants meet current traders, researchers, and engineers from the firms recruiting on site, including but not limited to:
- Citadel
- Jane Street
- Optiver
- Jump Trading
- DRW Holdings
- Susquehanna
- Five Rings
- Hudson River Trading
- Flow Traders
- Virtu Financial
Details
What to know
- Prizes
- A $25,000 cash prize pool. Top scorers across all games each win, and top players in each individual game win as well — plus special swag and other prizes.
- Who can compete
- Open to all US-based undergraduate and graduate students interested in quantitative trading, targeting quantitative fields but built to welcome newcomers with no trading experience.
- Travel & meals
- Traders at Berkeley covers transportation and accommodation for traveling participants; details go out to accepted competitors. Breakfast and lunch are served each day.
Competition specifics go to accepted participants by email. Questions before then? competition [at] traders.berkeley.edu
Frequently asked questions
Who can compete, and do I need prior trading experience?
The competition is open to any US-based undergraduate or graduate student, targeting underclassmen. You don't need prior trading or finance experience; we're looking for strong quantitative ability.
When do applications open, and how do I apply?
Applications for BTC 2027 are open through December 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. Use the Apply for BTC 2027 button above to submit your application. Accepted participants are notified within a few weeks of the deadline, at which point we arrange travel and housing details.
Is the competition a team or individual event?
The competition is an individual event and each participant needs to sign up separately. Final scoring and prizes will be awarded based on individual performance.
How will transportation and accommodation costs be reimbursed?
Accommodation will be handled by Traders at Berkeley. Details about transportation reimbursement will be released to accepted participants. Participants should wait until acceptance emails are sent out before booking flights and transportation.