Nick Deflorio is an entrepreneur, trading educator, and founder of Onyx Trading Education—a global trading education company helping everyday people gain access to the world of finance through skill-based learning. Known for his clear, results-driven teaching style, Nick empowers students to build consistent income streams online through prop firm funding and modern trading strategies built for today’s digital economy.
Nick Deflorio has been trading since 2016 and is widely recognized as one of the most profitable traders on Breakout, the world’s largest crypto trading prop firm—recently acquired by Kraken, one of the biggest names in digital finance. His verified leaderboard rankings and real-world payouts have established him as a respected figure in the prop trading industry, where skill and consistency speak louder than hype.
After starting to trade in 2016, Nick Deflorio recognized a major gap in the trading education industry. Most beginners were being led down the wrong path with outdated or overly complex information. Determined to change that, he built a multi–seven-figure online business with a simple mission: to make trading a learnable, repeatable process that anyone can master with the right system and mindset.
Through his flagship program, the Onyx Trading Accelerator, Nick combines proven strategy with psychological mastery—helping students develop confidence, discipline, and independence in the markets. His philosophy is rooted in clarity, precision, and real-world application, bridging the gap between traditional finance and modern digital opportunity.
At Onyx Trading Education, Nick Deflorio’s approach blends expertise with relatability, breaking down complex financial concepts into simple, actionable steps. Whether he’s guiding complete beginners through their first profitable setup or mentoring funded traders toward consistent payouts, Nick Deflorio’s mission remains the same: to help everyday people take control of their income, time, and future through the world of finance.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
A typical day for me starts early—with a morning walk and a complete disconnect from my phone. Working online means I’m constantly plugged in, so those quiet moments are essential to clear my head before diving into the day.
By 8 a.m., I’m at my desk giving my trading community a market update—sharing where I see opportunities, gaps, and lessons from the current environment. After that, I focus on my business, usually tackling marketing, sales, and systems in a three-hour deep work block.
Once that’s done, I hit the gym. Physical training keeps my mind sharp and energy high. My late afternoons are usually slower-paced, and then around 6 or 7 p.m., I switch back into creative mode—thinking about the business through a fresh lens, brainstorming new ideas, and exploring ways to improve or innovate.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Creativity and experimentation are everything. I start by studying what others in the space are doing—then I ask myself, “How can I make this more relatable, more human, and more attention-grabbing?”
I push ideas as far as they can go creatively, even beyond what’s realistic. Once all the ideas are out of my head, I scale back to what’s actually executable. That process of “no-ceiling thinking” often leads to my best work—ads, hooks, and angles that connect deeply with people. It’s about breaking your own creative limits first, then refining the gold that’s left.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The growing accessibility of skill-based income. We’re living in a time where anyone with a laptop and discipline can build real financial freedom online. The rise of prop firms and fintech platforms has opened the door for people to participate in the world of finance without needing millions in capital or a Wall Street background. That democratization of opportunity excites me and is a business I am interested in leaning into.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Putting time limits on work. Deadlines create intensity, and intensity drives focus. Even if a deadline isn’t real, I make it real in my head. Racing against the clock pulls out my best work—and it’s the same approach that’s helped me excel in both trading and business.
What advice would you give your younger self?
You don’t have as much time as you think. Success takes time, but you can’t wait to start. As a teenager, I thought time was on my side. Looking back, everything moves faster than you expect. I’d tell my younger self to start building goals, habits, and achievements early. The earlier you start, the more clarity and self-understanding you gain.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
I believe the financial markets are completely random and based purely on probability.
Most traders think they can control or predict the market, but I’ve learned that the less control you try to have, the better your results. We don’t get paid to predict the market—we get paid to execute profitable setups and manage risk.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Deep thinking and walking. It’s the single most powerful habit I’ve developed. When you think in second, third, and fourth-order consequences, you start planning for both worst-case and best-case scenarios. It gives you perspective and keeps your decision-making sharp.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I take time off. Simple as that. Overwhelm usually means I’ve lost clarity on my next goal. Taking time off helps me zoom out, reassess, and come back with sharper focus.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Learning direct-response marketing and copywriting.
In today’s digital world, you can have the best product or service—but if you can’t communicate it effectively, you’ll never reach the people who need it. Mastering the art of messaging changed everything for me. It’s how I’ve been able to grow a global education brand online.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Growing too fast without the proper systems in place.
Rapid growth sounds exciting, but if your backend isn’t ready, it can quietly break your business. I now look at every business like an algorithm—each part is a variable that impacts the rest. If you pull too hard on one lever, like client acquisition, and neglect retention, you create a leak. Growth needs structure.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Master the art of angle creation.
An angle is the unique lens or narrative you use to present your product. Most people sell exactly what they offer, which only appeals to buyers who are already looking for that product. But when you create a new angle, you tap into audiences who didn’t even realize they wanted what you have. It’s how you turn a saturated market into a blue ocean.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Notion. It’s the backbone of my business.
I organize everything into three pillars—Sales, Marketing, and Systems. Every idea, test, or improvement is logged and tracked. When something dips, I can instantly see what’s changed and draw from what’s worked in the past.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
A physical Pomodoro timer for my desk. It sounds simple, but that timer has made me dramatically more productive. There’s something powerful about working against a visible countdown—it pushes you to focus and get things done.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
Book: Rich Dad Poor Dad – It’s a classic that rewired how I think about money, freedom, and leverage.
Podcast: The Myron Golden Podcast – Myron’s insights on marketing and sales are world-class. He breaks down the fundamentals of business in a way that’s practical and timeless.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The Sopranos.
The characters are hilarious, but what I love most is Tony Soprano’s human side—especially his struggle with mental health. It’s a reminder that even the strongest people battle inner challenges, and that’s what makes them relatable.
Key learnings:
- Marketing and Sales is the lifeblood of any business, don’t focus on systems if you don’t have clients.
- You get paid in relation to the value you add or the problem you solve, the more value you can add, the more you get paid, the bigger the problem you solve, the more you get paid.
- You don’t have as much time as you think, use deadlines and race against the clock, it’ll cause you to become more creative.