Funded Trader Markets

Funded Trader Markets (FTM) is a multi‑asset prop firm launched in 2024 that funds traders via simulated accounts and pays real performance rewards. The firm runs several evaluation paths—1‑Step, 2‑Step, and Instant Funding—across Forex, indices, commodities, and crypto, with account sizes from $5,000 to $300,000 and a published maximum overall allocation of up to $1.2 million per trader. FTM emphasizes speed and transparency with on‑demand withdrawals, a 24‑hour payout guarantee, and a live rewards ledger verified on‑chain.

Operationally, FTM lists group entities in Cyprus (FTM Funded Trader Markets LTD), the UAE (Formed Technologies INT FZCO), and Saint Lucia, and states that all trading occurs in a simulated environment; the service is not brokerage or investment advice. Traders can use MT5, cTrader, Match‑Trader, or TradeLocker, with leverage advertised up to 1:100 and swap‑free conditions on all programs.

Evaluation models remove traditional time pressure: the 1‑Step (Nitro / Nitro X) and 2‑Step Plus accounts have no time limits, and Instant Funding skips evaluations entirely. Payouts are on demand once minimum criteria are met; the firm publishes average times and totals on its rewards page alongside the 24‑hour guarantee.

FTM will suit experienced day traders and active swing traders who value fast, on‑demand payouts, swap‑free trading, and multi‑platform access. Newer traders who prefer lower targets and static drawdown may lean to the 2‑Step Plus track; highly confident rule‑compliant traders may prefer 1‑Step Nitro/Nitro X for the higher potential split.

Reputation and Transparency

FTM positions transparency at the center of its value proposition. The firm maintains a live rewards page that records total payouts, average processing times, and on‑chain verification for crypto transfers, alongside a stated 24‑hour payout guarantee. All activity is framed as simulated trading with performance‑based rewards, not brokerage or investment services.

Broker and Market Access

FTM states that trades occur in a simulated, non‑live environment and that its Saint Lucia entity provides brokerage services/MT4/5 infrastructure to support the programs. Tradable markets include FX, indices, commodities, and crypto, with contract specifications published on the site. Leverage is advertised up to 1:100, though terms note leverage may be reduced to 1:10 at the firm’s discretion for risk management.

Trustworthiness and Data Security

Rules, limits, IP policies, payout methods, and refund terms are published in detail. KYC is required (via KYCAid), and an AML policy and restricted‑jurisdiction list are publicly documented. The firm also documents margin call/stop‑out thresholds and prohibited strategies (e.g., arbitrage, HFT, group hedging), aiming to align risk practices with payout integrity.

FTM runs three pathways with no evaluation time limits on 1‑Step/2‑Step and immediate access on Instant Funding. Key objectives below reflect the published rules.

• Allocation: up to $1.2m across programs (Evaluations $900k; Instant $300k).
• Fee refund policy: 14‑day risk‑free refunds only if no trading has commenced; otherwise non‑refundable (separate “performance bonus” on 3rd payout excludes Instant and Nitro X).
• 2‑Step Prime (variant): help center notes a rolling $15,000 30‑day payout cap on funded phase.

Trading Rules (Funded/Simulated Funded)

• Drawdown controls by program: balance‑based daily loss (e.g., 3–4%) and overall loss set as Static, Trailing, or Trailing‑Lock as defined in the FAQs and plan pages.
• Minimum trading days for withdrawals: typically 5 funded days for 1‑Step and Instant; 2‑Step Plus requires 5 funded days; some variants allow earlier eligibility.
• Minimum trade hold time: profits on trades closed in under 1 minute are void on funded accounts (not a breach). In challenges, if over 20% of profits come from sub‑1‑minute holds, you must redo the evaluation.
• Partial Close rule: if you reduce a position and carry the remainder into the next trading day, profits may be deducted; positions opened within 15 minutes on the same instrument are aggregated for enforcement.
• Hedging: allowed within a single account; opposite‑account hedging or overnight hedging in funded phases is disallowed and can void rewards.
• News and weekend: news trading is allowed; weekend holding is allowed across programs; crypto trading is available on weekends.
• Margin policy: margin call at ~110% and stop‑out at 100% margin level; firm may lower leverage (e.g., to 1:10) for risk management per Terms.

Trading Restrictions (Allowed vs Prohibited)

• Allowed (within rules): martingale/layering inside one account; EAs/bots except HFT, tick scalping, news scalping, arbitrage, multi‑account reverse trading.
• Prohibited: latency/reverse arbitrage, HFT, group trading/hedging, account management services, copying others’ trades or signals, exploiting errors/slow feeds, gap‑trading around rollover (opening within 5 minutes before and closing within 5 after), opposite‑account hedging, and group device/IP sharing.
• Trade copiers: permitted only between accounts of the same phase (eval↔eval or funded↔funded), copying must originate from your own trading—no mirroring others.

Leverage Structure

• Leverage is advertised up to 1:100 across platforms. Specific per‑asset leverage is not detailed publicly; traders should confirm on platform. Terms allow leverage reductions for risk reasons.
• All accounts are swap‑free; commissions differ by asset (see pricing section).

FTM supports multi‑asset CFD trading in a simulated environment. The published instruments list covers:

• Forex: majors, minors, exotics (e.g., EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, AUDUSD).
• Metals: XAUUSD (Gold), XAGUSD (Silver).
• Commodities: WTI and Brent crude.
• Indices: US100 (Nasdaq 100), US30 (Dow 30), GER40 (DAX), UK100, JAP225, and others.
• Cryptocurrencies: BTCUSD, ETHUSD, SOLUSD, LINKUSD, LTCUSD, and a broad altcoin list, tradable on weekends.

Why it matters: access to multiple asset classes lets traders diversify strategies and manage correlation risk. Published costs include zero swaps across all accounts, zero commission on indices/crypto, and $7 round‑turn per lot on FX/commodities, which can materially affect high‑frequency or larger‑lot strategies.

Traders can choose between MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, Match‑Trader, and TradeLocker. Platform changes are allowed under specific conditions (e.g., no trades placed). VPN usage is allowed on trading platforms as long as the IP is not from a restricted country, but using VPN/VPS for purchase/KYC or accessing the dashboard is prohibited. U.S.‑origin IPs are not allowed on MT5/cTrader and must use Match‑Trader or TradeLocker.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5): A widely used multi‑asset platform with support for automated trading via EAs and a large ecosystem of indicators and tools. It’s suitable for discretionary and systematic traders seeking legacy tooling and broad broker connectivity.

• Strengths: familiar workflow, algorithmic trading (EAs), multi‑asset support.
• Considerations: not available for U.S.‑origin IPs at FTM.

cTrader: Modern interface with advanced order types and depth‑of‑market, appealing to intraday and scalping workflows that need granular execution controls.

• Strengths: intuitive UI, detachable charts, DoM, cBots ecosystem.
• Considerations: not available for U.S.‑origin IPs at FTM.

Match‑Trader: Integrated with TradingView charting for advanced analysis in a browser‑first environment, giving strong charting without external terminals.

• Strengths: TradingView‑powered charts, web and desktop support, integrates well with FTM flow.

TradeLocker: Lightweight, web‑oriented platform emphasizing ease of use and quick deployment, with multi‑device access for discretionary traders.

• Strengths: simple interface, low setup friction, browser‑based access.

Mobile Trading: All supported platforms provide mobile access, enabling position monitoring and adjustments when away from a desktop. Traders should confirm push‑notification and one‑click trade capabilities per chosen platform.

FTM’s feature set is built around speed, clarity, and rule transparency. Payouts are on demand with a published 24‑hour guarantee, and a public rewards page shows historical totals, average processing times, and on‑chain transaction hashes for crypto withdrawals. This level of visibility helps traders assess operational reliability.

Program flexibility is a core theme: 1‑Step (Nitro/Nitro X) for fast funding and higher splits, 2‑Step Plus for static overall drawdown and structured targets, and Instant Funding for traders who want to skip evaluations. The published maximum allocation is up to $1.2 million across programs, segmented by product type.

Tools include a compact suite of web calculators—Position Size, Consistency, PnL, and Margin—to plan exposure and model drawdown compliance before placing trades. The Instruments & Specifications page functions as a live reference desk with contract values, commission flags, and platform updates by symbol.

Community and education elements span a weekly “Briefing” newsletter, a blog with market and product updates, and an active Discord for announcements and peer discussion. An affiliate program pays up to 20% commission on referrals, with custom discount codes and occasional giveaways or free‑reset promotions disclosed in community channels.

Evaluation Fees

Headline pricing varies by model and account size. Site banners list “from” prices at approximately $24 (1‑Step), $33 (2‑Step), and $47 (Instant). The live plan matrices show, for a 100k account (pre‑discount): 1‑Step Nitro $622 (often discounted), Nitro X $297 plus a $165 activation fee, 2‑Step Plus $998 (often discounted), Instant Standard $1,099, Instant Pro $769, and Instant Plus $884. Activation fees differ by plan (e.g., Nitro X requires an activation fee; Nitro does not). Traders should check the plan page at purchase for current promotions and any add‑ons (e.g., 2‑Step Plus 90% split add‑on at $0 fee with additional evaluation condition).

Trading Commissions

• FX and Commodities: $7 per lot (round‑turn) on all platforms.
• Indices and Cryptocurrencies: $0 commission.
• All accounts are swap‑free by default.

Swap/Holding Costs

FTM states all programs are swap‑free, including overnight and weekend holding, which is relevant for swing strategies and crypto weekend trading.

Refund Policy

A 14‑day risk‑free refund is available only if no trading has commenced on the purchased evaluation account and terms are not breached. Otherwise, the signup fee is non‑refundable. Separately, FTM offers a “performance bonus” equal to the purchase fee at the third payout for select programs (excludes Instant Funding and 1‑Step Nitro X). As with any prop, the refund policy is independent of payout eligibility and is governed by site terms.

Profit Split

• 1‑Step Nitro: 90% on the first $10,000 of funded profits, then 80% thereafter.
• 1‑Step Nitro X: up to 100% (activation fee applies; see plan matrix).
• 2‑Step Plus: 70% base; optional 90% split add‑on at $0 fee, which activates an added evaluation condition (Shield Risk Protocol in evaluation).
• Instant Funding: up to 80%; Instant Standard ramps 50/50 → 60/40 → 70/30 → 80/20 from the first to fourth payout.

Payout Eligibility

• On‑demand requests once criteria are met: close all trades, meet minimum funded trading days (commonly 5), and satisfy the minimum reward threshold (typically 1% of initial balance; Nitro Static 2%; Nitro X 3%). Consistency rules apply per program (e.g., Nitro funded ≤45% of total profit in the best day; Instant ≤15%).
• Plan‑specific nuances: for 1‑Step Nitro, once total simulated profit exceeds $30,000, partial rewards must be at least 80% of eligible profit pre‑split; for 2‑Step Prime, the help center notes a $15,000 rolling 30‑day payout cap in the funded phase.

Payout Schedule and Methods

FTM advertises a 24‑hour payout guarantee (business hours) with the promise to double the requested reward (up to $1,000) if missed. The rewards page also publishes totals and average times and provides on‑chain crypto verification. Methods include USDT (TRC‑20) and Rise (which can forward to bank transfer or crypto). A 5% processing fee applies to crypto payouts and is deducted from the trader’s share.