The Funded Trader Review 2026

The Funded Trader (The Funded Trader LLC) is a Texas-based prop firm that offers Knight, Knight Pro, Royal, Royal Pro, Classic, and Dragon challenges.

These accounts are available on 4 trading platforms, including Match Trader, DX Trade, cTrader, and MT5, with various account sizes ranging from $5k to $200k.

The Funded Trader Prop Firm Company Information

The Funded Trader (TFT) has quickly made a name for itself as an innovative prop trading firm that's shaking up the industry. Founded with the mission of empowering traders worldwide, The Funded Trader offers a unique blend of capital and technology to help traders reach their full potential.

Here's what traders need to know about The Funded Trader prop firm:

• Founding location: Texas
• Founding year: 2021
• Founder: Angelo Ciaramello
• Account sizes: Ranging from $5k to $200k
• Challenge fees: From $42 to $1,100

TFT's approach is designed not just to provide capital, but to foster long-term trader development and success.

The Funded Trader CEO

Angelo Ciaramello is the CEO and Co-Founder of The Funded Trader, established in 2020. Known for pioneering the gamification of retail trading, he built a platform where traders can compete for capital and scale accounts based on performance.

• Role: CEO & Co-Founder of The Funded Trader
• Education: Rutgers University graduate
• Professional Background: Former Financial Systems Innovation Analyst at Bayer
• Recognition: Named among New Jersey’s Top 25 FinTech Leaders in 2022
• Mission: Empowering traders to earn funding through competition-based challenges

The Funded Trader Prop Specifications

Let's break down the key specifications that make The Funded Trader an attractive option for ambitious traders:

The Funded Trader Advantages and Disadvantages

Every prop firm has its strengths and weaknesses. Here's an honest look at where The Funded Trader shines and where it might fall short:

The Funded Trader Funding Options & Challenge Prices

The Funded Trader offers a range of account sizes and challenge options to suit different trader preferences and risk appetites. Here's a breakdown of their funding options and associated costs:

The Funded Trader 1-Step Evaluation Pricing

The Funded Trader 2-Step Evaluation Pricing

The Funded Trader 3-Step Evaluation Pricing

The pricing structure is designed to be competitive while ensuring that traders have skin in the game, aligning incentives between the firm and its funded traders.

The Funded Trader Prop Account Opening & Verification

The Funded Trader registration process takes just a few minutes and involves no paperwork or identity verification. Traders provide basic information and activate their account through a quick email confirmation.

Once verified, they gain access to a proprietary dashboard where they can purchase evaluation challenges, including programs with funding potential up to $5,000,000.

#1 Launch the Registration Portal

Navigate to the official website and click “Open an Account”. On the login page, select “Sign Up” to initiate your registration.

#2 Complete the Form

Enter key personal details including:

• Full name
• Username
• Country and state of residence
• Email address
• Password

Agree to the platform’s terms and click “Sign Up” to proceed.

#3 Email Verification & Dashboard Access

Open the email from TFT Support and click “Verify My Email”. After that, return to the login page, enter your credentials, and access your trader dashboard to start exploring funded challenge options.

#4 Complete  the KYC Procedure

Upon reaching the profit target without violating the challenge rules and conditions, you'll be required to complete ID verification by uploading supporting documents, including:

• Proof of Identity: Passport or Driver’s license
• A selfie to match your face with your submitted ID
• Proof of Address: Utility bill, Bank statement, or Phone line bills

The Funded Trader Prop Firm Evaluations

The Funded Trader offers multiple evaluation paths to cater to different trader skill levels and preferences:

The Funded Trader 1-Step Evaluation

The 1-step evaluation is available in three different models: Knight, Knight Pro, and Classic. It's designed for traders who want to get funded as quickly as possible.

This 1-Step Evaluation is ideal for traders seeking rapid funding with unlimited trading days, a 10% profit target, and generous 95% profit splits on Knight and Knight Pro models. Its flexible rules allow traders to scale quickly while maintaining disciplined risk management.

The Funded Trader 2-Step Evaluation

This account type is designed for traders who prefer a more standard approach to receiving their funded accounts.

The Funded Trader 2-Step program offers Royal, Royal Pro, and Classic account types.

The Funded Trader 3-Step Evaluation

This account type is designed for traders who can showcase consistent performance with the following features:

The 3-Step Evaluation rewards consistent performers with a 95% profit split, 10% max drawdown, and staged profit targets of 8%, 5%, and 5%. With unlimited trading days and weekly payouts, it’s ideal for traders who prefer structured, risk-conscious growth toward funding.

The Funded Trader Challenge Time Limits

Unlike many prop firms, The Funded Trader offers flexible timing across all evaluation models. There are no hard deadlines to complete the evaluation phases, giving traders full control over their pace. Minimum trading days depend on the challenge type:

• Knight Pro & Dragon: 1 profitable trading day
• Classic: 3 profitable trading days
• Knight & Royal & Royal Pro: 5 profitable days per phase

This structure supports both fast traders who can hit targets early and long-term strategists who want to avoid deadline pressure.

The Funded Trader Bonuses and Discounts

The Funded Trader offers several ways for traders to save money and even earn additional income:

Discount Codes:

• Regularly released promo codes can save up to 45% on challenge fees
• Special holiday deals and flash sales throughout the year
• Follow TFT's social media channels for exclusive discount announcements

Affiliate Program:

• Earn up to 15% commissions by referring new traders to TFT
• 30 days, bi-weekly, and weekly payouts
• Tiered commission structure starting from 10%

These incentives not only make the program more accessible but also create opportunities for traders to boost their earnings beyond just trading profits.

The Funded Trader Trading Rules

The Funded Trader rules ensure fairness and integrity across its simulated challenges. Key policies cover VPN use, automation tools, hedging, news trading, and prohibited strategies, each designed to prevent manipulation and promote realistic trading behavior.

• Using VPNs/VPSs is permitted but flagged in violation reviews; strictly forbidden during KYC/AML verification;
• Expert Advisors, bots, and trade copiers are only allowed with specific add-ons or in eligible challenge types;
• Cross-account hedging, grid strategies, martingale strategy, and latency arbitrage are banned as they exploit the simulated environment unfairly;
• No trades are allowed within 2 minutes before/after Red Folder events; violations lead to profit loss or breach.

VPN / VPS Usage Policy

To maintain account integrity and ensure fair trading practices, The Funded Trader requires that each trading account be operated solely by the registered trader.

While the use of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) and VPSs (Virtual Private Servers) is not categorically banned, their usage introduces compliance scrutiny.

If any suspicious activity, such as inconsistent geolocation, is detected, the presence of a VPN or VPS may be used as a key indicator during compliance investigations.

Traders using these tools must strictly adhere to all platform rules, including restrictions on account sharing and the unauthorized use of Expert Advisors (EAs) or automated systems.

Important Note: During the KYC/AML verification process, connecting via VPN or VPS is strictly forbidden. Doing so may lead to verification failure, account deactivation, or loss of funding eligibility.

Hedging Across Accounts

Any form of coordinated hedging, particularly across multiple accounts or participants, is explicitly disallowed.

This includes mirror trading in opposite directions (e.g., simultaneous long and short positions on the same asset), often executed to engineer risk-free profits through demo environments.

Such actions fall under banned trading strategies like “grid trading” and violate the spirit of real-market trading. These activities unfairly simulate profit on one side while causing loss to the platform on the other, making them non-compliant with TFT’s operational framework.

Automated Trading [EAs, Bots & Copy Systems]

The use of automated trading tools is highly regulated and varies by challenge type. Unless a trader opts for an automation add-on (where available), the use of EAs, Match-Trader bots, cBots (on cTrader), or trade copiers is not allowed. Key distinctions include:

• Standard Challenge: Optional add-on enables EAs, bots, and trade copying. Without the add-on, all forms of automation are banned;
• Rapid Challenge: Fully manual trading only. No add-ons for automation permitted;
• Royal, Knight, Dragon, and Classic Challenges: Automation is allowed, but systems must be disabled once the account becomes inactive;
• Royal Pro & Knight Pro Challenges: Automated tools must be turned off post-activity.

If automated systems remain active after an account becomes idle, the system will lock access by changing the password.

Martingale, Arbitrage & Latency Exploits

Latency arbitrage strategy exploits timing mismatches in price feeds to execute trades before price updates. While such tactics may succeed in demo environments, they offer an unfair advantage and distort simulated performance. TFT monitors for:

• Order layering
• Streak-based risk escalation
• Martingale patterns (multiple drawdown entries on the same asset)
• Copy trading from shared EAs

Violations are processed through a mix of automated and manual reviews. Disciplinary outcomes include:

• Warning issuance with detailed evidence logs
• Profit deduction from the account or subsequent phase
• Account regression to earlier stages
• Final breach or permanent ban upon repeated infractions

Regulated News Trading Windows

TFT implements trading restrictions during high-volatility economic events. These "Red Folder" events, monitored through the Forex Factory calendar, impact market realism and fairness in challenges and funded accounts.

News trading is not allowed within a 2-minute window before and after such events. Accounts found violating this rule face:

• First & Second Violation: Warning issued and profits from restricted trades removed
• Third Violation (in same phase): Account breach with suspension or termination possibility

Note: Warnings reset between phases (e.g., from Phase 1 to 2).

You can also use TradingFinder's Economic Calendar to keep tabs on the most essential news across the world.

The Funded Trader Payout Policy

The Funded Trader (TFT) provides a tier-based payout system that rewards traders for consistency and profitability. Funded accounts can request payouts via Rise, USDC (ERC-20/Polygon), Ethereum, or Bitcoin, with processing times between 3–5 business days after account review and approval.

The firm’s payout eligibility depends on challenge type — ranging from anytime payouts for Knight and Knight Pro to 21 days for Standard accounts — and subsequent payouts are based on a fixed interval from the date of the last withdrawal, provided the account remains above its starting balance.

• Tiered Profit Splits: Starts at 90% and can scale up to 99% after 6 approved payouts;
• Eligibility Windows: 7, 14, 21, or 30 days depending on challenge type;
• Payout Methods: Rise, crypto (USDC, Ethereum, Bitcoin);
• Risk Compliance: Accounts undergo rule violation checks before payout approval;
• Minimum Requirement: No open trades and balance must exceed initial account size.

The Funded Trader Scaling Plan

The Funded Trader offers a robust scaling plan that rewards consistent performance with increased capital and better trading conditions.

To qualify, traders must maintain a 6% average profit over 3 months or achieve at least 2% monthly returns across three months.

Upon qualification, the account balance increases by 25% of the original amount. The Funder Trader scaling limits:

• Knight and Knight Pro: Up to $2.5M per account (maximum $5M across all accounts)
• Other challenge types: Capped at $1.5M

This dynamic model encourages long-term, disciplined trading while offering top performers access to institutional-level capital.

The Funded Trader Prop Firm Trading Platforms

The Funded Trader provides access to several popular trading platforms, catering to different trader preferences:

• Match-Trader: A robust trading platform offering seamless integration with various liquidity providers, customizable trading conditions, and advanced risk management and analysis tools for optimal performance.
• D Xtrade: A versatile trading platform offering customizable user interfaces, multi-asset trading, and flexible back-office tools for seamless client management.
• c Trader: cTrader is a powerful trading platform known for its intuitive interface, advanced charting tools, algorithmic trading support, and direct access to liquidity providers, offering a seamless experience for both retail and institutional traders.
• MetaTrader 5 (MT5): a comprehensive multi-asset trading platform offering advanced charting tools, algorithmic trading, real-time market analysis, and support for multiple order types, ideal for both beginner and professional traders.

Each platform offers unique features, allowing traders to choose the one that best fits their trading style and technical requirements.

TradingFinder has developed a wide range of MT5 indicators that you can use for free.

Tradable Instruments & Symbols in The Funded Trader

The Funded Trader offers a diverse range of 47 tradable assets across multiple markets:

• Forex: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, CAD/JPY, and other currency pairs
• Commodities: Natural gas, WTI, and Brent oil
• Indices: EUR50, JPN225, US500, and other major global indices
• Cryptocurrencies: BTC, ETH, SOL, BCH, and LTC
• Metals: Gold and silver

The Funded Trader Leverage Offerings

The Funded Trader provides competitive leverage options across multiple account types, including Royal, Knight, Dragon, and Classic challenges. With leverage ratios as high as 1:100 for Forex and 1:30 for Gold, traders can maximize capital efficiency while managing exposure in a controlled trading environment.

The firm enforces strict margin call rules at 110% margin level and auto stop-outs below 100%, helping traders prevent account blowouts. These measures, combined with consistent leverage options across funded and evaluation phases, make TFT a robust choice for disciplined traders worldwide.

The Funded Trader Prop Payment Options

The Funded Trader offers flexible payment options for both challenge fees and profit withdrawals:

The Funded Trader Challenge Payment Methods

• Credit/Debit Cards
• Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT)

The Funded Trader Payout withdrawal methods

• Bank Wire Transfers
• Cryptocurrencies

Key Points about TFT funding and withdrawal process:

• Crypto payments often process faster than traditional methods;
• Minimum withdrawal is $100;
• The funded Trader offers weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly payouts.

The Funded Trader aims to provide secure and efficient payment solutions to suit traders' preferences and geographical locations.

The Funded Trader Prop Fees (Commission and Costs)

Understanding the cost structure at The Funded Trader is crucial for managing your trading budget effectively:

• Competitive spreads starting from 0.0 pips
• Commissions vary by asset class, including Forex ($4/lot) and Metals ($1/lot)
• $0 commissions on Indices, crypto, and oil
• No monthly subscription fees for funded accounts
• Overnight financing (swap) rates for positions held beyond the daily cut-off time

The transparent fee structure allows traders to focus on their strategies without worrying about hidden costs eating into their profits.

The Funded Trader Prop Firm Educational Resources

While The Funded Trader excels in providing capital and trading opportunities, their educational offerings are somewhat limited compared to some competitors.

This platform provides blog posts regarding prop firm trading strategies and trading platform tutorials.

However, The Funded Trader does not provide:

• Comprehensive trading courses
• Structured educational programs
• Extensive seminars and webinars

Traders looking for in-depth educational resources need to check out other prop firms such as FTMO or Funded Next.

You can also use TradingFinder's Forex education section for additional materials.

The Funded Trader Prop Trust Scores

Trust is paramount in the prop trading industry, and according to The Funded Trader Trustpilot profile, its reputation is a mixed bag.

• Overall Trustpilot Score: 3.3/5
• Total number of reviews: over 20,000
• Number of 5 star reviews: 68%

As with any financial service, it's crucial to conduct thorough research and possibly start with a smaller account to test the waters before committing significant capital.

The Funded Trader Customer Support

Effective customer support is crucial for any prop firm, and The Funded Trader offers multiple channels for trader assistance:

While the support options are diverse, some traders report inconsistent response times, particularly during high-volume periods or weekends.

The Funded Trader Client Base

The Funded Trader has grown into a global prop trading community with traders from 40+ countries, actively competing for up to $600,000 in simulated capital. Its largest user base comes from the United States and India, reflecting the platform’s strong appeal to international futures and forex traders.

• United States: 9.22% of all traffic
• India: 7.6% of total users
• South Africa: 4.16%
• United Kingdom: 3.11%
• Pakistan: 3.04%

The Funded Trader Social Media Channels

The Funded Trader maintains an active presence across various social media platforms:

Following these channels can provide valuable insights, keep you updated on TFT's offerings, and connect you with fellow traders in the community.

The Funded Trader vs Other Firms

Let's compare The Funded Trader's features and offerings with those of other prop firms:

TF Expert Suggestion

The Funded Trader (TFT) 's attractive bonuses, such as the 45% discount and 15% commission on the affiliate program with weekly payouts, allow this prop firm to attract new users.

On the other hand, the high percentage of 1-star reviews on the Trustpilot website (21%) and high trading commissions (from $0 to $4) are important negative aspects that traders need to be aware of.