1-Step, 2-Step, and 3-Step Evaluation95% Profit SplitScaling Plan up to $5News trading
Investing and trading in financial markets such as the stock exchange, forex, digital currencies in the form of spot or with leverage face a high inherent risk. According to the statistics of all exchanges and brokers, more than 75% of people lose!
The Funded Trader, founded in the United States by Angelo Ciaramello, is a prop trading platform that provides funded accounts with up to $200k capital for Forex and CFD traders.
Traders can buy these Funded Trader challenges at a minimum price of $42 and receive up to 95% of the profits they make from them.
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.
Reviewing the Funded Trader pros, cons, and features
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 Prop Specifications
Let's break down the key specifications that make The Funded Trader an attractive option for ambitious traders:
Account currency
USD
Minimum price
$42
Maximum leverage
1:200
Maximum profit split
95%
Instruments
Forex, crypto, indices, commodities, metals
Assets
USD/JPY, Bitcoin, S&P 500, Gold, US oil
Evaluation steps
1Step, 2-Step, 3-Step
Trading platform
MT5, Match-Trader, DXtrade, cTrader
Withdrawal methods
Bank transfer, cryptocurrencies
Maximum fund size
$5,000,000
First profit target
8%
Maximum daily loss
5%
Challenge time limit
Unlimited
News trading
Yes
Maximum total drawdown
10%
Commission per round lot
From $0.0
Trustpilot score
3.3/5
Payout frequency
Weekly
Established country
USA
Established year
2021
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:
Pros
Cons
High-profit splits (up to 95%)
High initial costs for larger accounts
Multiple trading platforms
Mixed customer reviews on trust sites
Scaling plan to increase account size up to $1.5 million
-
High discounts
-
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
Account Size
Knight
Knight Pro
Classic
$5K
$42
$42
-
$10K
$70
$64
-
$25K
$119
$119
$139
$50K
$179
$179
$269
$100K
$299
$349
$499
$200K
$549
$649
$989
The Funded Trader 2-Step Evaluation Pricing
Account Size
Royal
Royal Pro
Classic
$5K
$79
-
-
$10K
$139
-
-
$25K
$240
$55
$129
$50K
$360
$105
$249
$100K
$600
$319
$479
$200K
$1,100
$579
$949
The Funded Trader 3-Step Evaluation Pricing
Account Size
Dragon
$5K
$49
$10K
$55
$25K
$89
$50K
$159
$100K
$299
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 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 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.
You must provide your email address and residential details during The Funded Trader sign up process
#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.
Features
Knight
Knight Pro
Classic
Max Trading Days
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Min Trading Days
5
1
3
Profit Target
10%
10%
10%
Max Daily Loss
3%
3%
3%
Max Total Drawdown
8%
8%
6%
Profit Split
95%
95%
80%
Payout Frequency
Anytime
Anytime
14 Days
The Funded Trader 2-Step Evaluation
This account type is designed for traders who prefer a more standard approach to receiving their funded accounts.
Features
Royal
Royal Pro
Classic
Max Trading Days
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Min Trading Days
5
5
3
Profit Target
8% / 5%
8% / 5%
8% / 5%
Max Daily Loss
5%
5%
4%
Max Total Drawdown
10%
10%
8%
Profit Split
95%
95%
80%
Payout Frequency
14 Days
2 Days
14 Days
The Funded Trader 2-Step program offers Royal, Royal Pro, and Classic account types.
A look into The Funded Trader 2-Step Royal program features and offerings
The Funded Trader 3-Step Evaluation
This account type is designed for traders who can showcase consistent performance with the following features:
Max Trading Days
Unlimited
Min Trading Days
1
Profit Target
8% / 5% / 5%
Max Daily Loss
5%
Max Total Drawdown
10%
Profit Split
95%
Payout Frequency
7 Days
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%
The Funded program offer a 3-tier commission structure in its referral program
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, 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 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)
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.
Trades are 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 Prop Firm Trading Platforms
The Funded Trader provides access to several popular trading platforms, catering to different trader preferences:
The Funded Trader offers access to MT5, cTrader, and Match-Trader in partnership with Voyage Markets and Thaurus
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.
DXtrade: A versatile trading platform offering customizable user interfaces, multi-asset trading, and flexible back-office tools for seamless client management.
cTrader: 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
Leverage options vary based on the asset type and challenge phase:
Forex: Up to 1:200 during evaluation, lowered to 1:100 in funded phase
Crypto: 1:2 (evaluation), 1:1 (funded)
Indices: ranging from 1:20 to 1:5, depending on the challenge
Commodities: Up to 1:30
The Funded Trader Prop Payment Options
The Funded Trader offers flexible payment options for both challenge fees and profit withdrawals:
Challenge Payment Methods
Credit/Debit Cards
Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT)
Payout withdrawal methods
Bank Wire Transfers
Cryptocurrencies
Key Points:
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%
The Funded Trader has received mixed reviews on the Trustpilot website
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:
Email Support: support@thefundedtraderprogram.com
Phone Support: 888-920-3079
Discord Community: Active channel with over 100 thousand members
Live Chat: available on the website
While the support options are diverse, some traders report inconsistent response times, particularly during high-volume periods or weekends.
The Funded Trader Social Media Channels
The Funded Trader maintains an active presence across various social media platforms:
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.
FAQs
What is the maximum account size in The Funded Trader?
The maximum account size in The Funded Trader is $5,000,000 after going through scaling.
What is the profit split in The Funded Trader prop firm?
The Funded Trader offers up to 95% profit split.
What are payout options in The Funded Trader?
The Funded Trader payout profits via cryptocurrencies and bank transfers.
What trading platforms are supported
TFT supports MT5, c Trader, Match-Trader, and D Xtrade, allowing users to choose based on trading style, automation needs, or charting tools.
Is there a time limit to complete TFT evaluations?
No, all TFT challenges come with unlimited time to complete, removing deadline pressure for traders.
What’s the maximum daily and total drawdown allowed?
Daily drawdown varies from 3% to 5%, while total drawdown is capped at 10%, depending on the challenge type.
How does the TFT scaling plan work?
Traders can grow their account by 25% every 3 months if they meet a 2%-6% monthly profit. Scaling caps vary by challenge type.
What assets can I trade?
TFT supports 47 instruments including Forex, crypto, indices, commodities, and metals like EUR/USD, BTC, Gold, and S&P 500.
Is KYC required on The Funded Trader platform?
Yes, but only after passing the challenge. KYC involves submitting an ID, proof of address, and a selfie.
Does TFT allow news trading?
Yes, but not within 2 minutes before or after red-folder news events. Violations may lead to profit removal or account breach.
Can I use EAs or bots on TFT challenges?
Only in specific challenge types or with add-ons. Otherwise, automation tools are restricted to ensure fair trading.
What are the differences between Knight, Royal, Classic, and Dragon accounts?
Each has unique rules. Knight/Pro focus on fast access, Classic has stricter drawdowns, Royal mimics traditional models, and Dragon is 3-Step.
Are VPNs allowed during trading?
VPNs/VPSs are allowed during trading, but strictly banned during KYC. Suspicious use may trigger compliance checks.
What is the minimum number of trading days required?
Depends on the plan. Knight Pro needs 1 day, Classic 3 days, and Knight/Royal 5 days.
Can I hedge positions across multiple TFT accounts?
No. Cross-account hedging and grid trading are strictly prohibited and lead to bans or profit removal.
