Elite Trader Funding (ETF) is incorporated as Elite Trader Funding LLC, headquartered at 2810 N Church St, PMB 53832, Wilmington, Delaware 19802. Based on the copyright notice on the firm’s website, ETF has been operating since at least 2022. The firm’s own published figures state it has paid out over $13 million to more than 13,000 funded traders across more than 6,800 payouts.
The futures prop firm operates an evaluation-based model for futures trading only. Traders pass a simulated evaluation, then trade an Elite Sim-Funded account (which uses synthetic currency, not real capital) before top performers are invited to trade real capital through the LIVE ELITE program. The firm offers 6 distinct account lines: 1 Step, Direct to Funded, Static, Diamond Hands, End of Day, and Fast Track. Account sizes range from $10,000 to $250,000.
ETF is not a broker-dealer, commodity trading advisor (CTA), futures commission merchant (FCM), or commodity pool operator (CPO). The firm discloses that all non-LIVE ELITE accounts use synthetic currency and that trades executed outside LIVE ELITE do not constitute genuine trading in real financial instruments.
Account Types & Pricing
ETF offers 6 account lines. Pricing structures differ across lines: four use a monthly subscription model, one is a one-time fee with no monthly renewal, and one is a flat one-time fee that skips the evaluation stage entirely. Retail pricing is used throughout. All subscription accounts auto-renew every 30 days.
1 Step
The 1 Step plan is ETF’s most popular account type. It uses an intraday trailing drawdown that follows unrealized profit in real time. Evaluation subscriptions auto-renew every 30 days until the trader passes or cancels.
| Account Size | Monthly Subscription | One-Time Activation Fee | Eval Reset Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50K | $197 | $177 | $47 |
| 100K | $247 | $247 | $47 |
| 150K | $347 | $247 | $47 |
| 250K | $597 | $277 | $47 |
The activation fee is payable when transitioning from evaluation to Elite Sim-Funded. Traders can choose between $87/month, the one-time fee listed above, or the Double Down Deal (3D) add-on starting at $47 (see Billing & Account Management).
Direct to Funded (DTF)
DTF skips the evaluation entirely. Traders pay a one-time fee and begin trading an Elite Sim-Funded account immediately. There is no monthly subscription and no activation fee; the one-time purchase price covers access. DTF accounts use a 1:1 mini-to-micro ratio, unlike the standard 1:10 ratio on other plans.
| Account Size | One-Time Fee | Funded Reset Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 25K | $647 | $247 |
| 50K | $747 | $297 |
| 100K | $997 | $447 |
DTF accounts have no activation fee and are not eligible for a one-time activation fee path. Up to 5 active DTF accounts are permitted per trader.
Static
The Static plan uses a non-trailing drawdown: the minimum allowed balance is fixed at account creation and never moves. Evaluation subscriptions auto-renew every 30 days.
| Account Size | Monthly Subscription | One-Time Activation Fee | Eval Reset Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | $147 | $177 | $47 |
| 25K | $277 | $177 | $47 |
| 50K | $497 | $177 | $47 |
Diamond Hands
Diamond Hands is the only standard evaluation plan that permits overnight and weekend holding. It uses an EOD trailing drawdown during both evaluation and the funded stage. Only one account size is available. Evaluation subscriptions auto-renew every 30 days.
| Account Size | Monthly Subscription | One-Time Activation Fee | Eval Reset Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100K | $397 | $307 | $47 |
End of Day (EOD)
The EOD plan uses an end-of-day trailing drawdown combined with a daily loss limit. Evaluation subscriptions auto-renew every 30 days.
| Account Size | Monthly Subscription | One-Time Activation Fee | Eval Reset Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50K | $347 | $177 | $47 |
| 100K | $487 | $257 | $47 |
| 150K | $657 | $257 | $47 |
Fast Track
Fast Track is ETF’s lowest-cost entry point and functions as an intermediate-level plan. It’s a one-time fee with no monthly renewal, but the evaluation must be completed within 10 calendar days or it auto-fails. Fast Track evaluations cannot be reset. Two drawdown variants are available, both at the 10K account size.
| Account | One-Time Fee | Eval Reset Fee | Activation Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10K EOD | $57 | Ineligible | Free 1st month, then $87/month |
| 10K Static | $77 | Ineligible | Free 1st month, then $87/month |
Fast Track accounts are not eligible for one-time activation. The first month of the Elite Sim-Funded activation fee is free; from the second month onward, $87/month applies.
Evaluation Rules
DTF has no evaluation stage; traders on that plan begin directly in the Elite Sim-Funded account. All rules in this section apply to the remaining 5 plan types: 1 Step, Static, Diamond Hands, EOD, and Fast Track.
Profit Target
Rules differ across account lines, as shown in the table below.
| Plan | Account Size | Profit Target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Step | 50K | $3,000 |
| 1 Step | 100K | $6,000 |
| 1 Step | 150K | $9,000 |
| 1 Step | 250K | $15,000 |
| Static | 10K | $1,000 |
| Static | 25K | $2,000 |
| Static | 50K | $4,000 |
| Diamond Hands | 100K | $5,000 |
| EOD | 50K | $3,000 |
| EOD | 100K | $6,000 |
| EOD | 150K | $9,000 |
| Fast Track | 10K EOD | $2,000 |
| Fast Track | 10K Static | $2,000 |
All profit targets are expressed as dollar amounts.
Drawdown Rules (Evaluation)
Trailing Drawdown Values
Rules differ across account lines, as shown in the table below.
| Plan | Account Size | Max Loss |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Step | 50K | $2,000 |
| 1 Step | 100K | $3,000 |
| 1 Step | 150K | $5,000 |
| 1 Step | 250K | $6,500 |
| Static | 10K | $500 |
| Static | 25K | $1,000 |
| Static | 50K | $2,000 |
| Diamond Hands | 100K | $3,500 |
| EOD | 50K | $2,000 |
| EOD | 100K | $3,500 |
| EOD | 150K | $4,500 |
| Fast Track | 10K EOD | $500 |
| Fast Track | 10K Static | $500 |
For the 1 Step plan, the drawdown level trails the trader’s highest unrealized profit (open and realized) during the session. For EOD and Diamond Hands plans, the drawdown level trails the highest end-of-day balance only. For Static and Fast Track Static, the drawdown level is fixed at account creation and never moves.
Daily Loss Limit
Daily loss limit rules differ by plan. The 1 Step, Static, and Fast Track plans have no daily loss limit at the evaluation stage. EOD and Diamond Hands apply a separate intraday daily loss limit calculated from the prior day’s ending balance. If an open trade causes the balance to dip below this limit intraday, the evaluation fails.
| Plan | Account Size | Daily Loss Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Step | All sizes | None |
| Static | All sizes | None |
| Fast Track | Both variants | None |
| Diamond Hands | 100K | $1,500 |
| EOD | 50K | $1,100 |
| EOD | 100K | $2,200 |
| EOD | 150K | $3,300 |
Drawdown Calculation Method
Three different drawdown methods apply across ETF’s evaluation plans:
Intraday trailing applies to the 1 Step plan. The drawdown level moves up in real time as unrealized or realized profit grows during the session. Intraday highs set the high-water mark, meaning an open profit that is later given back will have already moved the drawdown level up.
EOD trailing applies to the EOD and Diamond Hands plans. The drawdown level only updates at the end of each trading day based on the closing balance. Intraday highs do not move the drawdown level.
Static applies to the Static plan and the Fast Track Static variant. The drawdown level is fixed at account creation and never moves, regardless of profits.
The Fast Track EOD variant uses EOD trailing during the evaluation stage.
Drawdown Lock
No drawdown lock applies at the evaluation stage for any plan. The drawdown continues to trail (or remain fixed, for static plans) throughout the evaluation until the trader either hits the profit target or breaches the maximum loss limit.
Consistency Rule (Evaluation)
A consistency rule applies only to Fast Track accounts during the evaluation stage. The trader’s best profitable day cannot exceed 40% of total profit. No consistency rule applies during the evaluation stage for 1 Step, Static, Diamond Hands, or EOD plans.
Minimum Trading Days
Rules differ across account lines, as shown in the table below.
| Plan | Minimum Trade Days to Pass |
|---|---|
| 1 Step | 5 |
| Static | 5 |
| Diamond Hands | 5 |
| EOD | 5 |
| Fast Track | 3 |
The One Day to Pass (ODTP) add-on is available for 1 Step, Static, Diamond Hands, and EOD evaluations at checkout, allowing traders to pass in as little as 1 day if the profit target is hit. Fast Track accounts are excluded from ODTP.
Time Limit
A time limit applies only to Fast Track accounts. The evaluation must be completed within 10 calendar days; if not, it auto-fails and cannot be reset or rolled over. No time limit applies to the 1 Step, Static, Diamond Hands, or EOD evaluation plans.
Position Size & Contract Limits
Rules differ across account lines, as shown in the table below.
| Plan | Account Size | Max Contracts (Evaluation) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Step | 50K | 8 minis / 80 micros |
| 1 Step | 100K | 14 minis / 140 micros |
| 1 Step | 150K | 18 minis / 180 micros |
| 1 Step | 250K | 24 minis / 240 micros |
| Static | 10K | 1 mini / 10 micros |
| Static | 25K | 2 minis / 20 micros |
| Static | 50K | 4 minis / 40 micros |
| Diamond Hands | 100K | 2 minis / 20 micros |
| EOD | 50K | 8 minis / 80 micros |
| EOD | 100K | 14 minis / 140 micros |
| EOD | 150K | 18 minis / 180 micros |
| Fast Track | 10K EOD | 1 mini / 10 micros |
| Fast Track | 10K Static | 1 mini / 10 micros |
Position equivalents apply uniformly: 1 mini = 1 position, 10 micros = 1 position. Exceeding the contract limit during an evaluation results in automatic evaluation failure.
Activation Fee
The activation fee is the fee paid to transition from a passed evaluation to an Elite Sim-Funded account. Three payment paths exist for eligible plans:
- Double Down Deal (3D) add-on: as low as $47 (discounted entry, see Billing & Account Management for mechanics)
- $87/month: recurring monthly charge for the lifetime of the active Elite Sim-Funded account
- One-time fee: a single payment that covers the account permanently
Rules differ across account lines, as shown in the table below.
| Plan | Account Size | One-Time Activation Fee | Monthly Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Step | 50K | $177 | $87/month |
| 1 Step | 100K | $247 | $87/month |
| 1 Step | 150K | $247 | $87/month |
| 1 Step | 250K | $277 | $87/month |
| Static | All sizes | $177 | $87/month |
| Diamond Hands | 100K | $307 | $87/month |
| EOD | 50K | $177 | $87/month |
| EOD | 100K | $257 | $87/month |
| EOD | 150K | $257 | $87/month |
| Fast Track | Both variants | Ineligible | Free 1st month, then $87/month |
| DTF | All sizes | None | None |
Fast Track accounts are not eligible for one-time activation. DTF accounts have no activation fee of any kind; the one-time purchase price covers everything. For all other plans, the activation fee is a one-time payment triggered at the transition from passed evaluation to Elite Sim-Funded.
Funded Account Rules
The funded stage at ETF is the Elite Sim-Funded account, which uses synthetic currency, not real capital. All rules in this section apply to the Elite Sim-Funded stage. DTF traders enter this stage directly without evaluation; the rules that follow apply to all plan types including DTF unless stated otherwise.
Drawdown Rules (Funded)
Trailing Drawdown Values
Rules differ across account lines, as shown in the table below.
| Plan | Account Size | Max Loss (Funded Stage) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Step | 50K | $2,000 |
| 1 Step | 100K | $3,000 |
| 1 Step | 150K | $5,000 |
| 1 Step | 250K | $6,500 |
| DTF (EOD) | 25K | $2,500 |
| DTF (EOD) | 50K | $5,000 |
| DTF (Static) | 100K | $5,000 |
| Static | 10K | $500 |
| Static | 25K | $1,000 |
| Static | 50K | $2,000 |
| Diamond Hands | 100K | $3,500 |
| EOD | 50K | $2,000 |
| EOD | 100K | $3,500 |
| EOD | 150K | $4,500 |
| Fast Track | 10K EOD | $500 |
| Fast Track | 10K Static | $500 |
The drawdown values at the funded stage match the evaluation stage values for all plans except DTF, which has no evaluation. The drawdown level at the funded stage trails the highest end-of-day balance (EOD and Diamond Hands plans), trails intraday unrealized profit (1 Step and Fast Track EOD), or remains fixed (Static plans and DTF Static).
On all plans with a trailing drawdown, once the trader has earned realized profits equal to the account’s max drawdown amount plus $100, the drawdown stops trailing permanently. At that point, the starting balance plus $100 becomes the permanent minimum allowable balance. ETF calls this reaching the “safety net.” For Static accounts, the minimum balance is fixed from the start and does not change when the safety net is reached.
Daily Loss Limit
No daily loss limit applies at the funded stage for 1 Step, Static, DTF, or Fast Track accounts. The EOD and Diamond Hands plans carry a daily loss limit at the funded stage that matches the evaluation-stage values per account size listed in the Evaluation Rules section above.
Drawdown Calculation Method
The drawdown calculation method at the funded stage matches the evaluation stage for each plan:
Intraday trailing applies to 1 Step accounts. The drawdown level trails the highest unrealized profit (open and realized) in real time throughout the session.
EOD trailing applies to EOD, Diamond Hands, and DTF (EOD variant) accounts. The drawdown level updates only at end of day based on the closing balance. Intraday highs do not move the level.
Static applies to Static accounts and DTF (Static variant). The minimum balance is fixed and never trails.
Drawdown Lock
On all plans with an EOD trailing or intraday trailing drawdown, the drawdown stops trailing once the trader has earned realized profits equal to the account max drawdown plus $100. After that point, the starting balance plus $100 becomes the permanent minimum allowable balance; it will not fall further regardless of subsequent profits.
For the 1 Step plan specifically: the drawdown trails the highest unrealized profit until the trader has earned realized profits equal to max drawdown plus $100, after which the starting balance plus $100 locks as the permanent floor.
If the balance hits the minimum allowable balance at the funded stage, the account fails. Elite Sim-Funded accounts can be reset up to 3 times (DTF: up to 2 times). LIVE ELITE accounts cannot be reset after liquidation.
An additional loss limit rule activates once a trader has earned 20% profit on any Elite Sim-Funded account: if the trader subsequently loses more than 35% of their total accumulated profit, ETF may remove the account from the Elite Sim program. This rule overrides the standard drawdown rules once triggered and disqualifies the trader from LIVE ELITE eligibility.
Consistency Rule (Funded)
No consistency rule applies to payout eligibility for 1 Step, Static, Diamond Hands, or EOD Elite Sim-Funded accounts.
DTF accounts have a consistency rule that applies at payout. Rules differ across DTF account sizes:
| DTF Account | Consistency Rule |
|---|---|
| 25K DTF | Best day cannot exceed 38% of total profit |
| 50K DTF | Best day cannot exceed 62% of total profit |
| 100K DTF | Best day cannot exceed 50% of total profit |
Fast Track accounts require 30% consistency at payout: the overall profit relative to the best trading day must meet this threshold before a payout can be requested.
Position Size & Contract Limits (Funded)
Position limits at the funded stage match the evaluation stage for all plans that have an evaluation. DTF contract limits are set at account creation.
| Plan | Account Size | Max Contracts (Funded Stage) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Step | 50K | 8 minis / 80 micros |
| 1 Step | 100K | 14 minis / 140 micros |
| 1 Step | 150K | 18 minis / 180 micros |
| 1 Step | 250K | 24 minis / 240 micros |
| DTF | 25K | 2 minis / 2 micros |
| DTF | 50K | 5 minis / 5 micros |
| DTF | 100K | 3 minis / 3 micros* |
| Static | 10K | 1 mini / 10 micros |
| Static | 25K | 2 minis / 20 micros |
| Static | 50K | 4 minis / 40 micros |
| Diamond Hands | 100K | 2 minis / 20 micros |
| EOD | 50K | 8 minis / 80 micros |
| EOD | 100K | 14 minis / 140 micros |
| EOD | 150K | 18 minis / 180 micros |
| Fast Track | 10K EOD | 1 mini / 10 micros |
| Fast Track | 10K Static | 1 mini / 10 micros |
*The 100K DTF account lists Max Contracts as 3 minis (3 micros), which appears inconsistent with the 50K DTF listing 5 minis (5 micros). Traders should confirm the 100K DTF contract limit with ETF support before trading.
Note that DTF uses a 1:1 mini-to-micro ratio: 1 mini = 1 position and 1 micro = 1 position (not the standard 1:10 relationship that applies on all other plans).
Exceeding the position limit on a funded account results in profit forfeiture and permanent account closure.
Profit Split
The profit split is up to 100% for all plan types at the Elite Sim-Funded stage, on profits up to the $25,000 per-trader payout cap. Once the LIVE ELITE transition occurs, the profit split is 80% to the trader and 20% to ETF.
The maximum total a trader can earn across all Elite Sim-Funded accounts is $25,000 per trader (across all accounts) prior to transitioning to LIVE ELITE. The lifetime cap for sim-funded payouts is $150,000, distributed in $25,000 increments (applicable to traders who return to sim after a LIVE ELITE liquidation).
Payout Rules
First Payout Requirements
Before requesting a first payout, traders must meet all of the following:
- Reach the safety net: earn realized profits equal to the account’s max drawdown plus $100.
- Complete the required number of Active Trade Days (ATDs) for Payout Cycle 1. An ATD is any day with at least $200 realized profit ($100 for 10K and 25K accounts) AND at least 23% of the trader’s best ATD P&L. DTF ATD requirements use different minimum profit thresholds (see Payout Caps & Limits).
- Cycle 1 requires 8 ATDs for all plans except DTF (which has its own per-account ATD requirements).
- Complete KYC verification and Rise onboarding before payment can be processed.
- Keep the subscription active during the payout process.
DTF first payout requirements differ by account size:
| DTF Account | ATDs for Cycle 1 | Min Profit per ATD |
|---|---|---|
| 25K DTF | 10 | $300 |
| 50K DTF | 15 | $600 |
| 100K DTF | 20 | $500 |
Fast Track first payouts additionally require 30% consistency (overall profit relative to best trading day) to be met before requesting.
Diamond Hands accounts require traders to withdraw the full cycle maximum before advancing to the next cycle.
Subsequent Payout Requirements
From Payout Cycle 2 onward, the ATD requirement increases to 10 ATDs per cycle for all standard plans (1 Step, Static, EOD, Diamond Hands, Fast Track). DTF ATD requirements remain fixed per cycle as listed above. The safety net must remain in place throughout all cycles.
Payout Frequency
Payout requests can be submitted daily, Monday through Friday, from 3 PM Eastern. Payout requests are reviewed and approved daily. Processing occurs twice weekly: Elite Sim-Funded payouts are processed on Mondays and Wednesdays. The cut-off for Monday’s batch is Friday at 5 PM EST; the cut-off for Wednesday’s batch is Tuesday at 5 PM EST.
ETF guarantees payout approval within 48 business hours of a qualifying request, or adds $1,000 to the trader’s account. Weekends, US bank and federal holidays, and system outages are excluded from the 48-hour window.
Payout Buffer
All plans require the safety net to be reached and maintained before any payout can be requested. The safety net is achieved when realized profits equal the account’s max drawdown plus $100. Once reached, the minimum allowable balance locks at starting balance plus $100. The trader’s account must remain above this minimum balance at all times. This functions as the payout buffer; traders cannot withdraw funds that would bring the account below this threshold.
Daily Progression Rule
No daily progression rule applies at ETF. Payout eligibility is based on ATD count and cycle cap, not on a requirement that a minimum percentage of each payout comes from profits generated after the previous payout.
Payout Caps & Limits
The minimum payout is $100 for all standard plans. DTF minimums differ by account size: $1,000 minimum for 25K and 50K DTF accounts; $500 minimum for 100K DTF accounts.
The maximum payout per cycle increases across cycles. Rules differ across account lines, as shown in the tables below.
1 Step: Payout Cycles (accounts purchased on or after September 17, 2025)
| Account Size | Cycle 1 (8 ATD) | Cycle 2 (10 ATD) | Cycle 3 (10 ATD) | Cycle 4+ (10 ATD) | Total Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50K | $100–$1,250 | $100–$1,500 | $100–$1,750 | $100–$2,000 | $25,000 |
| 100K | $100–$1,750 | $100–$2,000 | $100–$2,250 | $100–$2,500 | $25,000 |
| 150K | $100–$2,250 | $100–$2,500 | $100–$2,750 | $100–$3,000 | $25,000 |
| 250K | $100–$2,750 | $100–$2,750 | $100–$3,000 | $100–$3,000 | $25,000 |
EOD: Payout Cycles (accounts purchased on or after September 17, 2025)
| Account Size | Cycle 1 (8 ATD) | Cycle 2 (10 ATD) | Cycle 3 (10 ATD) | Cycle 4+ (10 ATD) | Total Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50K | $100–$1,250 | $100–$1,500 | $100–$1,750 | $100–$2,000 | $25,000 |
| 100K | $100–$1,750 | $100–$2,000 | $100–$2,250 | $100–$2,500 | $25,000 |
| 150K | $100–$2,250 | $100–$2,500 | $100–$2,750 | $100–$3,000 | $25,000 |
Diamond Hands 100K: Payout Cycles (accounts purchased on or after September 17, 2025)
| Account Size | Cycle 1 (8 ATD) | Cycle 2 (10 ATD) | Cycle 3 (10 ATD) | Cycle 4+ (10 ATD) | Total Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100K | $100–$1,750 | $100–$2,000 | $100–$2,250 | $100–$2,500 | $25,000 |
Diamond Hands accounts require the full cycle maximum to be withdrawn before advancing to the next cycle.
Static: Payout Cycles (accounts purchased on or after September 17, 2025)
| Account Size | Cycle 1 (8 ATD) | Cycle 2 (10 ATD) | Cycle 3 (10 ATD) | Cycle 4+ (10 ATD) | Total Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | $100–$500 | $100–$500 | $100–$500 | $100–$1,000 | $25,000 |
| 25K | $100–$750 | $100–$1,000 | $100–$1,250 | $100–$1,500 | $25,000 |
| 50K | $100–$1,250 | $100–$1,500 | $100–$1,750 | $100–$2,000 | $25,000 |
Fast Track 100K: Payout Cycles (accounts purchased on or after September 17, 2025)
| Account Size | Cycle 1 (8 ATD) | Cycle 2 (10 ATD) | Cycle 3 (10 ATD) | Cycle 4+ (10 ATD) | Total Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100K | $100–$750 | $100–$850 | $100–$950 | $100–$1,250 | $25,000 |
Fast Track accounts must withdraw the full cycle maximum before advancing to the next cycle.
DTF: Payout Cycles
| Account Size | ATDs/Cycle | Cycle 1 Max | Cycle 2 Max | Cycle 3 Max | Cycle 4+ Max | Total Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25K | 10 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $25,000 |
| 50K | 15 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $25,000 |
| 100K | 20 | $1,500 | $2,500 | $3,500 | $5,000 | $25,000 |
The overall maximum any trader can withdraw across all Elite Sim-Funded accounts is $25,000 per trader. Unclaimed amounts within a cycle are forfeited when the next cycle begins.
Scaling Plan
Contract limits at the Elite Sim-Funded stage are fixed at the account’s launch size and do not increase as the account balance grows within the sim stage. The scaling mechanism at ETF is tied to the LIVE ELITE program, not to the sim-funded stage.
Within LIVE ELITE, contract limits are based on starting balance:
| LIVE ELITE Starting Balance | Max Micro Contracts |
|---|---|
| $3,000 and below | 5 micros |
| $5,000 and above | 10 micros |
Through the SMART Growth Plan (Sim Matched Acceleration & Reward Tier), ETF matches a percentage of each LIVE ELITE withdrawal toward the trader’s initial LIVE ELITE balance, which increases account size and contract capacity over time. Full scaling mechanics within LIVE ELITE are covered under Live Account Pathway.
Live Account Pathway
Top-performing sim-funded traders are invited to trade real capital through the LIVE ELITE program. This is a discretionary transition; ETF may move a trader to LIVE ELITE at any time, including before, during, or after a payout request.
A trader formally qualifies for LIVE ELITE if any one of the following criteria is met:
- 5 payouts per trader
- 50 Active Trading Days per trader
- $25,000 total payout cap per trader reached
Additional requirements before the transition can be completed: pass a background check and complete 34 CME Rules and Regulations lessons.
LIVE ELITE starting balances are based on the trader’s single best-performing Elite Sim-Funded account that has reached the safety net:
| Elite Sim-Funded Account | LIVE ELITE Starting Balance |
|---|---|
| 50K or below | $2,000 |
| 100K | $3,000 |
| 150K or above | $5,000 |
| 25K DTF | $2,500 |
| 50K DTF | $5,000 |
| 100K DTF | $5,000 |
At LIVE ELITE, traders trade real capital held by ETF’s live broker. Key differences from the sim stage:
- No consistency rule applies.
- Profit split is 80% to the trader, 20% to ETF.
- Payouts are processed daily. Withdrawals requested before 1 PM EST are processed same day (best effort). Minimum withdrawal: $250. No maximum withdrawal cap.
- The account must remain above the starting balance before withdrawals are permitted.
- Optional daily loss limit and custom loss limits are available.
- Swing trading is permitted at ETF’s discretion.
- Auto-liquidation fees of $5 per contract apply when the daily loss limit is hit, EOD value is breached, or positions are left open at close without swing approval.
- Market data fees are $197/month per exchange per account (covers Level 1, Level 2, and FCM fees). After 3 months of genuine trading, ETF covers exchange fees and the trader pays FCM fees only.
If invited and the offer is declined, the trader receives 5% of earnings up to $12,500 and 2% of earnings above $12,500. Declining results in a 2-year prohibition from ETF’s services.
If a LIVE ELITE account is liquidated, there is a 14-day cool-off period. On day 15, the trader can contact ETF support to determine eligibility to return to sim.
SMART Growth Plan (scaling within LIVE ELITE): ETF applies 50% of each LIVE ELITE withdrawal toward the initial LIVE ELITE balance from SIM-Vault reserves, up to $150,000. The matched funds increase account balance and trading flexibility but cannot be withdrawn.
| Tier | Withdrawals | Per Withdrawal Match | Total Matched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 10 × $5,000 | $2,500 | $25,000 |
| Platinum | 5 × $10,000 | $5,000 | $25,000 |
| Diamond | 1+ × $20,000 | $10,000+ | $10,000+ |
Trading Rules & Restrictions
Permitted Instruments
ETF supports futures products only. No stocks, options, or other instruments are available. Supported exchanges are CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade), CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange), COMEX (Commodity Exchange, Inc.), and NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange).
Trading Hours & Overnight Policy
All positions must be closed 1 minute before market close on all plans except Diamond Hands and DTF. Failing to flatten trades is a hard policy violation on plans that require it, and can result in profit forfeiture and account closure. An overnight margin fee applies if a position is inadvertently held past close on plans that prohibit it; non-payment of the resulting invoice results in forfeiture of the account and all associated profits.
Diamond Hands and DTF accounts are the only plans that permit holding trades overnight and through weekends. Swing trading is allowed on these plans.
ETF performs routine platform maintenance every weekday between 4–5 PM CST.
News Trading Policy
ETF imposes no restrictions on trading during major economic news releases at any stage, evaluation or funded. Traders are free to trade during high-volatility periods. ETF notes that platform malfunctions and order execution issues may occur during these periods and accepts no liability for them.
Expert Advisors & Copy Trading
Automated trading via EAs or bots is permitted only where expressly authorized by ETF in writing. Use of artificial intelligence, bots, or automated trading systems not explicitly approved by ETF constitutes a Terms of Service violation.
Copy trading is permitted using approved services only. Enforcement occurs at the payout stage. Approved copy trading tools are:
- Tradesyncer (cloud-based)
- Tradecopia (cloud-based)
- Affordable Indicators: Duplicate Account Actions
- Replikanto Flowbot (PropFirm Compliance Edition only; use the compliance version)
- Platform built-in features (e.g., Tradovate group trading, MotiveWave, Quantower native functionality)
Use of an unapproved copy trading service may result in account reset, profit forfeiture, and on repeat violations, permanent account failure and ban.
Within LIVE ELITE, multi-account copy trading is available after profits and account splits are approved.
Prohibited Practices
ETF explicitly prohibits the following:
- Hedging against oneself using the same or correlated instrument across one or multiple accounts (e.g., NQ and MNQ, ES and MES). Violations result in immediate account suspension or termination and forfeiture of all gains.
- Trading for another user, whether within the same household or remotely. Each user must conduct their own trading.
- Allowing any third party to manage or execute trades on any account.
- High-frequency trading with trade duration under 10 seconds. All trades must have a minimum duration of 10 seconds.
- Wash sales (simultaneous long and short positions).
- Coordination or collusion with other traders.
- Use of VPNs, TOR, VPS, or proxy servers in a way that hinders ETF’s ability to ascertain identifying information. Note: As of the September 17, 2025 policy update, VPN/VPS restrictions were listed as removed for sim accounts; traders should confirm the current policy directly with ETF before trading.
- Exceeding maximum position limits. On funded accounts, this results in profit forfeiture and permanent account closure.
Additional Rules
Weekly Trading Requirement
All traders must execute at least one valid trade per account per calendar week to keep the account active. This applies to all account types including Diamond Hands. If a trader is unable to trade in a given week, ETF provides a self-serve form to notify the firm in advance. Missing a week without notification results in account closure and voids any pending payouts.
Inactivity & Login Policy
All users must log into their trading platform at least once every 30 days. Failure to log in within 30 days results in account deactivation and forfeiture of all accumulated profits or credits. For absences expected to exceed 30 days, traders must contact ETF support in advance.
Maximum Active Accounts
Traders are limited to a maximum of 5 active Elite Sim-Funded accounts at any one time (for accounts purchased on or after September 17, 2025). No limit applies to the number of evaluations that can be purchased or kept in “Passed” status. DTF accounts are separately limited to 5 active accounts per trader. Fast Track accounts are limited to 1 active account per user.
Loss Limit Rule
Once a trader has earned 20% profit on an Elite Sim-Funded account, a loss limit activates. If the trader subsequently loses more than 35% of total accumulated profit, ETF may remove the account from the Elite Sim program. This rule is assessed when a payout is requested and during routine risk audits. Triggering it disqualifies the trader from LIVE ELITE eligibility.
Household Restriction
Traders from the same household are not permitted to participate at ETF under any circumstances. This applies to family members, roommates, or any individuals sharing the same residential address, regardless of whether they claim to trade independently. Violations result in immediate suspension or termination of all accounts linked to the household and forfeiture of funds.
One Account per User
Each individual is permitted only one registered account on the ETF platform. Creating multiple accounts using different emails, phone numbers, or identifying information is prohibited and results in account suspension or termination and forfeiture of funds.
High-Frequency Trading Minimum Duration
All trades must have a minimum duration of 10 seconds. HFT activity that falls below this threshold is a Terms of Service violation.
Overnight Margin
If a position is inadvertently held overnight on a plan that prohibits it, overnight margin fees apply. ETF will issue an invoice with a payment deadline. Non-payment results in immediate forfeiture of the account and all associated profits.
Trading Platforms
Available Platforms
ETF supports two data feed ecosystems, each with compatible platforms.
Tradovate data feed: Tradovate (Mac OS, Windows, iOS, Android), NinjaTrader via Tradovate (Windows only), TradingView (Mac OS, Windows, iOS, Android).
Rithmic data feed: R|Trader (Web, iOS, Android), ATAS (Windows), Bookmap (Windows, macOS, Linux), EdgeProX (Windows, macOS, Linux), eSignal (Windows), Finamark (Web), Investor/RT (Windows, macOS up to Mojave), MotiveWave (Windows, macOS, Linux), NinjaTrader via Rithmic (Windows), Quantower (Windows), Sierra Chart (Windows).
ETF does not operate or maintain any of these platforms directly and accepts no responsibility for issues arising from their use.
Data Feeds & Connectivity
ETF evaluations include Top of Book Level 1 data at no additional cost when using the Tradovate data feed. Accounts that select a Rithmic data feed incur a separate monthly connection cost per active account starting January 28, 2026.
Depth of Market (Level 2) data is available as a paid add-on purchased from the Trader Dashboard. It is valid only for the calendar month of purchase and does not roll over.
CME Market Depth Level 2 access can be purchased as a one-time fee covering the month of purchase; it is not a recurring subscription.
Traders who declare professional trader status pay $128 per exchange for market data access. Accounts are not accessible until payment is made.
NinjaTrader is a Windows-only platform. Mac users who want to run NinjaTrader must use Parallels with Windows 11 as a virtual environment; ETF is not responsible for any issues or data loss during this process.
Billing & Account Management
Subscription Model
Four of ETF’s six plan types use a monthly subscription model: 1 Step, Static, Diamond Hands, and EOD. Subscriptions auto-renew every 30 days from the date of purchase, not from the first trading day. Billing continues for passed evaluations (for accounts purchased on or after October 1, 2024) until the trader activates their Elite Sim-Funded account; passing alone does not pause billing. The subscription for an Elite Sim-Funded account auto-cancels when the account fails.
Fast Track and DTF accounts are one-time fee products with no recurring monthly charge. Fast Track accounts cannot be reset and do not auto-renew. DTF is a permanent one-time purchase.
Three activation fee paths are available on eligible plans: $87/month (recurring for the lifetime of the active funded account), a one-time fee (permanent access with no further activation charges), or the Double Down Deal (3D) add-on starting at $47 (paying for two months at a discount gives three months of activation, after which the standard $87/month or one-time fee applies). The 3D add-on is available at checkout only and is excluded from Fast Track accounts.
ETF also offers an Elite Sim-Funded Credit Bonus: when a trader passes an evaluation and activates the funded account, a credit equal to the initial price paid for the first month of the evaluation is added to the funded account’s starting balance. DTF accounts are not eligible for this credit.
Resets
Evaluation resets: Failed evaluations on active subscriptions receive an automatic reset at the time of monthly renewal at no extra charge. An immediate reset can also be purchased for $47 per evaluation, which does not change the renewal schedule. Fast Track evaluations cannot be reset.
Elite Sim-Funded resets: Failed Elite Sim-Funded accounts can be reset up to 3 times (DTF: up to 2 times). Reset fees differ by account type and size:
| Account Type | Size | Reset Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Step (Live Trailing) | 50K | $147 |
| 1 Step (Live Trailing) | 100K | $187 |
| 1 Step (Live Trailing) | 150K | $257 |
| 1 Step (Live Trailing) | 250K | $437 |
| Static Drawdown | 10K | $117 |
| Static Drawdown | 25K | $217 |
| Static Drawdown | 50K | $407 |
| End Of Day | 50K | $317 |
| End Of Day | 100K | $437 |
| End Of Day | 150K | $557 |
| Diamond Hands | 100K | $357 |
| Fast Track | 10K EOD | $87 |
| Fast Track | 10K Static | $87 |
| DTF | 25K | $247 |
| DTF | 50K | $297 |
| DTF | 100K | $447 |
All resets are final and non-refundable. Resets restore the account to its original settings; no evaluation re-pass is required for funded account resets. Evaluations purchased prior to September 17, 2025, that become failed Elite Sim-Funded accounts cannot be reset. LIVE ELITE accounts cannot be reset after liquidation. Fast Track evaluation accounts are excluded from discounted reset pricing.
A discounted reset option is available for a limited time on failed Elite Sim-Funded accounts (once per account). The discounted reset button appears once the account is marked as failed in end-of-day reports.
Payouts & Withdrawals
This section covers the mechanics of how money moves: payment methods, processing timelines, and eligibility requirements. Payout qualification rules (ATD requirements, safety net, cycle caps, consistency rules) are covered under Funded Account Rules.
Payment Methods
ETF processes all outbound payments through Rise (Riseworks.io). Traders must complete the Rise sign-up and KYC onboarding process before any payout can be processed. Rise supports payments to a global network of contractors; supported and restricted countries are determined by Rise and Stripe; traders should verify their country’s eligibility on Rise’s official documentation before purchasing.
The specific outbound payment methods available to each trader (bank transfer, local payout methods, etc.) depend on what Rise supports in the trader’s country. ETF does not publish a list of supported payment methods beyond naming Rise as its payment provider.
Processing Times
Elite Sim-Funded payouts are processed twice weekly: Mondays and Wednesdays. The cut-off for Monday’s batch is Friday at 5 PM EST; the cut-off for Wednesday’s batch is Tuesday at 5 PM EST. Payout requests are approved daily, Monday through Friday, from 3 PM Eastern.
ETF guarantees approval within 48 business hours of a qualifying request (excluding weekends, US bank and federal holidays, and system outages), or adds $1,000 to the trader’s account.
LIVE ELITE payouts are processed daily. Withdrawal requests submitted before 1 PM EST are processed same day on a best-effort basis.
Tax & Eligibility Requirements
All traders must complete KYC (Know Your Customer) verification through SumSub before any payout can be processed. US citizens must provide an SSN or ITIN during Rise onboarding. Non-US citizens provide their country’s tax ID equivalent. If registering as a business, traders must notify ETF support.
Traders must be at least 18 years of age. Citizens or residents of OFAC-sanctioned countries cannot receive payouts from ETF. Traders in countries supported by Rise and Stripe but restricted by ETF’s live broker will receive a partial refund for their Elite Sim-Funded accounts, as the LIVE ELITE transition is not available to them. The restricted country list is subject to change based on regulatory updates; traders should check the current list before purchasing.
Performance Statistics
ETF publishes the following figures on its website: over $13 million paid out to more than 13,000 funded traders across more than 6,800 payouts. The firm states it has been operating since February 2022 and has invested over $5 million in live traders. These are ETF’s own published figures.
ETF’s performance disclosure states that testimonials appearing on the website may not be representative of other clients and are not a guarantee of future performance. The firm does not publish pass rates or detailed funded trader statistics beyond the aggregate figures above.