FTUK, the forex prop firm, launched in February 2021, initially building its reputation around an instant funding model before expanding into evaluation-based programs later that year. The firm is operated by two corporate entities: Nexdata-Solutions B.V. (Goeman Borgesiuslaan 77, 3515 ET Utrecht, The Netherlands) handles operations, while FTUK Markets Ltd (Ground Floor, The Sotheby Building, Rodney Village, Rodney Bay, Gros-Islet, Saint Lucia) provides the simulated trading environment and related services.
All accounts at FTUK operate exclusively in a simulated environment. FTUK is not a broker, financial adviser, or regulated financial intermediary, and it does not accept client deposits. Fees paid are service fees for access to simulated trading; they are not investments and do not earn interest.
The firm offers both forex/CFD and futures programs, making it a multi-asset prop firm. On the forex side, it runs four distinct programs: Instant Funding, One-Step, Two-Step, and the Flex Challenge (its “Pay After You Pass” model). The Lightning Challenge sits alongside these as a separate 1-step program with its own fee structure. On the futures side, FTUK offers two programs: One Step SIM (evaluation-based with a monthly subscription) and Instant SIM Funding (direct funded access with a one-time fee). Both sides scale independently through their own mechanisms.
US traders are accepted, but they can only access the MatchTrader and TradeLocker platforms. MetaTrader 5 is not available to US-based traders.
FTUK states that it does not carry out regulated activities, and no regulatory license is cited on its website.
Account Types & Pricing
FTUK’s forex programs differ from its futures programs in structure, fee type, and available account sizes. The sections below cover each product line separately.
Forex Programs
Flex Challenge (Pay After You Pass)
The Flex Challenge is FTUK’s entry-level forex program. You pay a $9 setup fee upfront regardless of account size. The remaining fee, the activation fee, is only charged after you successfully pass the 1-step evaluation. Available account sizes are $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000.
| Account Size | Setup Fee | Activation Fee (on passing) |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $9 | $56 |
| $10,000 | $9 | $98 |
| $25,000 | $9 | $204 |
| $50,000 | $9 | $374 |
| $100,000 | $9 | $672 |
The Flex Challenge fee is refundable. Per FTUK’s help center, the purchase fee is refunded with your second payout.
Instant Funding
The Instant Funding program gives you a funded simulated account immediately, with no challenge phase. You pay a one-time fee and start trading at the funded stage. Available account sizes are $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000.
| Account Size | One-Time Fee (retail) |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $109 |
| $10,000 | $179 |
| $25,000 | $349 |
| $50,000 | $649 |
| $100,000 | $1,199 |
One-Step
The One-Step program is a 1-phase evaluation followed by a funded stage. The challenge fee is labeled a “Refundable Fee” on FTUK’s website. Available account sizes are $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000.
| Account Size | Challenge Fee (retail) |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $59 |
| $10,000 | $89 |
| $25,000 | $179 |
| $50,000 | $269 |
| $100,000 | $489 |
Two-Step
The Two-Step program runs a 2-phase challenge (Phase 1 and Phase 2, labeled Challenge and Verification in FTUK’s rules tables) before access to the funded stage. The challenge fee is also labeled “Refundable Fee.” Available account sizes are $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000.
| Account Size | Challenge Fee (retail) |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $59 |
| $10,000 | $89 |
| $25,000 | $179 |
| $50,000 | $269 |
| $100,000 | $489 |
Lightning Challenge
The Lightning Challenge is a separate 1-step forex program with a low-cost entry structure similar to the Flex Challenge. You pay $10 to access the evaluation (covering platform costs only), then pay an activation fee after passing to unlock the funded account. Available account sizes are $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000.
| Account Size | Entry Fee | Activation Fee (on passing) |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $10 | $70 |
| $25,000 | $10 | $179 |
| $50,000 | $10 | $330 |
| $100,000 | $10 | $499 |
The activation fee must be paid within 14 days of completing the evaluation, or the trader must start the process over.
Futures Programs
All futures accounts run exclusively on the FTUK XT platform. There are two futures programs.
One Step SIM (Futures)
One Step SIM is the evaluation-based futures program. It runs on a monthly subscription fee. After passing the evaluation with a 6% profit target, traders pay a one-time activation fee of $130 to unlock the funded (SIM) stage. Available account sizes are $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000.
| Account Size | Monthly Fee (retail) | EOD Drawdown | Daily Drawdown (optional add-on) | Max Positions (Entry) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $99/month | $2,000 | $1,250 | E-mini 3 / E-micro 30 |
| $100,000 | $199/month | $3,500 | $2,500 | E-mini 6 / E-micro 60 |
| $150,000 | $299/month | $5,000 | $3,750 | E-mini 9 / E-micro 90 |
The subscription renews monthly on the same date it was first purchased. If an account is breached, a reset option is available for 14 days. Reset fees during the evaluation phase are $39 ($50k), $79 ($100k), and $119 ($150k).
Two optional add-ons can be purchased at account setup:
- No Daily Drawdown: removes the daily loss limit; costs +20% of the order value
- Payout On Demand: enables on-demand payouts (subject to consistency score and payout target being met); costs +10% of the order value
Instant SIM Funding (Futures)
Instant SIM Funding is the no-evaluation futures program. You pay a one-time fee and begin trading in the funded SIM stage immediately. There is no activation fee. Available account sizes are $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000.
| Account Size | One-Time Fee (retail) | EOD Drawdown | Daily Drawdown (optional add-on) | Max Positions (Entry) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $509 | $2,000 | $1,250 | E-mini 5 / E-micro 50 |
| $100,000 | $629 | $3,500 | $2,500 | E-mini 10 / E-micro 100 |
| $150,000 | $729 | $5,000 | $3,750 | E-mini 15 / E-micro 150 |
The same two add-ons available on One Step SIM apply here (+20% for No Daily Drawdown, +10% for Payout On Demand).
Challenge Structure
Forex Programs
Phase Overview
The forex programs fall into four structural types:
Instant Funding has no challenge phase at all. You access the funded stage directly at Level 1 and scale through up to 7 levels as you hit profit targets.
One-Step runs a single evaluation phase. You hit a 10% profit target with at least 4 trading days, then move to the funded stage at Level 1. Capital is simulated throughout.
Two-Step runs two phases. Phase 1 (Challenge) requires an 8% profit target with a minimum of 3 trading days. Phase 2 (Verification) requires 6% with another 3 trading days minimum. Both use the same drawdown and daily drawdown rules. On passing Phase 2, you move to the funded stage at Level 1.
Flex Challenge runs a single evaluation phase requiring a 4% profit target with a minimum of 1 trading day. On passing, you pay the activation fee and move to the funded stage.
Lightning Challenge runs a single evaluation phase with a 5% profit target. The minimum trading days requirement for accounts purchased from 18 February 2026 onwards is 3 trading days (defined as a 24-hour UTC period in which at least 0.5% profit is made). Older accounts had no minimum trading day requirement.
All funded stages across all forex programs operate in a simulated environment.
Profit Target
The profit target for each forex program is uniform across all account sizes within that program, so a single figure applies per program rather than a per-size table.
| Program | Phase 1 Target | Phase 2 Target | Funded Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Funding | N/A | N/A | None |
| One-Step | 10% | N/A | None |
| Two-Step | 8% | 6% | None |
| Flex Challenge | 4% | N/A | None |
| Lightning Challenge | 5% | N/A | None |
All profit targets apply uniformly across all account sizes within each program. There is no time limit on any phase for any forex program.
One-Step Rules
| Rule | Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Profit Target | 10% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 4 |
| Time Limit | None |
| Daily Drawdown | 5% |
| Trailing Drawdown | 8% |
| Consistency Rule | None |
| News Trading | Allowed |
| Weekend Holding | Allowed |
Two-Step Rules
Both phases share identical drawdown and daily drawdown rules. The differences are the profit targets and minimum trading days (which are the same across both phases).
| Rule | Phase 1 | Phase 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | 8% | 6% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 3 | 3 |
| Time Limit | None | None |
| Daily Drawdown | 5% | 5% |
| Static Drawdown | 8% | 8% |
| News Trading | Allowed | Allowed |
| Weekend Holding | Allowed | Allowed |
Flex Challenge Rules
| Rule | Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Profit Target | 4% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 1 |
| Time Limit | None |
| Daily Drawdown | 5% |
| Trailing Drawdown | 6% |
| Consistency Rule | None during evaluation |
| News Trading | Allowed |
| Weekend Holding | Allowed |
Lightning Challenge Rules
The rules below apply to accounts purchased on or after 18 February 2026.
| Rule | Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Profit Target | 5% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 3 |
| Time Limit | None |
| Daily Drawdown | 3% |
| Max Drawdown | 5% (trailing) |
| Consistency Rule | <30% |
| Stop Loss | Not mandatory |
| News Trading | Allowed |
| Weekend Holding | Allowed |
Drawdown Rules (Challenge — Forex)
The drawdown type differs across programs. This is the most important structural distinction between them.
Drawdown Values
The maximum drawdown and daily drawdown figures are uniform across all account sizes within each program.
| Program | Max Drawdown | Daily Drawdown |
|---|---|---|
| One-Step | 8% | 5% |
| Two-Step | 8% | 5% |
| Flex Challenge | 6% | 5% |
| Lightning Challenge | 5% | 3% |
Daily Loss Limit
The daily drawdown is a separate rule from the maximum drawdown. For the One-Step, Two-Step, and Flex Challenge, the daily drawdown calculation uses the higher of the closed balance or equity (from all open and closed trades) at 22:00 UTC. For the Lightning Challenge, the daily drawdown is calculated from the higher of the account balance or equity at the daily reset time of 10:00 PM UTC.
Drawdown Calculation Method
This is the critical structural distinction between programs:
One-Step: relative (trailing) drawdown based on balance. The drawdown level trails upward as the balance grows. Once the drawdown level reaches the starting balance, it locks there and stops trailing.
Two-Step: static drawdown. The drawdown level is fixed at account creation and never moves, regardless of profits made. FTUK applies a static drawdown at all levels on this program.
Flex Challenge: relative (trailing) drawdown based on the highest watermark (equity high). The drawdown level locks once it reaches the initial balance.
Lightning Challenge: relative (trailing) drawdown. The drawdown level adjusts according to the highest closed balance reached. Once the account grows by the drawdown amount (e.g., 5% on a $10k account), the drawdown locks at the initial balance.
Drawdown Lock
For the One-Step, Flex Challenge, and Lightning Challenge, the drawdown stops trailing once it reaches the starting balance of the account and locks there. For the Two-Step, the drawdown is static throughout. It never moves in either direction, so no lock mechanism applies.
Evaluation Rules (Futures — One Step SIM)
Profit Target
The One Step SIM evaluation requires a 6% profit target, expressed as a percentage of the starting balance. This is uniform across all three account sizes.
| Account Size | Profit Target |
|---|---|
| $50,000 | 6% ($3,000) |
| $100,000 | 6% ($6,000) |
| $150,000 | 6% ($9,000) |
Drawdown Rules (Evaluation — Futures)
Trailing Drawdown Values
The maximum loss limit trails upward based on end-of-day (EOD) balance and never decreases after losses.
| Account Size | Maximum Loss Limit | Drawdown Level at Start |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,000 | $48,000 |
| $100,000 | $3,500 | $96,500 |
| $150,000 | $5,000 | $145,000 |
Daily Loss Limit
A daily loss limit of 2.5% of the initial balance applies by default. This is an optional feature that can be removed with the No Daily Drawdown add-on (+20% of order value). The dollar amounts are $1,250 ($50k account), $2,500 ($100k), and $3,750 ($150k). Reaching the daily limit disables trading for the rest of that day but does not breach the account. Trading access automatically restores the following day.
Drawdown Calculation Method
EOD trailing. The maximum loss limit only updates at the end of each trading day based on the highest balance achieved. Intraday highs do not move the drawdown level during the session. However, if a trader’s floating loss reaches the maximum loss limit during an active trade, the account breaches immediately. The breach doesn’t wait for EOD.
Drawdown Lock
The maximum loss limit trails upward with profits and never decreases. There is no mechanism that stops the trailing at any balance level during the evaluation phase.
Consistency Rule (Evaluation)
No consistency rule applies during the One Step SIM evaluation phase. The consistency score applies only after transitioning to the funded stage.
Minimum Trading Days
The minimum trading days requirement for the One Step SIM evaluation is 1 day.
Time Limit
No time limit applies to the One Step SIM evaluation.
Position Size & Contract Limits (Evaluation)
The maximum number of contracts permitted during the evaluation phase varies by account size.
| Account Size | E-mini Contracts | E-micro Contracts |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | 3 | 30 |
| $100,000 | 6 | 60 |
| $150,000 | 9 | 90 |
You can trade a combination of mini and micro contracts within these limits (e.g., 2 E-mini and 10 E-micro on the $50k account).
Activation Fee
After passing the One Step SIM evaluation, a one-time activation fee of $130 must be paid before the funded stage is unlocked. This applies only to the One Step SIM program. The Instant SIM Funding program has no activation fee.
Funded Account Rules
Drawdown Rules (Funded — Forex)
The drawdown rules at the funded stage carry over from the challenge or evaluation phase for the One-Step, Two-Step, Flex Challenge, and Lightning Challenge. For Instant Funding, drawdown begins at Level 1 immediately.
Drawdown Values
| Program | Max Drawdown | Daily Drawdown |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Funding | 6% (relative) | 5% |
| One-Step | 8% (relative) | 5% |
| Two-Step | 8% (static) | 5% |
| Flex Challenge | 6% (trailing) | 5% |
| Lightning Challenge | 5% (trailing) | 3% |
Daily Loss Limit
The daily loss limit applies at the funded stage for all forex programs under the same terms as the challenge. The calculation method is the same: higher of closed balance or equity at 22:00 UTC for all programs except the Lightning Challenge, which resets at 10:00 PM UTC.
Drawdown Calculation Method
Instant Funding: relative (trailing) drawdown based on balance. The drawdown level trails upward as the balance grows, then locks at the starting balance once the drawdown level reaches that level.
One-Step: same relative trailing drawdown as the evaluation phase. The method carries through all funded levels.
Two-Step: same static drawdown as both challenge phases. The static drawdown level applies at all funded levels (Levels 1–7).
Flex Challenge: same trailing drawdown as the evaluation phase (trails from equity high, locks at initial balance).
Lightning Challenge: same 5% trailing drawdown as the evaluation.
Drawdown Lock
For Instant Funding, One-Step, and Flex Challenge, the drawdown stops trailing once it reaches the starting balance of the current funded level and locks there. The Two-Step drawdown is static from the start and doesn’t trail, so no lock applies. For the Lightning Challenge, the lock behavior is the same: the drawdown locks at the initial balance once it would otherwise trail past it.
The Payout Locker applies to the One-Step and Two-Step funded stages. Once a trader requests their first payout on a given funded level, the drawdown is locked to the starting balance of that level for the rest of the account’s life at that level. Subsequent payouts don’t move the drawdown further. The Payout Locker does not apply to the Lightning Challenge (removed as of the February 2026 rule update), and the Account Protector and hard breach rules govern Instant Funding and Flex Challenge accounts instead.
Drawdown Rules (Funded — Futures)
Drawdown Values
The maximum loss limit and daily loss limit at the funded stage mirror the evaluation stage for the One Step SIM. For Instant SIM Funding, the same dollar amounts apply from the start.
| Account Size | Max Loss Limit (EOD Trailing) | Daily Loss Limit (optional) |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,000 | $1,250 |
| $100,000 | $3,500 | $2,500 |
| $150,000 | $5,000 | $3,750 |
Daily Loss Limit
The daily loss limit is the same dollar amount at the funded stage as during the evaluation phase. Reaching the limit is a soft breach: trading is disabled for the rest of the day and resumes automatically the next trading day. The No Daily Drawdown add-on removes this limit.
Drawdown Calculation Method
EOD trailing, same as the evaluation stage. The maximum loss limit updates at EOD based on the highest balance achieved and never decreases after losses. Floating losses that reach the maximum loss limit during a live trade cause an immediate breach.
Drawdown Lock
The maximum loss limit trails indefinitely upward with profits at the futures funded stage. No lock mechanism applies.
Consistency Rule (Funded)
The consistency rule differs across programs and does not apply uniformly.
Instant Funding: a consistency score must be met before any payout or scaling. The formula is: (Biggest Winning Day ÷ Current Total Account Profit) × 100%. The consistency score must be equal to or lower than the threshold for your current level. Thresholds per level:
| Level | Consistency Threshold |
|---|---|
| 1 | ≤20% |
| 2 | ≤20% |
| 3 | ≤30% |
| 4 | ≤30% |
| 5 | ≤30% |
| 6 | ≤40% |
| 7 | ≤40% |
The consistency score resets after each payout or scaling event.
Flex Challenge: a consistency rule applies at the funded stage. The threshold also increases as you scale:
| Level | Consistency Threshold |
|---|---|
| 1 | ≤20% |
| 2 | ≤20% |
| 3 | ≤30% |
| 4 | ≤30% |
| 5 | ≤40% |
| 6 | ≤40% |
Lightning Challenge: the consistency score at the funded stage must be ≤15% (for accounts purchased from 18 February 2026 onwards) before payouts can be requested.
One-Step: no consistency rule applies at any funded level.
Two-Step: no consistency rule applies at any funded level.
Futures — One Step SIM (funded): a consistency score of ≤25% must be met before payouts.
Futures — Instant SIM Funding: a consistency score of ≤20% must be met before payouts.
Lot Size Limits (Funded — Forex)
FTUK does not publish maximum or minimum lot size limits for the Instant Funding, One-Step, Two-Step, or Flex Challenge funded stages. For the Lightning Challenge, there are no restrictions on lot size: you can use any lot size based on available margin.
Position Size & Contract Limits (Funded — Futures)
At the funded stage, contract limits scale dynamically based on end-of-day balance. As profits grow, the maximum number of tradable contracts increases.
One Step SIM Funded: the maximum scales from 3 E-mini / 30 E-micro at the starting balance up to 9 E-mini / 90 E-micro as the account grows. Specific tier breakpoints are published as a chart in FTUK’s dashboard.
Instant SIM Funding Funded: the maximum scales from 5 E-mini / 50 E-micro at the starting balance up to 15 E-mini / 150 E-micro, with the same chart-based tier structure.
Leverage (Forex)
Leverage varies by asset class and, for the One-Step and Two-Step programs, by funded level. For other instruments, leverage is fixed across all programs and all levels.
Forex pairs — varies by program and level:
| Level | Instant Funding | One-Step | Two-Step | Flex Challenge | Lightning Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation | N/A | 10:1 | 30:1 | 50:1 | 30:1 |
| Funded 1 | 30:1 | 10:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Funded 2 | 30:1 | 20:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Funded 3 | 30:1 | 20:1 | 50:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Funded 4 | 30:1 | 30:1 | 50:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Funded 5 | 30:1 | 30:1 | 50:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Funded 6 | 30:1 | 50:1 | 100:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Funded 7 | 30:1 | 50:1 | 100:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 |
All other instruments — fixed across all programs and levels:
| Instrument | Leverage |
|---|---|
| Crypto | 2:1 |
| Indices | 10:1 |
| Non-metal commodities | 5:1 |
| Metals | 10:1 |
Note: the Flex Challenge evaluation phase offers higher forex leverage (50:1) than the funded stage (30:1).
Profit Split (Forex)
The profit split differs significantly between programs.
Instant Funding, tiered by level:
| Level | Profit Split |
|---|---|
| 1 | 65% |
| 2 | 70% |
| 3 | 75% |
| 4 | 80% |
| 5 | 85% |
| 6 | 90% |
| 7 | 90% |
One-Step: 80% at all funded levels (Levels 1–7).
Two-Step: 80% at all funded levels (Levels 1–7).
Flex Challenge, tiered by level:
| Level | Profit Split |
|---|---|
| 1 | 60% |
| 2 | 65% |
| 3 | 70% |
| 4 | 75% |
| 5 | 80% |
| 6 | 90% |
Lightning Challenge, progressive by payout number:
| Payout | Profit Split |
|---|---|
| First | 50% |
| Second | 60% |
| Third and onwards | 70% |
Profit Split (Futures)
One Step SIM Funded: 100% profit split until total withdrawals reach $15,000. Once total withdrawals exceed $15,000, the split drops to 90%.
Instant SIM Funding: the same structure applies. 100% until $15,000 in total withdrawals, then 90%.
Payout Rules (Forex)
First Payout Requirements
Requirements differ by program:
Instant Funding: payouts can be requested on demand with no minimum trading days, provided the account is in profit, all trades are closed, and the consistency score is ≤20% (at Level 1). KYC verification must be completed before the first payout. Instant Funding accounts are based on the profit target achieved for the current level, not profits beyond the 10% threshold.
One-Step: at least 10 trading days must be completed at the funded level before the first payout. A trading day is defined as a 24-hour period (10 PM UTC – 9:59 PM UTC) where at least 0.5% profit is made.
Two-Step: at least 10 trading days must be completed at the funded level before the first payout, under the same trading day definition.
Flex Challenge: payouts are on demand. The consistency rule must be met (≤20% at Level 1) and all trades must be closed. No minimum trading days apply at the funded stage.
Lightning Challenge: payouts are on demand, but the trader must have completed 3 trading days (0.5% profit per day) and achieved a consistency score ≤15% in the current payout cycle.
Subsequent Payout Requirements
For the One-Step and Two-Step, subsequent payouts follow the same conditions: 10 trading days from the previous payout or the start of the new level, whichever is later. The Payout Locker activates once the first payout is requested, locking the drawdown to the starting balance of that funded level.
For Instant Funding, Flex Challenge, and Lightning Challenge, subsequent payouts operate under the same on-demand rules as the first payout. The consistency score resets after each payout.
Payout Frequency
| Program | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Instant Funding | On demand |
| One-Step | Every 14 calendar days (or weekly with Weekly Payouts add-on) |
| Two-Step | Every 14 calendar days (or weekly with Weekly Payouts add-on) |
| Flex Challenge | On demand |
| Lightning Challenge | On demand |
Payout Buffer
No separate payout buffer applies to the forex programs beyond the Payout Locker mechanics described for One-Step and Two-Step accounts above.
Daily Progression Rule
No daily progression rule applies to any forex program.
Payout Caps & Limits
FTUK does not publish a maximum payout per request or a minimum payout amount for forex programs. For the Lightning Challenge, there is no per-request payout cap.
Payout Rules (Futures)
First Payout Requirements
The first payout from a futures funded account can be requested 14 calendar days after the first trade, provided:
- The account has at least 5% profit (the payout target)
- The consistency score is met (≤25% for One Step SIM funded, ≤20% for Instant SIM Funding)
- 14 calendar days have passed since the first trade or previous withdrawal
Traders with the Payout On Demand add-on can request payouts without the 14-day waiting period, provided all other conditions are met.
Subsequent Payout Requirements
The same conditions apply for subsequent payouts. Any remaining profit from the previous cycle carries over toward the next cycle’s 5% payout target.
Payout Frequency
Without the add-on: once every 14 calendar days. With the Payout On Demand add-on: on demand, subject to the consistency score and payout target.
Payout Buffer
The payout target of 5% functions as the effective buffer. Payouts can’t be requested until 5% profit has been accumulated in the current cycle.
Daily Progression Rule
No daily progression rule applies to the futures programs.
Payout Caps & Limits
| Account Size | Maximum Payout per Cycle | Minimum Payout |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | 5% ($2,500) | $200 |
| $100,000 | 3% ($3,000) | $200 |
| $150,000 | 2.33% ($3,500) | $200 |
Scaling Plan (Forex)
Instant Funding: scales through up to 6 standard levels (with an optional Level 7 unlock via the Level 7 Unlock Add-On). Each level doubles the account balance. To scale, the account must reach a 10% profit target and meet the consistency score for the current level. Scaling resets the consistency score.
| Level | Account Balance (starting from $10k example) | Profit Split | Consistency Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10,000 | 65% | ≤20% |
| 2 | $20,000 | 70% | ≤20% |
| 3 | $40,000 | 75% | ≤30% |
| 4 | $80,000 | 80% | ≤30% |
| 5 | $160,000 | 85% | ≤30% |
| 6 | $320,000 | 90% | ≤40% |
| *7 | *$640,000 | 90% | ≤40% |
*Level 7 requires purchasing the Level 7 Unlock Add-On.
The One-Step requires 10% profit to scale per level, and the Two-Step requires 8% profit per level. Both support up to 6 standard levels plus the optional Level 7. Specific dollar balance thresholds per tier are published as charts within FTUK’s dashboard.
Flex Challenge scaling tiers:
| Level | Profit Trigger | Profit Split | Consistency Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10% | 60% | ≤20% |
| 2 | 10% | 65% | ≤20% |
| 3 | 10% | 70% | ≤30% |
| 4 | 10% | 75% | ≤30% |
| 5 | 10% | 80% | ≤40% |
| 6 | 10% | 90% | ≤40% |
Lightning Challenge: no scaling plan applies.
Scaling Plan (Futures)
Contract limits scale automatically based on end-of-day balance as profits grow. Specific dollar thresholds per tier are published as charts within FTUK’s dashboard.
The maximum contracts across the entire funded lifecycle are 9 E-mini / 90 E-micro for One Step SIM, and 15 E-mini / 150 E-micro for Instant SIM Funding.
Live Account Pathway
All FTUK accounts, both forex and futures, operate exclusively in a simulated environment. FTUK does not offer a live funded account pathway.
Trading Rules & Restrictions
Permitted Instruments (Forex/CFD)
FTUK’s forex accounts offer access to a wide range of instruments across six asset classes. Some instruments are exclusive to the MatchTrader platform (marked with † on FTUK’s website).
Forex pairs are available across majors (including EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, AUDUSD, USDCHF, USDCAD, NZDUSD), minors, and exotics. Indices include ASX (Australia 200), CAC40, DAX, DJIA, FTSE100, HK50, NIKKEI225, NASDAQ, SPX, and EURO STOXX50, among others. Commodities include gold (XAUUSD), silver (XAGUSD), platinum, palladium, crude oil (Brent and WTI), and natural gas. Crypto includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ripple, and others. A full instrument list is published in FTUK’s help center.
Availability and trading times vary between symbols and platforms.
Permitted Instruments (Futures)
FTUK’s futures accounts offer both mini and micro contracts across five categories: stock index futures (including E-mini S&P 500, E-mini Nasdaq-100, E-mini Dow, E-mini Russell 2000), currency futures (including EURUSD, GBPUSD, AUDUSD, USDJPY), metals futures (gold, silver, copper), energy futures (crude oil, natural gas), and agricultural commodity futures (corn, wheat, soybeans, soybean meal, soybean oil). Micro contract equivalents are available for most of the above.
Trading Hours & Overnight Policy
Forex programs: overnight and weekend holding is permitted across all forex programs, including Instant Funding, One-Step, Two-Step, Flex Challenge, and Lightning Challenge. Swap fees have been removed on TradeLocker and MatchTrader.
Futures programs: overnight and weekend holding is not permitted. Traders must close all positions by 3:50 PM CT (8:50 PM GMT) every trading day. The FTUK XT platform sends a warning at 3:35 PM CT (8:35 PM GMT), 15 minutes before auto-closure. Any positions still open at 3:50 PM CT are automatically closed. Trading resumes at 5:00 PM CT (10:00 PM GMT), with a daily maintenance window typically from around 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM CT.
News Trading Policy
News trading is permitted on all accounts, forex and futures, across all stages (challenge, evaluation, and funded). High-impact events including NFP, FOMC announcements, interest rate decisions, and GDP releases are all tradable.
Expert Advisors & Copy Trading
Forex programs: EAs are permitted on forex accounts. Any risk management EA or trading bot is allowed, provided it does not use any of the prohibited strategies listed below. EAs must comply with the minimum trade duration rule (30 seconds). It’s the trader’s responsibility to ensure their EA complies. FTUK does not pre-review EAs.
The Lightning Challenge explicitly permits EAs under the same conditions.
High-frequency trading (HFT), defined as opening and closing trades within 30 seconds, is prohibited on all forex accounts. Latency arbitrage is explicitly prohibited. Tick scalping and reverse arbitrage are prohibited.
Futures programs: EAs and trading bots are strictly prohibited on all FTUK futures accounts, both during the evaluation phase and on funded accounts.
Copy trading (forex): permitted from personal accounts legally tied to the account holder. You can copy between a non-FTUK account and an FTUK account. You cannot copy trades between multiple FTUK accounts. Using FTUK accounts as both master and slave is permitted when copying from a personal account. Placing the same trades on multiple FTUK accounts is a violation.
Copy trading (futures): not permitted.
Prohibited Practices
The following strategies are prohibited across all FTUK accounts (forex and futures where applicable) and result in account closure:
- Martingale (including anti-scaling: opening additional trades in the same instrument and direction as a losing position to recover losses)
- Tick scalping
- Reverse arbitrage trading
- Latency arbitrage trading
- Hedge arbitrage trading
- Grid trading or HFT (defined as opening and closing trades within 30 seconds)
- Group hedging (multiple traders coordinating positions to collectively hedge across accounts)
- Using funded account pass services or third parties
Futures accounts additionally prohibit: normal hedging, all EA/bot trading, and copy trading.
The Account Protector operates as an automated risk control on all accounts. It closes all open positions if the floating PnL falls below -2% of the starting balance. It also closes positions on a specific instrument if the exposure on that single instrument falls below -2% of the starting balance. On Flex Challenge and Instant Funding accounts, two Account Protector activations due to floating PnL breaching -2% result in automatic account termination. On One-Step and Two-Step accounts, four activations result in termination.
Martingale is classified as a soft breach. Multiple instances of flagged Martingale behavior can result in account closure, but a single instance isn’t automatically terminal.
Additional Rules
Inactivity Rule
A trade must be placed and closed at least once every 30 days. Failure to do so results in an automatic hard breach. If a break of 30 to 90 days is needed, traders should contact FTUK support in advance so a marker can be placed on the account. Breaks longer than 90 days are handled case by case.
Maximum Account Limit
Traders can hold up to 3 forex accounts and 3 futures accounts simultaneously (6 total, excluding competition and trial accounts). A different strategy must be used on each account. Trading the same asset on multiple accounts simultaneously can be flagged as copy trading. FTUK cannot merge accounts.
Minimum Trade Duration
All trades across both forex and futures accounts must remain open for at least 30 seconds. Trades closed in under 30 seconds are classified as HFT. This rule applies even if the trade hits a stop loss or take profit before 30 seconds.
Partial Trade Closing Policy
Partial closing is permitted intraday on Instant Funding and Lightning Challenge accounts, provided the entire position is closed within the same trading day. If a trader partially closes a position and wants to hold overnight, the entire original position must remain open. The reduced portion cannot be held into the next day. Positions opened within 30 minutes on the same instrument are treated as a single consolidated position for this rule.
Violating the partial close rule resets the consistency score. Repeated violations can result in account breach.
KYC / Identity Verification
Identity verification through Veriff is required before either qualifying for a funded account or submitting a payout request. After successfully completing a challenge, verification must be completed within 20 days. Failure to verify within this window results in the account being considered breached. On Instant Funding accounts, only verified users can request payouts.
VPN / VPS
A fixed VPS or VPN is permitted as long as all trades originate from the same IP address. Using multiple diverse IP addresses from different countries simultaneously, or attempting to conceal IP addresses, results in account termination. Using a VPN or VPS to circumvent country restrictions is also a terms violation.
Trading Platforms
Available Platforms (Forex)
FTUK’s forex programs support four platforms: MetaTrader 5 (MT5), MatchTrader, TradeLocker, and DXTrade.
MetaTrader 5 is not available to US-based traders. It supports EA trading.
MatchTrader is available to all traders including US-based traders. It supports EA trading. Swap fees are not charged on MatchTrader.
TradeLocker is available to all traders including US-based traders. Swap fees are not charged on TradeLocker.
DXTrade is available on FTUK’s forex programs. EA availability on DXTrade is not published by FTUK.
The Flex Challenge is available on MetaTrader 5, MatchTrader, and TradeLocker only, not DXTrade. The Lightning Challenge is available on DXTrade in addition to the other platforms shown on the main pricing tab.
All four forex platforms are available for Instant Funding, One-Step, and Two-Step.
Available Platforms (Futures)
All FTUK futures accounts run exclusively on FTUK XT. It’s a proprietary platform built for futures-style trading. It’s web-based, requires no download, and supports advanced order types including off-market orders. It also features the automated EOD liquidation warning system that fires at 3:35 PM CT before the 3:50 PM CT auto-close. No other platforms are available for futures at this time, though FTUK states more will be added.
Billing & Account Management
Fee Structure
Forex — Instant Funding: one-time fee, non-refundable per FTUK’s general refund policy. Trading access is granted immediately on payment.
Forex — One-Step: one-time challenge fee, labeled “Refundable Fee” on FTUK’s site.
Forex — Two-Step: same as One-Step, a one-time challenge fee labeled “Refundable Fee.”
Forex — Flex Challenge: $9 setup fee upfront; activation fee paid only after passing. The fee is refunded with the second payout.
Forex — Lightning Challenge: $10 entry fee covering platform costs only; activation fee paid after passing. The activation fee must be paid within 14 days of passing, or the process restarts.
Futures — One Step SIM: monthly subscription fee ($99, $199, or $299 depending on account size). The subscription renews monthly on the same purchase date. A one-time activation fee of $130 is charged on transitioning from the evaluation to the funded stage.
Futures — Instant SIM Funding: one-time fee ($509, $629, or $729). No activation fee.
Purchases are accepted via debit card, credit card, or cryptocurrency through Confirmo (USDT).
Resets
Forex — One-Step / Two-Step: a reset option is available on both programs. Reset fees are not published on FTUK’s website for these programs.
Forex — Lightning Challenge: a reset is available at the funded stage only (not the evaluation stage for accounts purchased from 18 February 2026 onwards). Reset fees for the funded stage are $56 ($10k), $143 ($25k), $264 ($50k), and $399 ($100k).
Forex — Flex Challenge: no reset option is available.
Futures — One Step SIM (evaluation phase): reset fees are $39 ($50k), $79 ($100k), and $119 ($150k). The reset must be purchased within 14 days of a breach. A reset restores the account to its starting balance with all P&L history cleared.
Futures — One Step SIM (funded phase): reset fees are $239 ($50k), $319 ($100k), and $399 ($150k). The same 14-day window applies after a breach.
Futures — Instant SIM Funding: no reset option is available.
Payouts & Withdrawals
Payment Methods
Payouts above $500 are processed via RiseWorks in USD. After receiving funds to a Rise wallet, you can transfer to a bank account or cryptocurrency wallet. Payouts below $500 are processed via USDT (TRC20) directly to a crypto wallet. Bank transfer (BACS), Skrill, and PayPal are not supported. If RiseWorks isn’t available in your country, FTUK can manually process via USDT (TRC20).
Processing Times
Payout approval takes 1–2 working days after the accounts team completes its review. Once approved, funds are reflected in your wallet within 1–3 working days depending on the withdrawal method. For traders using RiseWorks for the first time, the platform verification process must be completed before the first payout can be deposited. This is a one-time step. After RiseWorks setup is complete, subsequent payouts through Rise are processed within 24–48 working hours. During busy periods, this may take longer.
Tax & Eligibility Requirements
KYC verification via Veriff is required before any payout can be processed. All payouts are denominated in USD, and your bank or payment provider may convert to local currency. FTUK requires traders to be at least 18 years old.
Restricted Countries
A restricted countries list applies. North Korea is confirmed as a restricted country. The full list is available in FTUK’s terms and conditions.
Services and MetaTrader 5 access are not intended for residents of the United States, United Arab Emirates, or any jurisdiction where such services are not permitted. US traders can still access FTUK using MatchTrader or TradeLocker.