FTMO: rules card
Every FTMO rule that decides whether a strategy fits, on one page with sources and a verification date. This is the reference; the how-to-pass guide is the walkthrough.
FTMO rules at a glance
| Rule | Current terms |
|---|---|
| Drawdown | Static: 10% maximum loss, 5% daily loss on standard accounts |
| Profit targets | 10% Phase 1, 5% Phase 2 on the standard two-step |
| Consistency | None on the challenge; MetriX review on funded |
| Minimum days | 4 trading days per phase |
| Exposure cap | $400,000 per trader or per strategy across accounts |
| Automation | EAs permitted under anti-HFT restrictions, own logic only — third-party signal copying may violate terms |
| Copy trading | Own accounts allowed; opposing positions across accounts count as hedging violations |
| News | Restricted on standard; Swing accounts allow holding through news and overnight |
| Payout | 80/20 to 90/10 by scaling tier; on demand after the first |
| Instruments | NAS100, XAUUSD and full forex/CFD range |
What this means for a systematic strategy
FTMO is the forex-side reference and the reason the forex presets exist: a 100K Swing account carries a 10% static drawdown that accommodates NAS100 and XAUUSD at strategy size, with holding through news and overnight permitted. The $400,000 exposure cap across accounts is the rule that catches multi-account setups — the same strategy on several accounts can trigger review without any opposing position. The own-logic clause on EAs matters for anyone running a purchased script: the script has to be yours to run, not a signal you subscribe to.
Guides for this firm
- How to pass FTMO
- Best strategy: FTMO
- FTMO vs FundingPips
- FTMO vs Apex vs Topstep rules
- Trading gold on a prop firm
Every rule in the table is defined in the glossary and explained by mechanism in the rules hub.
FAQ
Does FTMO allow EAs?
Yes, under anti-HFT restrictions and an own-logic requirement. Running a script you have licensed is fine; copying third-party signals may not be.
What is the FTMO exposure cap?
$400,000 per trader or per strategy across all accounts. The same strategy on multiple accounts can breach it without any hedging.
Which FTMO account for a systematic strategy?
The Swing variant, for holding through news and overnight. Standard accounts restrict both.
Sources: firm documentation and current rule trackers (Prop Firm Pine Scripts rules database June 2026, DamnPropFirms July 2026, proptradingvibes and tradetanto June–August 2026, Finance Magnates), cross-checked September 2026. Rules change quarterly; the firm's help center is the binding source.