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 |
| 1-Step Challenge (since early 2026) | Single phase: 10% target, 3% daily loss on the higher of equity or balance, 10% end-of-day trailing maximum loss that resets to 90% of capital on each reward, no minimum trading days, 50% Best Day rule as the consistency check, 90% split from the first payout, fee not refunded (tradetanto, forexcracked, FTMO 1-Step page, 2026). Every other row on this card describes the 2-Step Challenge |
| Payout timing | First payout requestable 14 days after the first trade on the funded account, then on a 14-day cycle from the first trade; average processing about 8 hours, no withdrawal fees |
| Swing variant | 2-Step Swing allows news trading and weekend holding at every stage, with forex leverage capped at 1:30 and account size at $100K |
Source: Puravida Edge rules card for FTMO, verified 29 September 2026 against the firm’s program pages and help center.
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Rows marked “Verify with firm” are where current rule trackers are silent or disagree; the firm's own help center is the only binding source.
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.
Is FTMO worth it for a systematic strategy?
Yes, on the Swing account. Holding through news and overnight is permitted there and prohibited on standard accounts, which makes Swing the only FTMO product a position strategy can run. The 10% static floor on a 100K account gives more room than any futures equivalent, and EAs are permitted under anti-HFT rules.
Two clauses to read twice. The own-logic requirement means a licensed script you run is fine but a subscribed signal may not be. And the $400,000 exposure cap applies per strategy across accounts, so the same system on several accounts can breach it without any hedge involved.
Guides for this firm
- FTMO payout rules and scaling plan: 14-day cycles, 80% to 90%
- FTMO 1-Step vs 2-Step vs Swing: every rule compared
- FTMO vs The5ers
- FTMO vs FundedNext
- How to pass FTMO
- Best strategy: FTMO
- FTMO vs FundingPips
- FTMO vs Apex vs Topstep rules
- Trading gold on a prop firm
- TradingView compatibility across firms
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.
What is the FTMO daily loss limit?
5% daily loss on standard accounts, next to the 10% static maximum loss. The 1-Step Challenge runs 3% daily on the higher of equity or balance.
Does FTMO have a consistency rule?
None on the standard challenge; funded accounts go through the MetriX review. The 1-Step Challenge uses a 50% Best Day rule as its consistency check.
How fast are FTMO payouts?
The first payout can be requested 14 days after the first trade on the funded account, then on a 14-day cycle; processing averages about 8 hours with no withdrawal fees. The split runs 80/20 to 90/10 by scaling tier.
Does FTMO allow news trading and weekend holding?
Restricted on standard accounts. The 2-Step Swing allows news trading and weekend holding at every stage, with forex leverage capped at 1:30 and account size at $100K.
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 22 September 2026. Rules change quarterly; the firm's help center is the binding source.