Ask any serious retail trader to name a prop firm, and FTMO will be the first name out of their mouth. Since 2015, FTMO has become synonymous with prop trading — but does its reputation hold up under scrutiny in 2025?
FTMO is a Prague-based proprietary trading firm that funds successful traders with capital ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 — scalable up to $2 million as you grow. The concept is straightforward: prove you can trade profitably under controlled conditions, and FTMO will back you with real capital.
To date, FTMO claims to have paid out over $200 million to successful traders worldwide.
FTMO uses a two-step evaluation process:
Step 1 – FTMO Challenge
Step 2 – FTMO Verification
Pass both steps and you receive a funded FTMO account with a 90% profit split — meaning you keep 90 cents of every dollar you earn.
FTMO supports professional-grade trading platforms:
You can trade forex, indices, commodities, crypto, and stocks depending on the account type.
While the Challenge has a 30-day limit, the Verification step gives you 60 days — significantly reducing the pressure that causes many traders to over-trade.
Once funded, your account can scale. FTMO's scaling plan allows consistent traders to grow their capital up to $2 million, with the 90% profit split maintained throughout.
FTMO offers a free retry if you violate the rules by hitting the daily loss limit due to overnight market gaps on their Swing account option.
Yes. FTMO has been operating since 2015, has paid out hundreds of millions to funded traders, and is widely considered the gold standard in the prop firm industry.
Pros:
Cons:
How much does the FTMO Challenge cost? Challenge fees range from approximately €155 for a $10K account to €1,080 for a $200K account. The fee is refunded with your first withdrawal once you pass.
Can I trade news events on FTMO? FTMO allows trading during news events on most account types. Their Swing account has restrictions around overnight/weekend positions.
What happens if I lose more than 10% overall? If you hit the maximum overall drawdown, your evaluation or funded account is terminated. You can purchase a new challenge to start again.
Is FTMO good for beginners? FTMO is best suited for traders who already have a proven strategy. If you're new to trading, develop your skills on a demo account before attempting a funded challenge.
FTMO earned its reputation. If you have a solid, disciplined trading strategy, the FTMO challenge represents one of the most legitimate pathways to accessing significant capital.
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