All the rules are here, fully visible, fully upfront. Give them a quick scan before you start. It takes less time than a single trade and saves you infinitely more.
None of the following reasons will ever become an issue in your trading journey at FTM.
There are no broad prohibitions on "gambling" or "toxic trading." Does this mean FTM promote this behavior? of course not. However, this is a term that carries a thousand different meanings. What one person considers gambling behavior, another considers a legitimate strategy. Because of that subjectivity and vagueness, there is no universal rule applied.
Why this is allowed
Imposing a restriction that is open to interpretation creates more problems than it solves. Traders lose clarity, trade with doubt, and never know for certain whether their next decision will be judged as acceptable or a violation.
The programs are designed so that inherently excessive gambling does not work in your favor. The more you try to force outcomes through high-risk behavior, the more likely you are to fail within the built-in limits. That is the safeguard, not a subjective behavioral rule. You are free to trade your own way, but the structure naturally rewards discipline and punishes recklessness.
Any lot size that your available margin and leverage permit is fully allowed. You will never be penalized for changing your position sizes from one trade to the next, regardless of how inconsistent that may appear.
Why this is allowed
Trading conditions change. Market volatility shifts, setups vary in conviction, and a trader's confidence naturally fluctuates. Forcing rigid consistency in lot sizes ignores the reality of discretionary trading. We trust you to manage your own risk within the parameters provided. If your margin allows the trade, the trade is valid. Period.
These are common position-management approaches traders use:
Why this is allowed
Drawdown parameters exist for a reason. If you're confident you can manage your strategy within the allowed drawdown limits, we don't restrict you from using it. How you structure your trades on a single account is your call, as long as you stay within the rules.
This is allowed per account. However, running these strategies across multiple accounts simultaneously to create an unfair advantage is treated as abusive behavior and leads to reward deductions.
Learn more: Sequential Trading
There are no blackout windows, no time-based restrictions around economic announcements, and no profit reductions tied to news events. Every trade is treated equally regardless of when it was opened or closed. All profits from trades placed during (or previously held positions closed) news events are fully eligible for performance rewards.
Why this is allowed
Depending on your program type, you will be managing either a floating limit or a daily/overall loss limit. The safeguard is built into the structure itself, not into arbitrary time windows. Manage your risk parameters responsibly, stay within your limits, and trade the news freely.
Usually Margin rule caps the total margin usage across all open positions. The violation depends on exceeding a certain margin usage percentage.
Why this is allowed
We do not impose a margin usage rule. Leverage is set at a fixed, known level for a reason. If the available leverage allows you to open a trade at a specific lot size, you may do so. This will never be treated as a surprise violation when you request a performance reward.
One-sided betting generally refers to repeatedly opening additional positions in the same direction (all buys or all sells) on the same symbol while an existing position is already open, or doing so in quick succession without a proper cooldown period. It's viewed as a form of directional gambling.
Why this is allowed
Directional bias isn't a crime here. If you think a trade is going your way, you can add to it. If you think it's coming back, you can add there too. We get that doing this takes a plan, you still need to manage your trades properly. Asking traders to flat-out stop would take away a lot of freedom, and that's not something we want to do. So follow your read, keep your risk in check, and trade your plan.
Important points to note when Requesting a Reward from a Nitro (Simulated Funded) Account:
Calculation: If the simulated profit is below 6%, the trailing drawdown limit is 6% of Initial Balance from the Highest Recorded Balance.
Example 1: (Less Than 6% Profit)
Account Size: $100,000
Current Simulated Profit: 4% ($4,000)
Highest Recorded Balance: $105,000
Trailing Drawdown Calculation: $105,000 – (6% of $100,000) = $99,000
Scenario 1: Full Withdrawal of Simulated Profits
Withdrawal Amount: $4,000
Remaining Daily Limit: $100,000 (balance reset) – $99,000 = $1,000
Scenario 2: Partial Withdrawal of Simulated Profits
Withdrawal Amount: $2,000
Available Drawdown: $3,000
Calculation: If the simulated profit is 6% or higher, the trailing drawdown limit is fixed at the initial balance.
Example 2: (6% Profit Achieved)
Account Size: $100,000
Current Simulated Profit: 6% ($6,000)
Trailing Drawdown Fixed at Initial Balance: $100,000
Scenario 1: Full Withdrawal of Simulated Profits
Withdrawal Amount: $6,000
Remaining Overall Limit: $100,000 (balance reset) – $100,000 (fixed limit) = $0
Result: Breach of account due to no remaining drawdown limit.
Scenario 2: Partial Withdrawal of Simulated Profits
Withdrawal Amount: $4,000 Instead of $6,000
Available Drawdown: $2,000 ($106,000 – $104,000)
Result: No breach of account and the remaining Overall Drawdown Limit becomes $2,000 ($102,000 – $100,000)
Note on Partial Rewards for 1-Step Nitro Accounts:
For 1-Step Nitro plans, once the simulated profit exceeds $30,000, partial reward requests must be for at least 80% of the eligible profit (before the profit split is applied). Requests below this 80% minimum will not be accepted as a valid request.
Example (1-Step Nitro, $100,000 account hitting exactly $30,000 profit):
Account Size: $100,000
Simulated Profit: $30,000 (Balance: $130,000)
Minimum Partial Reward Allowed: 80% of $30,000 = $24,000
So, a partial reward request of $20,000 would not be allowed; the request must be $24,000 or more (then the profit split is applied to the performance reward).
For 1-step Nitro accounts, there’s a consistency rule that applies to both the Challenge Phase and Simulated Funded Phase
Why this Rule?
Funded Trader Markets’ Consistency Rule promotes steady profit growth and helps traders avoid emotional trading.
Important Details About the Consistency Rule For Evaluation Accounts
In the Challenge Phase; you should not make more than 50% (i.e. half) of the profit target in one day.
In the Simulated Funded Phase; you should not have made more than 45% of the total profit in one day.
If a single day’s profit is more than 50% of your profit target in the Challenge Phase or more than 45% of your total profit in the Simulated Funded Phase, you have to continue trading until there isn’t a day with more than the above said maximums.
When is the Consistency Rule Required?
For 1-Step Nitro accounts, it applies to both the Challenge Phase and Simulated Funded Phase
Calculation
[Best Day % of Total Profit] = [Best Day Profit] ÷ [Overall Profit] * 100
Best Day Profit means the highest single day profit
Single Day’s Profit = Balance at 5pm EST Today – Balance at 5pm EST Yesterday
Example (Simulated Funded Phase)
If you made a total profit of $5,000 in the Simulated Funded Phase,
To be eligible for withdrawal, there should not have been a single day with more than 45% of $5,000 (= $2,250).
If there is a single day with more than 45% of total profit, then you have to keep on trading until the best day profit is less than 45% of the total profit.
Example (Challenge Phase)
For a $10,000 1-step Nitro account with a Phase 1 profit target of $1000 (10%), no single day’s profit should exceed $500 (50% of the target) to stay within the consistency rule.
If you achieve a $1000 total profit but make more than $500 in a single day, you are required to continue trading until the best day profit is less than 50% of the total profit.
Success requires devising a strategy that prevents exceeding a $500 daily profit.
By adhering to these guidelines, traders can foster a disciplined and sustainable trading approach, crucial for long-term success.
The Nitro (Simulated Funded) account offers a 90% profit split on the first $10,000 of profits earned. After reaching this threshold, the profit split transitions to 80% for subsequent profits.
Note: This does not apply on Free accounts offered via Giveaways, Games, and/or Partnerships. They are always only eligible for a 80% profit split.
The Simulated Profit Target for the 1-Step Nitro Evaluation is 10%.
Example:
Account size: $100,000
Profit Target: $10,000 (10% of $100,000)
The Overall Drawdown Limit for the 1-Step Nitro Evaluation is 6% from the Highest Recorded Balance
Key Points to Understand:
Example 1:
Start of Day 1:
Starting Balance/Equity: $100,000
Initial Overall Drawdown: 6% of $100,000, which means the stop-out limit is set at $94,000. If Either Equity or Balance reaches this limit, it would result in a breach of the Overall Drawdown Limit.
During Day 1:
New Balance: $103,000
Overall Drawdown: $103,000 - (6% of $100,000 = $6,000) , so the new stop-out limit is $97,000. If Either Equity or Balance reaches this limit, it would result in a breach of the Overall Drawdown Limit.
Day 2:
Starting Balance/Equity: $101,000
Allowed Overall Drawdown: The stop-out limit remains at $97,000 as it is based on the highest balance of $103,000. If Either Equity or Balance reaches this limit, it would result in a breach of the Overall Drawdown Limit.
Example 2: After Achieving 6% Profit
Day 3:
Starting Balance/Equity: $106,000 Overall Drawdown: Fixed at $100,000 after achieving 6% profit (Overall Drawdown Limit becomes $100,000). If Either Equity or Balance reaches this limit, it would result in a breach of the Overall Drawdown Limit.
Breaching this limit will cause the account to be violated, closed and disabled for trading.
The Maximum Daily Drawdown Limit is 4% of the Initial Balance.
Example 1:
For a $100,000 1-Step Nitro Evaluation, the Daily Drawdown is 4% of the Initial Balance.
Day 1:
Starting Balance/Equity: $100,000
Allowed Daily Drawdown: 4% of $100,000 = $4,000 (stop-out limit = $96,000)
Example 2:
Day 2:
End of Day Balance (Day 1): $104,000
End of Day Equity (Day 1): $103,000
At 5 PM EST, if unrealised positions are open, then 4% of Initial balance will be deducted from the higher of the two. In Example 2 above since balance is higher than Equity, the stop out limit will become ($104,000 – (4% of 100,000)) = $104,000 – $4,000 = $100,000
If Either Equity or Balance reaches this limit, it would result in a breach of the Daily Drawdown Limit.
Example 3:
Day 3:
End of Day Balance (Day 2): $101,000
End of Day Equity (Day 2): $106,000
In Example 3 above, since Equity is higher than Balance, the stop-out limit will become:
$106,000 – (4% of $100,000) = $106,000 – $4,000 = $102,000
Since the Balance of $101,000 is lower than the limit of $102,000, this will cause an immediate breach of the Daily Drawdown Limit.
Breaching this limit will cause the account to be violated, closed and disabled for trading.
Note: The Maximum Daily Drawdown limit for a 300k Nitro account size is 3% while other account sizes of Nitro type are 4% as earlier stated
No rule is hidden. We lay every rule out in full view. Read them all before you place your first trade.
Program Features
The starting profit split for a 1-Step Nitro account type is 90% for the first $10,000 in profits then 80% subsequently after that.
For 1-Step Nitro accounts, the daily drawdown is always 4% of your initial balance and does not scale with profits. Each day at 5PM EST, the higher of your balance or equity is used, and 4% of the initial balance is subtracted from it to set the day’s stop-out level.
For a $100,000 account, 4% = $4,000. So if the higher value at 5PM EST is $106,000, the stop-out becomes $102,000. If either balance or equity reaches this level at any point, it results in a daily drawdown breach.
Note: The Maximum Daily Drawdown limit for a 300k Nitro account size is 3% while other account sizes of Nitro type are 4% as earlier stated
For 1-Step Nitro accounts, the overall drawdown trails your highest recorded balance. It stays 6% of the initial balance from the highest balance you’ve reached.
Example: On a $100,000 account, if your balance rises to $103,000, the stop-out becomes $97,000 and remains there unless a new high is made. Once you achieve 6% total profit, the overall drawdown becomes fixed at the initial balance ($100,000) and no longer moves with new highs.
See full explanation here.
For 1-Step Nitro accounts, the phase 1 requires reaching a 10% profit target. Example: On a $100,000 account, the target is $10,000.
Consistency Score
The consistency rule in the simulated funded phase of 1-Step Nitro accounts requires that no single day’s profit exceeds 45% of your total profit. If one day is above this threshold, trading must continue until your best day is below 45% of your total profit.
Example: If total profit is $10,000, no single day should exceed $4,500 to meet the consistency rule requirement.
See the full details here.
The consistency rule for 1-Step Nitro accounts during the Challenge Phase states that a single day’s profit cannot exceed 50% of the phase’s profit target.
Example: On a $100,000 account with a $10,000 target, no day should exceed $5,000. If any day does, trading must continue until your best day becomes less than 50% of your total profit.
For a full explanation of the 1-step Nitro consistency rule requirement, click here.
Drawdown is the loss limit that ends an account. Every program carries two: a daily limit that resets each day, and an overall limit that runs for the life of the account. Here is exactly how each one is measured.
A fresh stop-out each day, based on your balance.
Each day the stop-out is set from the greater of your balance or equity at the start of the day, minus a fixed dollar amount equal to your daily DD% of the Initial Balance. Only the daily starting point moves; the dollar amount never changes. An intraday dip can breach it even if you close the day in profit.
Stop-out fixed to the Initial Balance.
The stop-out stays anchored to your starting balance for the life of the account. On a $100,000 account with a 10% limit it sits at $90,000, even after profits. Gains never raise the floor; only the Initial Balance defines it.
Stop-out trails the Highest Recorded Balance.
The stop-out follows your highest recorded balance, holding the same dollar buffer below each new peak. It only ever moves up, never back down, so a pullback after a strong run can still breach it.
Trails, then fixes to the Initial Balance after +DD% profit.
It behaves like trailing until your balance reaches the Initial Balance plus the DD%. At that milestone the limit fixes to the Initial Balance for good, so later pullbacks respect that floor and the profit you already earned stays protected.
Yes. Your trading IP must follow these rules:
If these rules are violated, it may result in payout rejection, account restriction, or a total ban depending on severity/repetition without a refund.
Note: In the case where you are travelling, we recommend completing the purchase and KYC process while in your registered country of residence to avoid discrepancies. If travel is necessary, please contact our support team for guidance before proceeding.
On all platforms offered, Cryptocurrencies are enabled and available for trading over the weekend.
Yes, you are allowed to trade news in all our programs. However, it’s crucial to approach this with heightened caution. News-driven market fluctuations are notoriously volatile and unpredictable.
News events tend to spike market volatility and thin market liquidity. This often results in wider spreads and the possibility of slippage, complicating trade executions at preferred price levels.
Therefore, traders should be aware of the potential risks associated with trading news.