FTMO stands as one of the most established and respected proprietary trading firms in the industry, having pioneered the modern evaluation-based funding model since its founding in 2015. Headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, the company has become synonymous with quality prop trading, serving traders across Europe and globally with a reputation built on transparency, fair trading conditions, and consistent payouts.

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Note on fees: FTMO uses a two-step evaluation process with refundable fees upon successful completion. The Challenge phase requires a 10% profit target within 30 days, followed by a Verification phase with a 5% target. Fees range from $155 for a $10,000 account to $1,080 for a $200,000 account, with scaling options up to $2,000,000.

FTMO distinguishes itself through its comprehensive trader development approach, offering free educational resources, performance coaching, and a proprietary trading platform alongside MetaTrader 4/5 and cTrader support. The company's scaling plan allows successful traders to increase their account size up to $2,000,000, making it one of the most generous funding opportunities in the prop trading industry.

Company History & Development

FTMO was founded in 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic, by a team of experienced traders who identified a gap in the market for quality proprietary trading opportunities accessible to retail traders. The company launched with a vision to democratize access to trading capital, enabling skilled traders worldwide to trade significant capital without risking their own funds.

In its early years, FTMO focused on refining its evaluation process, developing what would become the industry-standard two-step Challenge and Verification model. This approach, which tests both trading skill and psychological discipline, set FTMO apart from competitors and established the template many other prop firms would later adopt.

The company experienced significant growth between 2018 and 2020, expanding its team and infrastructure to handle increasing demand. During this period, FTMO introduced several innovations including the Swing Account option for traders who prefer holding positions overnight and over weekends, and the Free Trial program allowing prospective traders to experience the platform before committing financially.

In 2021, FTMO reached a major milestone by distributing over $40 million in profit splits to successful traders. This achievement demonstrated the viability of their business model and solidified their reputation as a reliable payout partner. The company continued to expand its offerings, introducing the FTMO Account with scaling options up to $2,000,000.

The 2022-2023 period saw FTMO navigate industry challenges, including increased competition from new prop firms and regulatory scrutiny of the broader sector. The company responded by maintaining its rigorous standards, improving its technology infrastructure, and enhancing its trader support services. FTMO also strengthened its compliance framework, positioning itself as an industry leader in operational transparency.

Most recently, FTMO has focused on technological advancement, launching its proprietary FTMO Trading Platform designed specifically for prop trading needs. The company continues to invest in educational resources and trader development programs, reflecting its commitment to long-term trader success rather than short-term evaluation fees.

Business Model & Core Services

FTMO operates on an evaluation-based proprietary trading model where traders pay a one-time fee to attempt a trading challenge. Upon successful completion of both the Challenge and Verification phases, traders receive a funded account with no additional cost. The evaluation fee is fully refundable with the first profit split.

The core offering includes three account types: Normal, Swing, and Aggressive. Normal accounts follow standard trading rules with restrictions on holding positions during major news events. Swing accounts allow overnight and weekend holding with slightly modified leverage. Aggressive accounts offer higher leverage and profit targets for experienced traders seeking faster scaling.

FTMO provides access to forex pairs, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies through MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and the proprietary FTMO Trading Platform. The company supports multiple base currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, CZK, CHF, AUD, CAD) to accommodate traders globally.

Additional services include the Performance Coach program offering one-on-one mentoring, free educational webinars, and the FTMO Academy with structured learning paths. The company also provides detailed trading statistics and analytics through the Account MetriX tool.

Regulatory Compliance & Trust

As a proprietary trading firm rather than a regulated financial institution, FTMO operates under Czech commercial law as FTMO s.r.o. The company maintains transparent operations with publicly available terms and conditions, regular audit reports, and documented payout histories. FTMO complies with GDPR requirements for data protection and maintains secure payment processing through established providers.

The company has built trust through consistent operations over nearly a decade, with verified trader testimonials and documented payout records. FTMO's affiliate program and referral system are transparently disclosed, and the company maintains an active presence on review platforms where it responds to trader feedback.

Economics & Value Proposition

FTMO's fee structure ranges from $155 for a $10,000 Challenge account to $1,080 for a $200,000 account. This represents competitive pricing compared to industry averages, particularly considering the refundable nature of fees upon successful completion.

The profit split starts at 80% for funded traders, increasing to 90% based on consistent performance. This compares favorably to industry standards of 70-85%. The scaling plan allows traders to increase their account size by 25% every four months upon achieving a 10% profit target, up to a maximum of $2,000,000.

Payment methods include bank transfer, Skrill, and cryptocurrency options. Payouts are processed bi-weekly with no minimum withdrawal amount on funded accounts. The company maintains a strong payout track record, having distributed over $100 million to traders since inception.

Technology & User Experience

FTMO's technology infrastructure supports multiple trading platforms with reliable connectivity and execution. The proprietary FTMO Trading Platform offers a streamlined interface designed specifically for prop trading, with built-in risk management displays and account metrics.

The trader dashboard provides comprehensive account monitoring, including real-time profit/loss tracking, drawdown alerts, and trading statistics. The mobile-responsive interface allows traders to monitor their accounts on any device.

Customer support operates through live chat, email, and an extensive knowledge base. Response times are generally quick during business hours, with the support team known for helpful and knowledgeable assistance. The company also maintains active community channels where traders can connect and share experiences.

Scalping-Friendliness (Commissions, Leverage & Slippage)

FTMO is generally considered scalping-friendly, with no explicit restrictions on trading style or minimum holding times. Traders report competitive spreads and execution speeds suitable for short-term strategies. Leverage varies by instrument and account type, with forex pairs typically offering 1:100 and indices at 1:50.

The main considerations for scalpers include the news trading restrictions on Normal accounts (no trades 2 minutes before/after high-impact news) and the consistency rule requiring diversified trading patterns. Swing accounts remove news restrictions but have slightly reduced leverage.

Security & Risk Management

FTMO implements robust security measures including two-factor authentication, encrypted communications, and secure payment processing. The company does not hold client funds in the traditional sense, as traders operate with simulated capital during evaluation and proprietary capital when funded.

Risk management is built into the trading rules, with automatic position closure when drawdown limits are approached. The 5% daily drawdown and 10% maximum drawdown rules protect both the trader and the firm's capital from excessive losses.

Market Position & Suitability

FTMO is best suited for experienced forex and CFD traders who have developed consistent, rule-based trading strategies. The two-step evaluation process rewards disciplined traders who can demonstrate both profitability and risk management skills over an extended period.

Conservative traders will appreciate FTMO's established reputation, consistent payout history, and comprehensive support resources. The Swing account option accommodates position traders who prefer longer holding periods.

Active scalpers and day traders can succeed with FTMO, though they should be aware of news trading restrictions on Normal accounts and the consistency requirements that discourage over-reliance on single large wins.

Beginners may find the evaluation process challenging without prior live trading experience. FTMO recommends using their Free Trial to assess readiness before committing to a paid Challenge.

Conclusion

FTMO has established itself as the gold standard in proprietary trading, combining nearly a decade of operational history with industry-leading trader support and transparent business practices. While the two-step evaluation process is more demanding than some competitors' single-phase options, it effectively identifies traders with the discipline and skill to manage significant capital responsibly.

The company's strengths include its established reputation, generous scaling plan up to $2,000,000, competitive 80-90% profit split, and comprehensive educational resources. Areas for consideration include the news trading restrictions on Normal accounts and the relatively strict consistency requirements.

For serious traders seeking substantial funding with a reputable partner, FTMO remains the benchmark against which other prop firms are measured. The refundable fee structure and proven payout track record make it a compelling choice for traders ready to demonstrate their skills.

Last updated: November 29, 2025