Reviewed by Jacob Bakshi
Jacob Bakshi
Senior Market Strategist
Trading CFDs and options has been my playground for years, and I love helping others understand these powerful tools and what makes the financial world tick. My work mostly focuses on giving traders the confidence to make informed decisions with unbiased reviews into platforms that prioritize fair pricing, advanced tools, and reliable execution because In fast-moving markets, every detail matters. I have a background in market analysis and risk management, and I’m always on the lookout for brokers that offer the right tools for serious traders. using our CLEAR™ Methodology The CLEAR™ Score (Credibility, Leverage, Execution, Accessibility, Regulation) is our proprietary ranking system. The CLEAR™ Score provides you with the most accurate and transparent broker ranking after evaluating all the key factors that are crucial for trading success. .
Last fact check on June 23, 2026 by
Michelle Sofia
Michelle Sofia
Market Analyst • Editorial Review
Michelle is the financial content architect and SEO market analyst at CleaRank, and the final editorial reviewer on every CleaRank publication. With a background in financial journalism and fintech reporting, she fact-checks each broker investigation for accuracy before it goes live.
City Traders Imperium Review 2026
Established in London in 2018, City Traders Imperium is one of the longest-running names in proprietary trading, and it has built its reputation on an idea most rivals ignore: real swing and long-term traders need room to breathe. While the crowded prop space chases day traders with tight time limits, CTI offers no-deadline challenges, weekend holding, and balance-based drawdown that never punishes a winning position. More striking still, the firm pays a full 100% profit split on a trader’s first target. For patient traders who think in weeks rather than minutes, CTI is purpose-built for the long game. Let us break it down using our CLEAR framework.
CLEAR™ Certified Prop Firm
CLEAR™ CERTIFIED PROP FIRM: 4.3/5
- Operating since 2018
- 100% profit split on your first target
- Balance-based drawdown that never shrinks on wins
- No time limits, built for swing and long-term
- Weekend holding allowed across accounts
- Scaling up to $4 million combined
Customer Support4.2
Account Types and Fees4.5
Trading Conditions4.1
Reputation4.4
Platforms4.2
Payout Process4.5
Customer Support4.2
Account Types and Fees4.5
Trading Conditions4.1
Reputation4.4
Platforms4.2
Payout Process4.5
Why Trade with City Traders Imperium
City Traders Imperium is one of the few firms designed for traders who hold positions for days or weeks. Its evaluations use balance-based, static drawdown that does not shrink when you win, weekend holding is allowed, and there is no time limit on any challenge, so a slow, methodical strategy is not penalized by a countdown clock.
The payout structure is a standout. CTI pays a full 100% profit split on your first profit target, with splits scaling toward 100% on funded accounts, and the challenge fee is refunded with your first payout. A nearly eight-year track record through multiple industry shakeouts adds credibility most newer firms lack.
The trade-offs are real and we weight them. Leverage is modest at around 1:30, dropping to 1:10 on Instant accounts, the firm publishes no audited total-payout figure, and the operating entity is an unregulated UAE company. For patient swing and position traders, though, CTI is one of the best-fit firms in the sector.
Pros
Overnight and weekend holding with static drawdown that never shrinks on wins.Swing and long-term friendly
A full profit split on your first target, rare in the industry.100% on the first target
Challenges have unlimited duration, suiting patient strategies.No time limits
Operating since 2018 with a claimed uninterrupted payout history.Long track record
Capital scales to $2 million per Instant account, $4 million combined.Strong scaling
The challenge cost is returned with your first payout.Refundable fee
Cons
CTI publishes no verified aggregate of trader withdrawals.No total-payout transparency
Around 1:30 on challenges and 1:10 on Instant is modest versus rivals.Lower leverage
The operating company is UAE-registered and unregulated, like most prop firms.Unregulated UAE entity
Overnight and weekend holding with static drawdown that never shrinks on wins.Swing and long-term friendly
A full profit split on your first target, rare in the industry.100% on the first target
Challenges have unlimited duration, suiting patient strategies.No time limits
Operating since 2018 with a claimed uninterrupted payout history.Long track record
Capital scales to $2 million per Instant account, $4 million combined.Strong scaling
The challenge cost is returned with your first payout.Refundable fee
CTI publishes no verified aggregate of trader withdrawals.No total-payout transparency
Around 1:30 on challenges and 1:10 on Instant is modest versus rivals.Lower leverage
The operating company is UAE-registered and unregulated, like most prop firms.Unregulated UAE entity
Reputation: A Proven Veteran
CLEAR™ Score 4.4/5
City Traders Imperium earns a strong reputation score for longevity and resilience. Operating since 2018, it is one of the older surviving forex prop firms, kept paying through the 2023 platform crackdown and 2024 processor exits, and markets a flawless payout record. The points we hold back reflect the lack of an audited payout total and the unregulated UAE operating entity. Check your true trading costs first with the CLEAR Slippage Calculator before funding an account.
Additional Website Audit
Metric | Value (from Ahrefs) |
|---|---|
Domain Rating (DR) | 52 |
URL Rating (UR) | 10 |
Backlinks | 10.5K (49.2K all-time) |
Referring Domains | 1.7K |
Organic Keywords | 352 |
Monthly Organic Traffic | 10.6K (value $3.9K) |
Top Country | India (50.2%) |
What We Liked
- Long track record. Nearly eight years of operation, a rarity in prop trading.
- Resilient payouts. Kept paying through the 2023 and 2024 industry disruptions.
- Founder-led. Run by professional traders Daniel Martin and Martin Najat.
What We Did Not Like
- No audited total. CTI publishes no verified aggregate payout figure.
- Unregulated entity. The UAE operating company holds no financial licence.
- Smaller traffic. A more niche audience than the biggest firms.
Account Types and Fees: Built for Patience
CLEAR™ Score 4.5/5
CTI runs four routes: a two-step and one-step challenge plus Instant Funding and Instant Funding Pro. Evaluations use balance-based, static drawdown, carry no time limit, and refund the fee with your first payout. The headline is the 100% split on your first profit target, with splits scaling to 100% on funded accounts.
Feature | 1-Step | 2-Step | Instant |
|---|---|---|---|
Phases | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Profit Target | 10% | 10% then 5% | First target 8% |
Max Drawdown | 5% static | 10% static | 6% trailing |
Daily Drawdown | 5% or none | 5% | Varies |
Cheapest Entry | $49 | $39 | Higher |
First Target Split | 100% | 100% | Scales |
Time Limit | None | None | None |
What We Liked
- 100% first target. Full profit share on your first target, rare in the sector.
- Static drawdown. Balance-based limits never shrink when you win.
- No deadlines. Unlimited evaluation time suits patient traders.
What We Did Not Like
- Instant starts lower. Instant Funding begins around a 50% split before scaling.
- Consistency score. Scaling requires hitting a consistency threshold.
Trading Conditions: Swing-Optimized
CLEAR™ Score 4.1/5
CTI trades about 50 instruments across forex, indices, commodities, and crypto, with raw or tight spreads. Leverage is modest at around 1:30 on challenges and 1:10 on Instant. Weekend holding is allowed, EAs run if you own the source code, hedging is permitted, but news-bracketing and black-box bots are restricted, and a consistency score applies.
Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
Leverage (Forex) | About 1:30 (1:10 on Instant) |
Spreads | Raw or tight, commission on some accounts |
Instruments | About 50 (forex, indices, commodities, crypto) |
News Trading | Allowed; news-bracketing prohibited |
Weekend Holding | Allowed |
EA / Algo | Allowed if you own the source code |
Copy Trading | Own accounts only |
Drawdown Type | Balance-based (static) on evaluations |
Time Limit | None |
What We Liked
- Weekend and swing friendly. Overnight and weekend holding are permitted.
- Static drawdown. Balance-based limits favor position traders.
- Hedging allowed. Discretionary hedging is permitted.
What We Did Not Like
- Low leverage. Around 1:30, and 1:10 on Instant, is modest.
- Bot restrictions. Third-party and black-box bots are limited.
Platforms: Lean and US-Aware
CLEAR™ Score 4.2/5
CTI runs MetaTrader 5 for non-US traders and MatchTrader for US traders, which it relaunched for US re-entry in 2025, all managed from a proprietary client dashboard for metrics, payouts, and scaling. The lineup is leaner than some rivals but covers the essentials on both sides of the Atlantic.
Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
MetaTrader 5 | Non-US traders, EAs supported |
MatchTrader | US traders, relaunched 2025 |
Dashboard | Proprietary metrics, payouts, scaling |
What We Liked
- US-accessible. MatchTrader serves US traders after the 2025 re-entry.
- MT5 for the rest. MetaTrader 5 with EA support for non-US traders.
- Proprietary dashboard. Centralized metrics, payouts, and scaling.
What We Did Not Like
- Leaner lineup. Fewer platforms than the largest competitors.
Payout Process: 100% on the First Target
CLEAR™ Score 4.5/5
Payouts are a strength. CTI allows on-demand withdrawals after seven profitable trading days and 2% net profit or $100, whichever is higher, and pays a full 100% split on your first profit target, scaling toward 100% on funded accounts thereafter. The fee is refunded with the first payout, with a $100 minimum.
What We Liked
- 100% first target. The full profit share on your first target is a genuine differentiator.
- On-demand after qualifying. Withdraw after seven profitable days and 2% net profit.
- Fee refunded. The challenge cost returns with your first payout.
What We Did Not Like
- Qualifying threshold. Seven profitable days are needed before the first payout.
- No published SLA. Exact processing times are not officially stated.
Customer Support: Well-Rated
CLEAR™ Score 4.2/5
Support runs through live chat, email, and an interactive FAQ knowledge base, and independent aggregator reviews rate it well. Coverage is primarily English, and 24/7 availability is not confirmed, but responsiveness is generally a positive in user feedback.
Channel | Performance |
|---|---|
Live Chat | Well-rated |
Reliable | |
Knowledge Base | Interactive FAQ chatbot |
Languages | English-primary |
What We Liked
- Good ratings. Aggregator reviews rate support well.
- Self-serve FAQ. An interactive knowledge base covers common questions.
- Founder-led culture. Trader-run firm with an education focus.
What We Did Not Like
- No 24/7 confirmation. Round-the-clock coverage is not confirmed.
- English-focused. Multilingual support is not confirmed.
City Traders Imperium FAQ
What is City Traders Imperium?
City Traders Imperium is a London-founded proprietary trading firm established in 2018 that funds traders through one-step, two-step, and instant routes built for swing and long-term trading. It pays 100% on the first target and scales to $4 million combined.
Is City Traders Imperium legit?
Yes, by the available evidence. It has operated since 2018, kept paying through the 2023 and 2024 industry disruptions, and is founder-led. It is unregulated, standard for prop firms, and does not publish an audited payout total.
Does City Traders Imperium accept US traders?
Yes. CTI re-entered the US market in 2025 with MatchTrader; non-US traders use MetaTrader 5.
Where is City Traders Imperium located?
City Traders Imperium is a London-based brand; its operating entity, CTI FZCO, is registered in a Dubai free zone.
Who owns City Traders Imperium?
City Traders Imperium was co-founded by Daniel Martin, who serves as CEO, and Martin Najat.
Why is CTI good for swing traders?
Its evaluations use balance-based static drawdown that does not shrink on winning trades, weekend holding is allowed, and there is no time limit, so multi-day strategies are not penalized.
How much does City Traders Imperium cost?
Challenges start around $39 to $49 for small accounts, with a 100K two-step around $689. The fee is refunded with your first payout.
What is the profit split?
CTI pays a full 100% on your first profit target, with splits scaling toward 100% on funded accounts; Instant Funding starts lower and scales via milestones.
Does it allow EAs and weekend holding?
Weekend holding is allowed, and EAs are permitted if you own the source code. News-bracketing and third-party black-box bots are restricted.
When and how do I get paid?
Payouts are on-demand after seven profitable trading days and 2% net profit or $100, whichever is higher, with the first target paid at a full 100% split.
Disclaimer: This review reflects CleaRank’s independent CLEAR assessment and is not financial advice. Prop-firm rules, fees, and payout terms can change; always verify the current terms on the firm’s own site before purchasing a challenge or funded account.
Jacob Bakshi
I’m Jacob and I specialize in CFDs, options trading, and market analysis. Over the years, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the risks and rewards that come with trading derivatives and survived enough volatility to know that trading is like skydiving: thrilling, but you’d better trust your parachute (or broker). I use CleaRank’s Methodology to test brokers based on their offerings and ensure traders that visit our site have access to brokers that align perfectly with their trading strategies.
More CLEAR™ Certified Prop Firms
Comparing options? See our reviews of The5ers and Maven Trading, or browse the full list of CLEAR Certified prop firms.