Reviewed by
Jacob Bakshi
Jacob Bakshi
CFD & Options Trading Specialist
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
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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.
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Last fact check on June 23, 2026 by
Michelle Sofia
Michelle Sofia
Compliance 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.
The Funded Trader Review 2026
The Funded Trader is one of the prop industry’s most debated comeback stories. Founded in 2021 by Angelo Ciaramello, it grew into a household name before a 2024 liquidity crisis froze payouts for more than 1,200 traders, forced a three-week shutdown, and pushed the company to restructure and move offshore to the Cayman Islands. Since its April 2024 relaunch the firm has rebuilt around faster on-demand payouts, multiple platforms, and splits up to 95%. Whether that rebuild has restored trust is the central question any 2026 trader must weigh. Let us break it down using our CLEAR framework.
CLEAR™ CERTIFIED PROP FIRM: 4.0/5
Why Trade with The Funded Trader
On paper, the rebuilt The Funded Trader is competitive. Splits start at 90% and scale to 99% after six approved payouts, the lineup covers one, two, and three-step routes through its Knight, Royal, and Dragon tiers, and four platforms give real execution flexibility. Entry is cheap at $42, and the scaling plan reaches $5 million.
Payouts are marketed aggressively post-relaunch, with on-demand requests on top tiers and crypto or Rise rails. For traders who value high splits and platform choice, and who are comfortable with the firm’s history, the current offering is feature-rich.
The caveats are serious and we weight them heavily. The 2024 crisis left over 1,200 traders waiting on funds, the firm relaunched offshore with only partly disclosed ownership, and support response times remain inconsistent. This is the one review in our set where reputation, not features, should drive your decision. Treat the rebuild with appropriate caution.
Pros
Cons
Reputation: A Rebuild Under Scrutiny
Reputation is where The Funded Trader scores lowest, and deservedly so. In early 2024 a liquidity crisis left more than 1,200 traders waiting on owed funds, the firm paused for three weeks, faced lawsuits, and relaunched from the Cayman Islands with only partly disclosed ownership. It is operating and paying again post-relaunch, but trust remains the open question. Plan your entries and targets with the CLEAR Fibonacci Calculator, and weigh a firm’s history carefully before funding an account.
Additional Website Audit
Metric |
Value (from Ahrefs) |
|---|---|
Domain Rating (DR) |
54 |
URL Rating (UR) |
6 |
Backlinks |
2.4K (5.3K all-time) |
Referring Domains |
732 |
Organic Keywords |
324 (33 in top 3) |
Monthly Organic Traffic |
32.2K (value $38.5K) |
Top Country |
United States (33.9%) |
What We Liked
What We Did Not Like
Account Types and Fees: Tiered and Flexible
The Funded Trader runs one, two, and three-step evaluations across Knight, Royal, Classic, and Dragon tiers, with Pro variants offering a 95% split. Entry is low at $42, fees are refunded with the first payout on standard models, and splits scale to 99%. Pricing climbs steeply at larger sizes.
Feature |
1-Step (Knight) |
2-Step (Royal) |
3-Step (Dragon) |
|---|---|---|---|
Phases |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Profit Target |
10% |
8% then 5% |
8%, 5%, 5% |
Max Drawdown |
8% |
10% |
10% |
Daily Drawdown |
3% to 5% |
5% |
5% |
Cheapest Entry |
$42 (5K) |
$42 (5K) |
Varies |
Profit Split |
Up to 95% |
Up to 95% |
Up to 95% |
Fee Refundable |
First payout |
First payout |
First payout |
What We Liked
What We Did Not Like
Trading Conditions: Capable, Rule-Heavy
The Funded Trader offers raw-style spreads across roughly 47 instruments spanning forex, indices, metals, commodities, and crypto, with leverage up to 1:200 depending on tier. EAs are allowed on most non-Pro models, news trading is permitted outside a two-minute window around high-impact events, but copy trading is restricted and a consistency rule applies.
Feature |
Detail |
|---|---|
Leverage (Forex) |
Up to 1:200 (1:30 to 1:100 by tier) |
Spreads |
Raw-style, competitive |
Commission |
About $4 per lot FX, $1 metals; $0 indices/crypto/oil |
Instruments |
About 47 (forex, indices, metals, commodities, crypto) |
News Trading |
Allowed, except 2 minutes around high-impact news |
Weekend Holding |
Allowed on Royal; varies by model |
EA / Algo |
Allowed on most non-Pro models |
Copy Trading |
Restricted |
Consistency Rule |
Applies (varies by model) |
What We Liked
What We Did Not Like
Platforms: Genuinely Flexible
Platform choice is a real strength: DXtrade, cTrader, MetaTrader 5, and Match-Trader, all managed from a proprietary dashboard for KYC and payout requests. That four-way lineup covers EA users, depth-of-market traders, and modern web traders alike.
Platform |
Notes |
|---|---|
MetaTrader 5 |
EAs and indicators |
cTrader |
Depth-of-market tools |
DXtrade |
Modern web execution |
Match-Trader |
Modern web and mobile |
What We Liked
What We Did Not Like
Payout Process: Fast on Paper
Post-relaunch, payouts are marketed as on-demand on top tiers, with a 24-hour guarantee that pays double if missed, via Rise, USDC, Ethereum, and Bitcoin. Splits start at 90% and scale to 99% after six approved payouts. Given the 2024 history, treat the speed claims as promotional until proven for your own account.
What We Liked
What We Did Not Like
Customer Support: Multichannel, Uneven
Support spans live chat, email, a phone line, and Discord, but independent user reports describe inconsistent response times, especially during high-volume periods and weekends. The channels are there; the reliability is the question, particularly given the firm’s history.
Channel |
Performance |
|---|---|
Live Chat |
Available, can lag |
Available |
|
Phone |
Listed line |
Discord |
Active community |
Languages |
English-primary |
What We Liked
What We Did Not Like
The Funded Trader FAQ
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.