DNA Funded vs Eightcap Challenges - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)
Head-to-head comparison of DNA Funded and Eightcap Challenges. Check max funding, profit splits, daily and overall drawdown rules, leverage, tradable assets, payout frequency, payment and payout methods, trading permissions and KYC restrictions before you buy a challenge. Data refreshed March 2026.
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DNA Funded
DNA Funded is a broker-backed Australian prop firm partnered with DNA Markets that lets traders choose between 1-step, 2-step, rapid 10-day challenges and instant funding, with 80%–90% profit splits, access to 800+ CFD markets via TradeLocker, and combined simulated funding...
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Eightcap Challenges
Eightcap Challenges is a broker-backed simulated trading program operated by Eightcap International Ltd (Seychelles) that offers One Phase and Two Phase CFD challenges on mt4, mt5 and tradelocker with balance-based drawdown limits, a 14-day payout cycle, and 80% profit splits...
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| Overview | ||
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.8 | 4.1 |
| Trustpilot Reviews | 84 | 3,569 |
| Headquarters | Australia | Seychelles |
| Age (Years) | N/A | 1 |
| Max Funding | $600,000 | $600,000 |
| Profit Split Start | 80% | 80% |
| Profit Split Max | 90% | 90% |
| Platforms | TradeLocker | mt4 mt5 tradelocker |
| Assets | FX Commodities Indices Stocks Crypto | FX Commodities Indices Crypto US Stocks (Day Trader only) |
| Leverage | ||
| FX Leverage | 50 | 100 |
| Metals Leverage | 10 | 20 |
| Crypto Leverage | 2 | 3 |
| Risk & Drawdown Rules | ||
| Max Daily Loss | Maximum Daily LossDaily loss limits at DNA Funded depend on the program. Single Helix uses a 5% max daily drawdown, Double Helix typically applies 6% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2, Rapid Challenge runs with a 4% daily loss cap and Instant Funding does not apply a separate daily limit but is constrained by a tight trailing overall drawdown.The daily loss check is balance- or equity-based around the end-of-day snapshot, and breaching the permitted percentage at any point in the trading day constitutes an account violation. | Maximum Daily DrawdownEightcap Challenges applies a balance-based daily drawdown rule calculated from the previous day’s account balance snapshot (Previous Day Balance × Limit%). Your account’s intraday equity loss must not exceed this daily limit.One Phase: 4% daily drawdown (Assessment and Payout Stages).Two Phase: 5% daily drawdown (Assessment, Qualification and Payout Stages).Day Trader: No daily drawdown; risk is managed via fixed maximum drawdown thresholds tied to the selected timeframe and multiplier. |
| Max Total Loss | Maximum Overall LossFor Single Helix, Double Helix and Rapid Challenge, DNA Funded uses static lifetime loss caps, typically around 10% for the main 1-phase and 2-phase models and 5% for Rapid.Instant Funding accounts instead use a 4% trailing overall drawdown that ratchets up as new equity highs are made; if balance or equity falls below this trailing line the account is breached, even if it remains above the initial starting balance. | Maximum DrawdownOverall drawdown is enforced as a fixed percentage of the initial balance for standard challenges and as fixed-dollar thresholds for Day Trader Challenges.One Phase: 8% maximum drawdown (Assessment and Payout Stages).Two Phase: 10% maximum drawdown (Assessment, Qualification and Payout Stages).Day Trader: Maximum drawdown is defined in dollars and varies by timeframe and multiplier (DT-1/DT-2/DT-4/DT-8 with 2x/5x/10x options). |
| Drawdown Type | Drawdown ModelThe evaluation challenges primarily rely on static drawdown limits calculated from either the initial balance or an end-of-day balance snapshot, while the Instant Funding program uses a classic trailing drawdown that tracks new highs and never resets upward after a payout.In practice this means evaluation traders can stabilise their static loss buffers by growing the account gradually, whereas Instant Funding traders must protect profits more aggressively because the allowed loss band follows their performance. | Balance-based (Daily from previous-day balance; Max fixed from initial balance) |
| Payouts | ||
| Payout Frequency | Payout FrequencyFunded traders at DNA Funded can usually request a payout every 14 days, provided they have traded on at least three separate days and finished the period with a positive balance.With the optional Early Payout Booster, that payout frequency can be shortened to every 7 days on eligible challenges, offering weekly cash flow for consistent performers. | Payout FrequencyOne Phase & Two Phase: Standard payout eligibility begins 14 days into the Payout Stage (or 7 days with the earlier-payout add-on), provided all payout-stage requirements and KYC are satisfied.Day Trader Challenges: Payout eligibility is immediate upon successful completion of the time-limited challenge. |
| Days to First Payout | 14 | 14 |
| Payout Processing Time | Payout ProcessingPayouts are requested through the DNA Funded dashboard and, once approved, are typically processed within about 1–4 business days, after which arrival time depends on the chosen payment rail.The firm warns that additional time may be needed for bank wires, compliance checks or during periods of high demand, but most crypto withdrawals are completed relatively quickly once released. | Payout ProcessingPayout requests are reviewed by the risk team for rules compliance and KYC (if required). Approved payouts are typically processed within 24–48 hours of an eligible request, but may take longer if additional review is required. |
| Payout Methods | Crypto International Bank Transfer | Crypto International Bank Transfer |
| Payments | ||
| Payment Methods | Credit Card (Visa Mastercard) Crypto (TRC20 ERC20 BTC) | Credit/Debit Card (Visa Mastercard) Crypto (USDT TRC20 USDT ERC20 BTC) |
| Trading Permissions | ||
| News Trading | News trading is permitted in principle, but traders must avoid opening, modifying or closing positions within roughly 10 minutes before and after high-impact economic releases or other designated major events, as defined by calendars such as FXStreet.Pure news scalping, latency or gap exploitation around data releases is prohibited, and violations can lead to profit removal or account closure, especially on funded accounts. | Trading during major news events is restricted: you cannot place trades within 10 minutes before or after high-impact events (per FXStreet). Trading inside the window is treated as a soft breach that triggers a warning and removal of any profits made from those trades. |
| Weekend Trades | Weekend trading rules differ by instrument and program. For most challenges, crypto positions can be opened and managed over the weekend, while positions on other markets may be held but not actively traded while markets are closed.The Rapid and Instant Funding challenges are stricter and generally do not allow weekend trading at all, so traders on these products should ensure positions are closed before the weekly market close. | Weekend trading is allowed. The platform supports 24/7 trading, including the ability to manage positions over the weekend. |
| Copy Trading | Copy trading is tightly controlled at DNA Funded. Copying or mirroring trades from non-DNA accounts, between different users or across multiple profiles is prohibited, and managing other people's accounts is considered a breach.Within a single user's own DNA Funded accounts, limited internal copying may be acceptable, but traders must still respect all risk rules and avoid patterns that resemble large-scale account netting or group trading. | Copy trading or mirroring another person’s trades is prohibited and may result in profit removal or account termination. Copying between your own accounts is allowed only if all accounts are registered under the same email address. |
| EA Allowed | Expert Advisors and algorithmic strategies are allowed on 1 Phase, 2 Phase and Rapid challenge accounts, provided they do not implement banned behaviours such as high-frequency scalping, latency arbitrage, martingale or grid systems.On Instant Funding accounts, EAs and fully automated algos are not permitted; these programs are meant to be traded manually or with very light automation that still reflects the trader's own discretion. | Expert Advisors (EAs) and indicators are permitted, but prohibited strategy types (including martingale, grid, tick trading, arbitrage variants, gap trading and account management) are monitored and can trigger violations—especially during the Payout Stage. |
| KYC & Restrictions | ||
| KYC Required | Yes | No |
| KYC Stage | DNA Funded applies full KYC for larger withdrawals, requiring a government-issued photo ID, proof of address and a selfie or likeness check through its third-party verification provider.KYC is typically required once withdrawals exceed about $1,000, and failed or unverifiable KYC will result in account closure without refund, as decisions from the external provider cannot be manually overridden. | Australia, Saint Lucia, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, Russia (and Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk and Sevastopol regions of Ukraine), Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Libya |
| Restricted Countries | Australia Cuba Iran Iraq North Korea Myanmar Russia (including Crimea Donetsk Luhansk and Sevastopol) Somalia Syria Central African Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Guinea-Bissau Sudan South Sudan Afghanistan Lebanon Yemen Zimbabwe Libya | Australia Libya Lebanon Pakistan Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan United States Zimbabwe Afghanistan Central African Republic Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Guinea-Bissau Iran Iraq Myanmar North Korea Syria Yemen |