Does Crypto Fund Trader allow automated trading, news trading, weekend positions, and copy trading, and what strategies are restricted?

💡 Answer

Is the use of EA Allowed at Crypto Fund Trader?

Automation is partially supported: CFT lists categories of prohibited EA types (notably HFT, tick scalping, arbitrage and demo-environment exploitation). EAs that do not fall into these categories are not explicitly banned in the FAQ, but traders remain responsible for ensuring automation complies with all rules.


Is News Trading allowed at Crypto Fund Trader?

News trading is allowed on CFT evaluations according to its FAQ. For Ascend evaluations, CFT adds a news-window constraint: within 2 minutes before and after high-impact news or market opening, accounts must not open/add positions or raise maximum theoretical loss above 2% of initial balance.


Can Crypto Fund Trader traders hold Weekend Trades?

Weekend/overnight holding is generally allowed (CFT states it accepts swing trading strategies and keeping trades open over the weekend). Market availability still follows instrument schedules: crypto trades 24/7 while forex is typically Monday–Friday and other CFDs follow their own market hours.


Is Copy Trading allowed at Crypto Fund Trader?

CFT does not present a simple “copy trading allowed” rule in its public FAQ. However, it explicitly restricts multi-account coordination through rules such as the reverse trading/hedging constraints, and it states that copy trading between Ascend accounts is prohibited (including coordinated or mirrored behaviour that cannot be attributed to chance).


What are some main Prohibited Strategies at Crypto Fund Trader?

Prohibited practices include (non-exhaustive): high-frequency trading, tick scalping (manual or EA), arbitrage (including news-scalping or demo-exploitation bots), prohibited reverse-trading/hedging patterns across accounts, and gambling/all-in behaviour (reinforced by the $10,000 daily/per-trade simulated profit cap).

More FAQs about Crypto Fund Trader

Guides Where Crypto Fund Trader Is Featured

These guides include Crypto Fund Trader alongside other prop firms, grouped by trading features, platforms, availability, and trader requirements.

Crypto Fund Trader vs E8 Markets vs FTMO - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)

Side-by-side comparison of Crypto Fund Trader vs E8 Markets vs FTMO. Quickly scan maximum funding, profit splits, risk rules, leverage, platforms, instruments, payout schedules, payment options, trading permissions and KYC restrictions to narrow down your prop trading firm shortlist. Data updated March 2026.

Crypto Fund Trader vs E8 Markets vs FTMO - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)
Crypto Fund Trader
Crypto Fund Trader (CFT) is a Switzerland-based crypto-first evaluation firm operated via SWISS RLCRATES AG that offers 1-phase, 2-phase, Instant and Ascend models with no time limits on standard challenges, trading via MT5, Match Trader and Bybit, simulated allocations up...
E8 Markets
E8 Markets is a US-based prop-firm-style evaluation brand operating simulated accounts via third-party platforms, offering 1-step programs such as E8 One and E8 Signature (Forex/Crypto) with dynamic drawdown models, leverage up to 1:30 on FX, and performance-fee payouts via Plane...
FTMO
FTMO is a Prague-based prop trading evaluation company founded in 2015 that uses a two-step challenge (FTMO Challenge + Verification) with unlimited time, strict 5% max daily loss and 10% max loss limits, and Normal or Swing funded account types....
Overview
Trustpilot Rating 4.4 4.4 4.8
Trustpilot Reviews 1,106 3,232 40,041
Headquarters Switzerland United States Czech Republic
Age (Years) 5 N/A 11
Max Funding $300,000 $500,000 $400,000
Profit Split Start 80% 80% 80%
Profit Split Max 90% 100% 90%
Platforms MT5 Match-Trader Bybit MT5 cTrader Match-Trader TradeLocker MT4 MT5 cTrader DXtrade
Assets Crypto Forex Indices Commodities Stocks FX Metals Indices Energy Crypto FX Indices Commodities Stocks Crypto
Leverage
FX Leverage 100 30 100
Metals Leverage 100 15 30
Crypto Leverage 100 5 3.3
Risk & Drawdown Rules
Max Daily Loss Maximum Daily LossCrypto Fund Trader calculates daily drawdown based on equity. For standard evaluations, the daily maximum loss is measured from the starting balance at 12:05 AM UTC. CFT lists the default daily limits as 5% on 2-phase evaluations and 4% on 1-phase evaluations.Add-ons may modify certain limits (for example, a 2-phase add-on that increases daily drawdown to 6%). Ascend also adds a specific news window risk constraint (see “News Trading”). 3 Maximum Daily LossFTMO applies a 5% Maximum Daily Loss. It is calculated from the account’s balance at midnight CE(S)T (platform time) each day and includes the running total of the day’s closed trades + floating P/L, including commissions and swaps. If the daily limit is exceeded at any time, the account fails.
Max Total Loss Maximum Overall LossCFT’s standard evaluation structures use different overall loss models:2-Phase: maximum loss is typically fixed at 10% of initial balance.1-Phase: a 6% trailing drawdown applies (equity-based), and once the account exceeds +6% profit, the trailing line locks at the initial balance instead of continuing to trail upward.3-Phase (if selected): CFT states a 5% fixed maximum loss with a 5% daily max loss.Add-ons may increase max loss limits (e.g., a 2-phase add-on raising max loss to 12%). 4 Maximum LossFTMO applies a 10% Maximum Loss (overall loss limit). This is a static cap measured against the account’s starting balance, and it is evaluated on equity (closed + floating results, including trading costs). Breaching it at any time results in account failure.
Drawdown Type Drawdown ModelCrypto Fund Trader’s drawdown enforcement is primarily equity-based. The daily loss limit resets using the account’s starting balance at 12:05 AM UTC. For overall drawdown, CFT uses static/fixed overall loss on 2-phase challenges (e.g., 10% of initial) and a trailing model on 1-phase challenges (6% trailing that later locks at the initial balance after +6% gain).Accounts that breach max daily, max overall, or trailing drawdown are deactivated and the trader is notified by email. Drawdown ModelE8 One uses a 3% Daily Drawdown (from the day's starting balance) plus a 4% Dynamic Drawdown that limits maximum running or closed loss. E8 Signature products use an end-of-day (EOD) Dynamic Drawdown limit (set as a fixed dollar amount by account size) plus a 2% Daily Pause that stops trading for the rest of the day but does not breach the account. Drawdown ModelFTMO uses static loss limits: a daily loss limit that resets at midnight (platform time) and an overall loss limit based on the starting balance. Both limits include floating P/L and trading costs (commissions/swaps), so equity protection matters as much as closed P/L.
Payouts
Payout Frequency Payout FrequencyIn the final-stage simulation, scholarship requests can be made after at least 15 trading days, or alternatively every 30 calendar days (if rules were not violated). Certain program variants (e.g., 3-phase rules) note a first request possible after 5 trading days, and an add-on may allow eligibility after 7 active trading days.For Instant accounts, CFT also supports a scale milestone: once the account reaches +10% profit, traders can request a “Withdrawal & Update” to both withdraw and double the account size. Payout Frequency E8 Markets payouts are requested on-demand once a trader meets eligibility criteria. E8 Signature Forex/Crypto: First payout requires 3 profitable days; subsequent payouts require 5 profitable days (each profitable day is ≥0.3% realized closed PnL), plus a 35% Best Day Rule. Payout buffer and payout caps apply. E8 One (E8 Trader stage): 40% Best Day Rule and the trader's net profit (payout share) must be greater than 50% of the account's daily drawdown; buffer rules can apply in specific scenarios. Payout FrequencyFTMO rewards are processed on request. Once you have access to the FTMO Account, you can request your reward after a minimum of 14 calendar days from your first day of trading on the FTMO Account (biweekly request cadence).Minimum profit thresholds apply to cover transaction costs (e.g., $20 minimum for bank transfer, $50 minimum for crypto withdrawals).
Days to First Payout 15 0 14
Payout Processing Time Payout ProcessingCFT states that once a scholarship is requested, its team verifies the information and sends payment within 48 business hours. After the payment is sent, CFT states the user receives the scholarship in no more than 24 hours (timing depends on the payment rail). Payout ProcessingPayouts are typically processed within 1–2 business days (excluding weekends) and then received in ~1–3 additional business days; the total process may take 2–5 business days. Payouts are delivered via Plane (bank transfer) or Rise (crypto options), subject to payout-provider onboarding/KYC. Payout ProcessingReward requests go through a review step (typically 1–2 business days). After approval, payments are usually processed within an additional 1–2 business days, depending on the chosen payout method and banking/processor timelines.
Payout Methods Bank Transfer (EUR USD) Crypto (USDT ERC20 USDT TRC20 BTC ETH) Plane (Bank Transfer) Rise (Crypto) Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill Neteller
Payments
Payment Methods Credit/Debit Card Crypto (11 supported currencies) Credit/Debit Card Crypto Credit/Debit Card Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill
Trading Permissions
News Trading News trading is allowed on CFT evaluations according to its FAQ. For Ascend evaluations, CFT adds a news-window constraint: within 2 minutes before and after high-impact news or market opening, accounts must not open/add positions or raise maximum theoretical loss above 2% of initial balance. E8 One: In Phase 1, news trading is allowed without restriction. On the E8 Trader stage, a prohibition window applies for high-impact news: 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the release, during which opening/closing/modifying trades is prohibited; profits earned during the window may be removed without an account violation. E8 Signature Forex/Crypto: News trading is allowed without restrictions in both Phase 1 and the E8 Trader stage, with a reminder that high-impact news can cause volatility and slippage and that the user is responsible. Evaluation (FTMO Challenge + Verification): news trading is allowed freely during all releases.FTMO Account (Normal): for specified high-impact announcements and targeted instruments, you must not open or close trades (including SL/TP triggers) in the 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after the release.FTMO Account Swing: news trading restrictions do not apply.
Weekend Trades Weekend/overnight holding is generally allowed (CFT states it accepts swing trading strategies and keeping trades open over the weekend). Market availability still follows instrument schedules: crypto trades 24/7 while forex is typically Monday–Friday and other CFDs follow their own market hours. E8 Signature Forex/Crypto: Overnight/weekend holding is not supported; positions are closed daily at 23:00 server time and trading reopens at 00:15.E8 One: The help center does not impose the same daily position-closure rule; weekend/overnight exposure remains subject to normal market gaps and drawdown calculations. Evaluation (FTMO Challenge + Verification): holding trades over the weekend is allowed.FTMO Account (Normal): positions must be closed before the weekend market close (or if the market break/rollover is longer than 2 hours). Some cryptocurrencies may be tradable during specific weekend hours.FTMO Account Swing: no restrictions on holding positions over the weekend.
Copy Trading CFT does not present a simple “copy trading allowed” rule in its public FAQ. However, it explicitly restricts multi-account coordination through rules such as the reverse trading/hedging constraints, and it states that copy trading between Ascend accounts is prohibited (including coordinated or mirrored behaviour that cannot be attributed to chance). E8 Markets allows copy trading across evaluations and E8 Trader accounts (and to/from personal accounts) as long as the accounts belong to you. A key restriction is that you cannot copy trades or reuse the same trading ideas between multiple E8 evaluation accounts; each evaluation must be traded independently. Team trading and third-party signal services are not permitted. Trade copying tools can be used as long as your trading remains compliant with FTMO’s rules. FTMO’s services are for personal use only: you must not allow any third party to access or trade your accounts, and coordinated/manipulative trade patterns between connected accounts (e.g., opposite positions across accounts for manipulation) are forbidden.
EA Allowed Automation is partially supported: CFT lists categories of prohibited EA types (notably HFT, tick scalping, arbitrage and demo-environment exploitation). EAs that do not fall into these categories are not explicitly banned in the FAQ, but traders remain responsible for ensuring automation complies with all rules. Expert Advisors (EAs) are allowed. E8 states it limits one strategy per user and may terminate accounts if it detects multiple users executing the same trades/strategy. Server request limits (e.g., order/TP/SL modification limits and maximum positions per day) also apply. EAs are allowed as long as the strategy is legitimate, replicable in real markets, and does not fall into forbidden practices. Note that automated trading that overloads servers (e.g., excessive server requests) is prohibited, and widely used third-party EAs may risk breaching maximum capital allocation constraints if multiple users run the same strategy.
KYC & Restrictions
KYC Required No Yes No
KYC Stage KYC is required as part of the scholarship/withdrawal workflow. After a scholarship request is submitted in the dashboard, CFT states the trader receives a contract to sign and a KYC to complete before funds are sent. (Bybit evaluations may additionally be subject to Bybit’s own KYC rules, which are the trader’s responsibility.) KYC is required as part of eligibility and compliance checks. To receive a payout, traders must also be able to onboard and pass KYC with E8's payout providers (Plane or Riseworks/Rise); if a trader cannot complete provider onboarding, E8 states it cannot issue a payout. FTMO requires identity verification before becoming an FTMO Trader and signing the FTMO Account Agreement. For individuals, this is KYC and typically requires a government-issued ID and proof of address. Businesses may require KYB documentation. Once the verification is complete, the FTMO Account Agreement is unlocked for signing in the Client Area.
Restricted Countries N/A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Myanmar (Burma) Burundi Belarus Central African Republic Congo Democratic Republic of Congo Cuba Ethiopia Hong Kong Iran Iraq Kenya Kosovo Lebanon Libya Mali Midway Islands Nicaragua North Korea Pakistan Russia Samoa Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Ukraine United Arab Emirates Vatican City State Venezuela West Bank Western Sahara Yemen Zambia; Limited (E8 Signature Forex/Crypto only): Bulgaria India Romania Bangladesh Indonesia Taiwan Cambodia Laos Viet Nam Croatia Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Barbados Belarus Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Central African Republic Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Guam Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Hong Kong Iran Iraq Kazakhstan Kosovo Libya Mali Morocco Myanmar Nicaragua North Korea Pakistan Palestine Panama Puerto Rico Russia Samoa Sierra Leone Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Tunisia Uganda Ukraine (Crimea Donetsk Luhansk) United Arab Emirates United States Minor Outlying Islands Venezuela Virgin Islands (US) Yemen Zimbabwe