Is KYC required at FTMO, and at which stage does identity verification take place?
💡 Answer
Is KYC Required at FTMO?No
At what stage traders must go through identity verification at FTMO?
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.
More FAQs about FTMO
- Are expert advisors (EAs), news trading, weekend trading, and copy trading allowed at FTMO, and which strategies are prohibited?
- What payment methods does FTMO accept, and what is its refund policy?
- How do payouts work at FTMO, including minimum payout, payout frequency, processing time, and payout methods?
- What is the maximum profit split offered by FTMO?
- What assets and markets can traders trade at FTMO?
- What leverage does FTMO offer for forex, indices, metals, and crypto trading?
- What trading platforms does FTMO support, and which broker does it use?
- What are the trading conditions at FTMO regarding spread quality, commissions, and slippage policy?
- What trading strategies are prohibited at FTMO, is martingale allowed, and are there any lot size limits?
- What type of drawdown does FTMO use for its trading accounts?
- What risk management and consistency rules must traders follow at FTMO?
- What program types does FTMO offer to traders?
- What challenge structure does FTMO use for its evaluation process?
- What is the maximum funding offered by FTMO, and is a scaling plan available for traders?
- What is the current Trustpilot rating and number of reviews for FTMO?
- What program types are available at FTMO?
- What are the account limits at FTMO, including the maximum number of accounts, account merging rules, and lot size limits?
- Are there any restricted countries at FTMO?
Guides Where FTMO Is Featured
- Prop Firms Offering Crypto Leverage of 1:1 or Higher
- Prop Firms Offering Crypto Trading
- Prop Firms Offering FX Leverage of 1:50 or Higher
- Prop Firms Offering Maximum Profit Split of 90% or Higher
- Prop Firms Offering Metals Leverage of 1:25 or Higher
- Prop Firms Offering More Than $200k in Funding
- Prop Firms Offering Profit Split Starting at 70% or Higher
- Prop Firms With At Least 7 Years in Operation
- Prop Firms with More Than 2500 Trustpilot Reviews
- Prop Firms With MT5 Platform
- Prop Firms With Trustpilot rating of 3.6 or higher
- Top Prop Firms That Accept Clients From Hungary
These guides include FTMO alongside other prop firms, grouped by trading features, platforms, availability, and trader requirements.
FTMO vs FundedNext vs PipFarm - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)
Side-by-side comparison of FTMO vs FundedNext vs PipFarm. 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.
|
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....
|
FundedNext
FundedNext is a UAE-registered prop trading platform that offers Stellar 1-Step, Stellar 2-Step, Stellar Lite evaluations plus Stellar Instant funding. It combines balance-based drawdown rules, access to MT4/MT5/cTrader/Match-Trader (TradingView supported for analysis), and reward shares up to 95% (with add-ons)...
|
PipFarm
PipFarm is operated by ECI Ventures Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) and provides simulated trading challenges on the cTrader platform. Traders who pass a Trading Challenge may be enrolled in PipFarm’s Remote Trader Program and earn a reward (profit share) based on...
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4 |
| Trustpilot Reviews | 40,041 | 61,473 | 351 |
| Headquarters | Czech Republic | United Arab Emirates | Singapore |
| Age (Years) | 11 | N/A | 3 |
| Max Funding | $400,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Profit Split Start | 80% | 80% | 70% |
| Profit Split Max | 90% | 95% | 99% |
| Platforms | MT4 MT5 cTrader DXtrade | MT4 MT5 cTrader Match-Trader | cTrader |
| Assets | FX Indices Commodities Stocks Crypto | Commodities Crypto Forex Indices | Forex Metals Energy Indices Crypto |
| Leverage | |||
| FX Leverage | 100 | 100 | 30 |
| Metals Leverage | 30 | 15 | 20 |
| Crypto Leverage | 3.3 | 1 | 10 |
| Risk & Drawdown Rules | |||
| Max Daily Loss | 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. | 5 | Maximum Daily LossPipFarm’s Max Daily Loss rule is calculated as a percentage of the previous end-of-day (EOD) balance. By default, the daily loss limit is 3% of the previous EOD balance and is recalculated when the previous EOD balance changes. PipFarm states the EOD is calculated in the dashboard around 22:05 GMT (winter) or 21:05 GMT (US daylight savings). PipFarm also states traders may increase the daily loss limit to 4% after achieving Rank 4 in its Experience Programs. |
| Max Total Loss | 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. | 10 | Maximum Overall LossPipFarm offers different maximum-loss models depending on program selection. For Static Max Loss, PipFarm states the one-stage program uses a 6% Static Max Loss of starting balance, while the two-stage program uses a 9% Static Max Loss of starting balance. For the one-stage program, PipFarm also offers a Trailing Maximum Loss option which tracks a high watermark (balance-based) and is 9% of the high watermark balance (10% if Rank 2 or higher). |
| Drawdown Type | 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. | Stellar 1-Step / 2-Step / Lite: Daily Loss and Maximum Loss are calculated from the initial balance of the phase and include closed + floating PnL (plus commissions/fees). The daily limit resets at 00:00 (server time GMT+2). The maximum loss threshold is fixed as a percentage of the initial balance, while the “maximum permitted loss” displayed can expand or shrink with accumulated profit/loss within a trading cycle.Stellar Instant: Uses a 6% trailing maximum loss limit that ratchets upward with profits; it does not reset after withdrawals. | Drawdown ModelPipFarm’s public rules describe multiple drawdown frameworks, including: (1) a Static Max Loss (fixed percentage of starting balance), (2) a balance-based Trailing Max Loss (tracks the high watermark of account balance), and (3) an equity-based trailing max drawdown rule (high-watermark equity-based), as described in PipFarm’s Terms. |
| Payouts | |||
| Payout Frequency | 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). | Payout Frequency (Performance Rewards)Payout timing depends on the account model:Stellar 1-Step FundedNext Account: rewards are requested on a 5 business day cycle (first and subsequent cycles).Stellar 2-Step & Stellar Lite FundedNext Accounts: first reward is available after an initial 21-day cycle, then bi-weekly (every 14 days) thereafter if eligibility is met; a “Bi-Weekly Reward” add-on can bypass the initial 21-day wait.Stellar Instant: first reward is available after 5 business days, then rewards can be requested on-demand, subject to eligibility and trailing drawdown buffer rules. | Payout FrequencyBy default, PipFarm schedules and processes payouts automatically on the first Friday of each month. Optional payout-frequency add-ons are available: Bi-weekly (1st and 3rd Friday of each month, +10%) and Weekly (every Friday, +25%). |
| Days to First Payout | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| Payout Processing Time | 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 ProcessingPerformance Reward requests are submitted through the FundedNext dashboard. Processing time can vary based on compliance checks, payout method/provider, and request volume; allow additional time for bank/crypto settlement after approval. | Payout ProcessingPipFarm states payouts are processed automatically at 06:00 GMT on the eligible Friday and completed by 23:59 GMT the same day, provided requirements are met and there are no open positions. PipFarm’s Terms also describe a $1,000 compensation policy if a scheduled payout is missed due to internal company error (subject to conditions), and note payouts may be suspended or delayed for investigation or verification requirements. |
| Payout Methods | Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill Neteller | Rise Crypto Bank Transfer | Rise Skrill USDT USDC |
| Payments | |||
| Payment Methods | Credit/Debit Card Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill | Credit/Debit Card Crypto Local Payment Methods | PipFarm’s Terms state it accepts payment through various methods (including credit cards e-wallets and cryptocurrencies) though availability may vary by user and time. |
| Trading Permissions | |||
| News Trading | 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. | News trading is generally allowed across FundedNext CFD models, but FundedNext applies ‘restricted news time’ rules on funded accounts: if trades are executed during restricted high-impact, instrument-correlated news windows, a portion of the profit can be removed during cycle review (commonly referenced as a 40% deduction on affected profits). Stellar Instant has a distinct news-time profit treatment where FundedNext may retain a larger share of profits generated during designated news time. | PipFarm’s marketing materials state it allows news trading and that it does not dictate how users should trade. PipFarm’s Terms also prohibit exploitative trading strategies (including “news straddling”). |
| Weekend Trades | 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. | Overnight and weekend holding is allowed across all active CFD account types (Stellar Instant, Stellar 1-Step, Stellar 2-Step, Stellar Lite). Swap charges (unless swap-free) can impact floating PnL and therefore drawdown calculations. | N/A |
| Copy Trading | 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. | Copy trading is allowed only between your own FundedNext Challenge accounts (one ‘master’ and one or more ‘slave’ accounts) as long as total combined Challenge capital does not exceed $300,000. Copy trading is prohibited between any FundedNext Account and any other FundedNext Account or Challenge account (even if you own them). Cloud-based copy services are not allowed; VPS-based copiers are permitted only for copying between your own Challenge accounts. | PipFarm’s Terms list copy-trading/managed-account services (e.g., MQL5 or ZuluTrade) as prohibited trading practices, and also prohibit trading on behalf of others or having others trade on your behalf. |
| EA Allowed | 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. | EAs/automation are supported on MT4/MT5 (and platform-native automation where applicable). Match-Trader is positioned for manual trading and does not support MetaTrader-style EAs. Any automation must still comply with FundedNext’s prohibited strategy and fair-use rules. | PipFarm’s Terms prohibit using a commercial trading robot purchased from a third party without any adjustment to strategy. |
| KYC & Restrictions | |||
| KYC Required | No | Yes | No |
| KYC Stage | 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. | KYC (identity verification) is required after passing a Stellar Challenge and before a FundedNext Account is issued. Traders upload government-issued ID (and in some cases proof of address) via the dashboard Verification Center; once approved, FundedNext typically issues the FundedNext Account within 48–72 hours. KYC must be completed within 30 days after passing, otherwise the account can become inactive. | PipFarm’s Terms state that to participate in the Remote Trader Program, the user must pass an ID verification process after passing a Trading Challenge for the first time. PipFarm states verification is completed via ComplyCube or Veriff and may require an identity document, a selfie, and (in some cases) proof of address, questionnaires, or a video call. |
| Restricted Countries | 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 | Afghanistan Albania Antigua and Barbuda Bangladesh Belarus Belize Bouvet Island Burundi Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Ethiopia Fiji Grenada Iran Lebanon Libya Malaysia Mali Myanmar Nicaragua North Korea Russia Somalia South Sudan Sri Lanka Sudan Syria Tuvalu Ukraine Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zimbabwe | Afghanistan Central African Republic Congo (Republic of the Congo) Crimea Democratic Republic of Congo Iran Libya North Korea Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Yemen |