At what point does Instant Funding require KYC, and is identity verification mandatory?

💡 Answer

Is KYC Required at Instant Funding?

No

At what stage traders must go through identity verification at Instant Funding?

KYC required before first payout.

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These guides include Instant Funding alongside other prop firms, grouped by trading features, platforms, availability, and trader requirements.

Instant Funding vs Trade The Pool vs FTMO - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)

Side-by-side comparison of Instant Funding vs Trade The Pool 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.

Instant Funding vs Trade The Pool vs FTMO - Prop Firm Comparison (March 2026)
Instant Funding
Instant Funding (operated by Acello Ltd in the UK and IF Pro Ltd in Saint Lucia) is a no-evaluation prop firm offering Instant Funding (smart drawdown), IF Micro, IF1 (24-hour account), One-Phase, One-Phase Micro, Two-Phase, and Two-Phase Max programs. The flagship Instant Funding account has...
Trade The Pool
Trade The Pool is a stock-focused prop firm operated by Five Percent Online Ltd (Trade The Pool is the brand) that evaluates traders on one-step Day Trade and Swing programs, provides access to thousands of US stocks and ETFs on...
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 0 4.4 4.8
Trustpilot Reviews 0 583 40,041
Headquarters United Kingdom Israel Czech Republic
Age (Years) 5 N/A 11
Max Funding $3,840,000 $450,000 $400,000
Profit Split Start 80% 70% 80%
Profit Split Max 95% 80% 90%
Platforms MT4 MT5 cTrader dxTrade TradeLocker Traderevolution MT4 MT5 cTrader DXtrade
Assets Forex Commodities Metals Indices Cryptocurrencies Stocks ETFs FX Indices Commodities Stocks Crypto
Leverage
FX Leverage 100 0 100
Metals Leverage 20 0 30
Crypto Leverage 2 0 3.3
Risk & Drawdown Rules
Max Daily Loss 2 Daily Pause (Max Daily Loss)Trade The Pool controls daily risk using a Daily Pause threshold. If the Daily Pause is hit, the account is disabled for the remainder of the trading day (with recalibration at the start of the next day).Current program parameters on the public program page show:Day Trade: 2% Daily Pause on FLEX and 1% Daily Pause on MAX.Swing: 3% Daily Pause (FLEX and MAX). 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 10 Max Loss (Maximum Overall Loss)Each account type has a lifetime Max Loss limit (overall drawdown from the starting level):Day Trade: 4% Max Loss on FLEX and 3% Max Loss on MAX.Swing: 7% Max Loss (FLEX and MAX).On funded accounts, Trade The Pool also applies a buffer rule: once equity reaches 3× the Daily Pause, the account’s max drawdown is moved up to the initial balance (falling below it can terminate the account). 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 Smart drawdown (Instant Funding) and static drawdown (evaluation accounts) Drawdown ModelTrade The Pool’s primary risk model is static (starting-level) drawdown, implemented via (1) a Daily Pause (daily loss allowance) and (2) a Max Loss (overall loss limit). These limits are expressed as percentages of buying power for each program.For funded accounts, an additional protective rule can effectively tighten drawdown after strong performance: once equity reaches 3× the Daily Pause, the max drawdown line is moved up to the initial balance. 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 Weekly or Bi-Weekly Payout FrequencyFunded traders can request a payout every 14 days (and at least 14 days since the last payout or since a new scaled account is activated), provided the account meets the minimum profit requirement.Minimum profit to withdraw is generally $300 (for $5K accounts, $150). FLEX funded accounts also require meeting the 0.5%/day consistency rule on 3 separate days within the 14‑day period. 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 14 14 14
Payout Processing Time 2 Payout ProcessingPayouts are processed via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, Hub credits, or credit card and typically take 3–5 business days, depending on the payout method and banking/card rails. 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 Crypto (USDT TRC20/ERC20/BEP20 BTC) Wire Transfer Crypto Hub Credits Credit Card Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill Neteller
Payments
Payment Methods Credit/Debit Card Apple Pay Google Pay PayPal Crypto Credit/Debit Card Bank Transfer (plus other methods offered at checkout) Credit/Debit Card Bank Transfer Cryptocurrency Skrill
Trading Permissions
News Trading Allowed during evaluation; funded accounts require add-on to trade major news events. News TradingTrade The Pool does not publish a blanket “no news trading” restriction for evaluations on its public program parameters, but equity trading around major news is inherently higher-risk and may involve volatility, slippage, and halts. Trading is not permitted during regulatory trading halts. 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 Overnight trades allowed; weekend holding requires add-on on funded accounts. Weekend TradingUS equity markets are closed on weekends. Swing program positions can be held overnight/weekend subject to market hours and risk limits; Day Trade programs are designed for intraday trading. 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 Allowed only between accounts owned by the same trader. Copy TradingTrade The Pool offers optional “boosters” (including a SignalStack booster) that can be used for automation workflows. Any copying/automation must still comply with all risk, volume, and consistency rules, and each evaluation is reviewed independently for compliance. 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 EAs allowed if non-abusive and non-latency based. EAs / AutomationTrade The Pool does not run on MT4/MT5; it provides a TraderEvolution-based platform (desktop/web/mobile). Automation is typically handled via platform tools and optional integrations/boosters (e.g., SignalStack), rather than MetaTrader EAs. 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 required before first payout. Trade The Pool applies AML/KYC checks and may request identity documentation at any stage, particularly after a trader passes evaluation and before becoming (or remaining) a funded user. 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 Afghanistan Belarus Central African Republic Cuba Democratic Republic of the Congo Eritrea Guinea-Bissau Iran Iraq Lebanon Libya Mali Myanmar North Korea Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Yemen Zimbabwe Afghanistan Belarus Burundi Central African Republic Cuba Congo Republic Crimea Democratic Republic of Congo Eritrea Guinea Guinea-Bissau Iraq Iran Israel Laos Lebanon Liberia Libya Myanmar North Korea Palestinian Territory Papua New Guinea Russia South Sudan Sudan Somalia Syria Vanuatu Venezuela Yemen 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

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