Elite Trader Funding

Rules

Drawdown / Max Loss

Drawdown Types Available

ETF offers three distinct drawdown types across its account plans:

• Live Trailing (Intraday) Drawdown: Used in 1-Step and Fast Track plans. The drawdown trails the highest unrealized intraday equity, meaning it moves up in real time as your position gains, not just at end of day.
• End-of-Day (EOD) Trailing Drawdown: Used in EOD and Diamond Hands plans (and DTF EOD). Trails the highest end-of-day closing balance. Does not move intraday.
• Static Drawdown: Used in Static and DTF Static plans. The minimum allowed balance never moves at all, regardless of profits made.

Safety Net (Drawdown Lock)

Across all Elite Sim-Funded account types, once a trader earns realized profits equal to the account’s max drawdown amount plus $100, the trailing drawdown stops permanently. From that point, the starting balance plus $100 becomes the fixed minimum allowable balance.

• Example: A $25K DTF account with a $2,500 max EOD drawdown locks after $2,600 in realized profit.
• For Static accounts: the minimum balance remains unchanged from default values even after the safety net is reached.

Minimum Allowed Balances by Account Type (Elite Sim-Funded)

Elite Account Type	Minimum Balance
10K	$10,100.00
25K	$25,100.00
50K	$50,100.00
75K	$75,100.00
100K	$100,100.00
150K	$150,100.00
250K	$250,100.00
300K	$300,100.00
10K Static	$9,600.00
25K Static	$24,100.00
50K Static	$48,000.00
100K Static	$99,375.00
150K Static	$148,750.00
25K EOD	$25,100.00
50K EOD	$50,100.00
75K EOD	$75,100.00
100K EOD	$100,100.00
150K EOD	$150,100.00
250K EOD	$250,100.00
100K Diamond Hands	$100,100.00

Daily Loss Limit

A daily loss limit applies to EOD and Diamond Hands Elite Sim-Funded accounts. It is calculated from the prior day’s ending balance. If an open trade causes intraday equity to dip below this limit, the account fails immediately.

• Fast Track (10K EOD) plans have no daily loss limit.

Daily Loss Limit Removal

The TradeShield add-on can be purchased to provide soft-breach protection against hitting the daily loss limit. Rather than instant account failure, TradeShield gives the trader the opportunity to recover and continue trading from the next session. This applies at the Elite Sim-Funded stage.

Consequence of Breaching Drawdown

• Evaluation accounts: automatic evaluation failure. The account can typically be reset for a fee or with reward points.
• Elite Sim-Funded accounts: account is removed from the Elite Sim program. Up to 3 resets are permitted (2 for DTF accounts). Evaluations purchased before September 17, 2025 that become failed Elite Sim-Funded accounts cannot be reset.
• LIVE Elite accounts: cannot be reset after liquidation. ETF may offer reward points as a courtesy at their discretion.
• Fast Track accounts are not eligible for resets at any stage.

Loss Limit Rule (Post-Funding)

Once a trader has earned 20% profit on their Elite Sim-Funded account, a secondary loss limit activates. If the trader subsequently loses more than 35% of total accumulated profit, ETF reserves the right to remove the account from the Elite Sim program. This rule is calculated based on total profit earned across all payouts, not just the current account balance. Triggering this rule also disqualifies the trader from LIVE Elite eligibility.

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Consistency Rule

Evaluation Stage

A consistency rule applies at the evaluation stage for Fast Track (Intermediate) plans only:

• Revamped Fast Track: the best single profitable day cannot exceed 40% of total overall profit.
• Legacy Fast Track: a 40% consistency rule also applies during the evaluation phase.

Elite Sim-Funded Stage

A consistency rule applies to DTF accounts at the funded stage:

Account	Consistency Rule
$25K DTF	Best day cannot exceed 38% of total profit
$50K DTF	Best day cannot exceed 62% of total profit
$100K DTF	Best day cannot exceed 50% of total profit

For Fast Track (Intermediate) Elite Sim-Funded accounts, a 30% consistency rule applies when requesting a payout: the trader’s best trading day cannot exceed 30% of overall profit at the time of the payout request.

LIVE Elite Stage

No consistency rule applies at the LIVE Elite stage. Traders can execute real capital with no consistency requirement.

Leverage

Position Sizing Rules

Across all standard ETF account types (1-Step, EOD, Static, Diamond Hands, Fast Track), the following ratio applies:

• 1 mini contract = 1 position
• 10 micro contracts = 1 position (i.e., 10 micros count as 1 standard contract)

For DTF accounts only, a different ratio applies:

• 1 mini = 1 position
• 1 micro = 1 position (not 10 micros to 1 standard; each micro counts as a full separate position)

Position Limits by Account Size

Fast Track (Revamped Intermediate) Plans:

Account Balance	Max E-mini Contracts	Max Micro Contracts
10K EOD	1	10
10K Static	1	10

Note: For the 10K Fast Track plans, 10 micros = 1 position (standard ratio applies).

For LIVE Elite accounts, contract limits are based on starting balance:

Starting Balance	Max Micro Contracts
$3,000 and below	5 micros
$5,000 and above	10 micros

Consequence of Exceeding Position Limits

• Evaluation accounts: automatic evaluation failure.
• Elite Sim-Funded accounts: forfeiture of all profits and permanent account closure.

Differences Across Account Stages

Position limits are consistent within each plan type across evaluation and Elite Sim-Funded stages. DTF accounts use the 1:1 mini-to-micro ratio at the funded stage rather than the standard 1:10 ratio.

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Trading Hours

Session Close and Flatten Requirement

All open positions must be closed 1 minute before market close across all standard Elite Sim-Funded account types (1-Step, EOD, Static, Fast Track). Failure to flatten positions by this deadline is a hard policy violation that can result in account failure and profit forfeiture.

Overnight and Weekend Holding

• 1-Step, EOD, Static, Fast Track: No overnight holding permitted. All trades must be closed before market close each session.
• Diamond Hands and DTF accounts: Overnight holding is permitted. These are the only two plan types that allow swing trading through market close and across weekends.
• LIVE Elite: Swing trading is permitted at ETF’s discretion.

News Event Trading

ETF does not impose any restrictions on trading during major economic releases. Traders are free to participate in high-volatility news events without interruption or trading pauses from ETF. ETF does note that platform malfunctions and order execution issues during volatile periods are the trader’s own risk, and ETF accepts no liability for them.

Maintenance Window

Routine maintenance is scheduled every weekday between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM CST.

Holiday Trading Hours

ETF publishes holiday trading hours separately. A 2025 Holiday Trading Hours article is available in the ETF Help Center. The 48-hour payout guarantee excludes weekends, U.S. bank holidays, federal holidays, and system outages.

Overnight Margin

If a position is inadvertently held overnight (on accounts where overnight holding is not permitted), the trader is fully responsible for any overnight margin charges. ETF will issue an invoice with a payment deadline. Non-payment results in immediate account forfeiture, including all associated profits.

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Multiple Accounts

Evaluation Accounts

There is no stated cap on how many evaluation accounts a trader can purchase or hold in “Passed” status simultaneously.

Elite Sim-Funded Accounts

• Accounts purchased on or after September 17, 2025: maximum of 5 active Elite Sim-Funded accounts at any time.
• Accounts purchased before September 17, 2025: grandfathered under the prior policy, permitting up to 20 active Elite Sim-Funded activations. Of those 20, only 5 can be from passed Fast Track evaluations.
• DTF accounts: maximum of 5 active DTF accounts per trader at any time.

LIVE Elite Accounts

After liquidation of a LIVE Elite account, a 14-day cool-off period applies. On day 15, the trader can contact support to determine eligibility to return via a 50K DTF ($99 one-time fee, $25 unlimited resets for former LIVE Elite traders).

Single Registration Policy

Each individual is permitted only one registered account (user profile) on the ETF platform. Creating multiple registrations using different email addresses, phone numbers, or identifying information is strictly prohibited and results in immediate account suspension or termination and forfeiture of all funds.

Trade Copiers

Trade copiers are permitted but only from the following approved providers:

• Tradesyncer (cloud-based, fully approved)
• Tradecopia (cloud-based, fully approved)
• Affordable Indicators, Duplicate Account Actions (fully approved)
• Replikanto Flowbot (PropFirm Compliance Edition only; must use the compliance version)
• Platform built-in features (e.g., Tradovate group trading, MotiveWave, Quantower native features)

Use of unapproved trade copiers or abuse of approved services results in: account reset, profit forfeiture, or permanent ban for repeat violations. Enforcement occurs at the payout audit stage.

Multi-Account Copy Trading

Multi-account copy trading is listed as a benefit unlocked at the LIVE Elite stage through the SMART Growth Plan scaling tiers.

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Prohibited Conduct

Hedging

Hedging against oneself using the same or correlated instruments across one or multiple accounts is strictly prohibited. This includes opening opposite positions on the same instrument or on correlated instruments (e.g., NQ and MNQ, or ES and MES) across accounts owned or associated with the trader, including accounts within the same household or address. Violations result in immediate suspension or termination and forfeiture of all gains.

Trading for Others

Trading on behalf of another user, whether within the same household or remotely, is strictly prohibited. Each trader must conduct their own trading activity. Violations result in suspension or termination of the account and forfeiture of all associated funds. ETF reserves the right to pursue further legal action.

Same-Household Restriction

Multiple users from the same household are prohibited from creating or maintaining separate ETF accounts. This applies to family members, roommates, or any individuals sharing the same residential address, regardless of whether they claim to trade independently. Violations result in immediate suspension or termination of all accounts linked to the household and forfeiture of all associated funds.

Automated and Algorithmic Trading

Use of artificial intelligence, bots, or automated trading systems is prohibited unless expressly authorized in writing by ETF. Note that ETF’s September 2025 policy update explicitly removed HFT restrictions and stated that VPN/VPS restrictions were lifted for general trading activity.

High-Frequency Trading

Per the Terms of Service, all trades must have a minimum duration of 10 seconds. However, the September 2025 update to ETF plans states that HFT restrictions have been removed. Traders should verify current policy with ETF support, as there appears to be a conflict between the Terms of Service and the plan update documentation.

VPN and Geo-Restriction Circumvention

Per the Terms of Service, use of VPNs, TOR, VPS, or proxy servers in a way that hinders ETF’s ability to ascertain a trader’s identifying information is prohibited. However, the September 2025 plan update states that the VPN/VPS restriction has been removed. As with HFT, traders should confirm current enforcement policy directly with ETF.

Wash Sales and Market Manipulation

Simultaneous long and short positions (wash sales) are prohibited. Spoofing, coordination or collusion with other traders, and exploitation of platform or simulator mechanics (including use of paid services to pass evaluations) are also prohibited.

Address Verification

Users providing conflicting address information or using multiple addresses will face immediate account closure and a permanent ban.

Malicious Services

Use of any paid or third-party service designed to bypass the evaluation process or facilitate unauthorized payouts is prohibited. ETF considers this a violation of platform integrity and legal compliance standards.

Consequences of Prohibited Conduct

Depending on the violation, consequences range from: delayed payouts, additional required trading days, withheld payouts, account reset, profit forfeiture, account suspension or termination, and permanent ban. ETF reserves the right to pursue legal action in cases of fraudulent activity.

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Firm Rules (General)

Minimum Trading Days

• Standard plans (1-Step, EOD, Static, Diamond Hands): minimum of 5 trading days required to pass the evaluation. Traders may purchase the One Day to Pass (ODTP) add-on to waive this requirement.
• Fast Track (Revamped Intermediate) plans: minimum of 3 trading days required, and all requirements must be completed within 10 calendar days. If not completed within 10 calendar days, the evaluation auto-fails and cannot be reset.
• Legacy Fast Track plans: minimum of 5 trading days, all requirements must be completed within 14 calendar days.

Supported Exchanges and Asset Classes

ETF exclusively supports futures products. No stocks, options, or forex instruments are offered. Supported exchanges:

• CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade)
• CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange)
• COMEX (Commodity Exchange, Inc.)
• NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange)

Evaluation Resets

• Standard plans (1-Step, EOD, Static, Diamond Hands): evaluations can be reset as many times as needed. An immediate reset costs $47 per evaluation, or reward points can be redeemed. Automatic resets occur at monthly subscription renewal for active subscriptions.
• Fast Track (Legacy and Revamped): Fast Track evaluations cannot be reset.

Elite Sim-Funded Account Resets

Account Type	Reset Price	Max Resets
1 Step (Live Trailing) 50K	$147	3
1 Step (Live Trailing) 100K	$187	3
1 Step (Live Trailing) 150K	$257	3
1 Step (Live Trailing) 250K	$437	3
Static Drawdown 10K	$117	3
Static Drawdown 25K	$217	3
Static Drawdown 50K	$407	3
End of Day 50K	$317	3
End of Day 100K	$437	3
End of Day 150K	$557	3
Diamond Hands 100K	$357	3
Fast Track 10K EOD	$87	3
Fast Track 10K Static	$87	3
Direct to Funded (DTF) 25K	$247	2
Direct to Funded (DTF) 50K	$297	2
Direct to Funded (DTF) 100K	$447	2

A discounted reset price is available once per account immediately after the account is marked as failed (excluding Fast Track EOD and Fast Track Static accounts). Evaluations purchased prior to September 17, 2025 that become failed Elite Sim-Funded accounts cannot be reset.

Inactivity Rules

• All traders must log in to their trading platform at least once every 30 days. Failure to do so results in account deactivation and forfeiture of accumulated profits or credits.
• All traders must execute at least one valid trade per account every calendar week. Missing a full week of trading results in account closure and voids any payouts. This applies to all account types including Diamond Hands.
• If a trader anticipates extended inactivity (over 30 days), they must notify ETF in advance via the self-serve form or by emailing support.

Age Requirement

Traders must be at least 18 years of age to participate in ETF programs.

Corporate Entities

Business or LLC registration is available only upon initial account creation. An LLC cannot be added to an existing individual account. The business must belong to the registering trader, who must remain the primary owner. Account name and ownership cannot be transferred after registration.

Country Restrictions

Traders who are citizens or residents of OFAC-sanctioned countries or countries restricted by ETF’s U.S. FCMs, clearing firms, or brokers cannot purchase, obtain funding, or receive payouts through ETF. Traders in countries supported by Rise and Stripe but restricted by the live broker will receive a partial refund for Elite Sim-Funded accounts and cannot transition to LIVE Elite. The restricted country list is subject to change.

CME Rules Compliance

All traders must complete 34 lessons on CME Rules and Regulations before advancing to a LIVE Elite account.

Background Check

A background check is required as part of the LIVE Elite transition process.

Additional Rules

• Declining a LIVE Elite offer results in a 2-year prohibition from ETF services. Traders have 3 business days to accept a LIVE Elite transition offer.
• The total lifetime amount any sim-funded trader can be paid is capped at $150,000, distributed in $25,000 cap increments.
• All sales are final and non-refundable, with one exception: a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies to a trader’s very first purchase only, allowing a one-time swap to a same-sized (or smaller) evaluation on the same platform, a full refund, or in-house credit, within 7 days of purchase.
• Account subscription billing begins from the date of purchase, not from the first trading day.
• Reward points have no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for cash.

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Activation Fee

ETF charges an activation fee when a trader transitions from the evaluation stage to an Elite Sim-Funded account. There are three fee options:

Option 1: Double Down Deal (3D) Add-On Pay as low as $47 to activate the Elite Sim-Funded account when the 3D add-on is included at checkout. This add-on must be selected at the time of evaluation purchase and covers one discounted month (or three months if paying for two months upfront). After the discounted period, the standard $87/month fee applies. Fast Track accounts are excluded from the 3D add-on.

Option 2: One-Time Activation Fee A single payment covering the lifetime of the account, with no further monthly activation fees.

Account Size	1 Step	EOD	Static	Diamond Hands
75K and Below	$177	$177	$177	N/A
100K to 150K	$247	$257	$177	$307
250K and Above	$277	N/A	N/A	N/A

Fast Track evaluations are not eligible for one-time activation.

Option 3: Monthly Plan $87 per month, available for all Elite Sim-Funded account types. Traders can switch from monthly to the one-time fee at any time from the Trader Dashboard.

Professional Trader Status Traders who declare professional trader status must pay $128 per exchange in addition to the standard activation fee. Platform access will not be permitted until this payment is made.

Timing The activation fee is charged upfront at the time of Elite Sim-Funded account activation, after passing the evaluation. It is not deducted from the first withdrawal.

Elite Sim-Funded Credit Bonus After activating an Elite Sim-Funded account, traders receive a credit equal to the initial price paid for the first month of their evaluation, added to the funded account’s starting balance. This applies to add-on costs paid at the time of evaluation purchase as well. DTF accounts are not eligible for this credit bonus. The credit is not included in the account’s P&L and does not count toward ATD requirements.

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Commissions

All information about the commission structure can be found here: https://help.elitetraderfunding.com/help/commissions-and-exchanges

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Payout Policy

Profit Split

• Elite Sim-Funded accounts (all plan types): traders keep up to 100% of simulation profits up to the $25,000 per-trader cap.
• LIVE Elite accounts: 80/20 split, with 80% going to the trader and 20% to ETF. Minimum withdrawal of $250; no maximum cap.
• Trade competition LIVE Elite prize accounts: 90/10 split on Friday withdrawals (90% to trader, 10% to ETF).

Payout Cap

• Per-trader cap across all Elite Sim-Funded accounts: $25,000 before transitioning to LIVE Elite.
• Lifetime sim-funded payout cap per trader: $150,000, distributed in $25,000 increments.
• LIVE Elite accounts: no cap on withdrawals above the starting balance.

Payout Cycle Structure

Payout cycles require a set number of Active Trade Days (ATD). An ATD is a trading day with at least $200 in realized profit (or $100 for 10K/25K/100K Static accounts) AND at least 23% of the trader’s best ATD P&L. Cycle 1 requires 8 ATDs; Cycles 2 through 4 require 10 ATDs each.

Payout Caps by Account Type and Cycle (accounts purchased on or after September 17, 2025)

1-Step Elite Sim-Funded:

Funding Amount	Cycle 1 (8 ATD)	Cycle 2 (10 ATD)	Cycle 3 (10 ATD)	Cycle 4+ (10 ATD)	Cap
$50,000	$100–$1,250	$100–$1,500	$100–$1,750	$100–$2,000	$25,000
$100,000	$100–$1,750	$100–$2,000	$100–$2,250	$100–$2,500	$25,000
$150,000	$100–$2,250	$100–$2,500	$100–$2,750	$100–$3,000	$25,000
$250,000	$100–$2,750	$100–$2,750	$100–$3,000	$100–$3,000	$25,000

EOD Elite Sim-Funded:

Funding Amount	Cycle 1 (8 ATD)	Cycle 2 (10 ATD)	Cycle 3 (10 ATD)	Cycle 4+ (10 ATD)	Cap
$50,000	$100–$1,250	$100–$1,500	$100–$1,750	$100–$2,000	$25,000
$100,000	$100–$1,750	$100–$2,000	$100–$2,250	$100–$2,500	$25,000
$150,000	$100–$2,250	$100–$2,500	$100–$2,750	$100–$3,000	$25,000

Static Elite Sim-Funded:

Funding Amount	Cycle 1 (8 ATD)	Cycle 2 (10 ATD)	Cycle 3 (10 ATD)	Cycle 4+ (10 ATD)	Cap
$10,000	$100–$500	$100–$500	$100–$500	$100–$1,000	$25,000
$25,000	$100–$750	$100–$1,000	$100–$1,250	$100–$1,500	$25,000
$50,000	$100–$1,250	$100–$1,500	$100–$1,750	$100–$2,000	$25,000

Diamond Hands 100K:

Funding Amount	Cycle 1 (8 ATD)	Cycle 2 (10 ATD)	Cycle 3 (10 ATD)	Cycle 4+ (10 ATD)	Cap
$100,000	$100–$1,750	$100–$2,000	$100–$2,250	$100–$2,500	$25,000

Fast Track 100K:

Funding Amount	Cycle 1 (8 ATD)	Cycle 2 (10 ATD)	Cycle 3 (10 ATD)	Cycle 4+ (10 ATD)	Cap
$100,000	$100–$750	$100–$850	$100–$950	$100–$1,250	$25,000

DTF accounts:

Account Size	ATDs/Cycle	Cycle 1 Max	Cycle 2 Max	Cycle 3 Max	Cycle 4+ Max	Total Cap
25K	10	$1,000	$2,000	$3,000	$4,000	$25,000
50K	15	$2,500	$2,500	$5,000	$5,000	$25,000
100K	20	$1,500	$2,500	$3,500	$5,000	$25,000

• 25K and 50K DTF: minimum withdrawal per cycle is $1,000.
• 100K DTF: minimum withdrawal per cycle is $500.

Payout Request Submission and Deadlines

• Payout requests are approved daily, Monday through Friday, from 3:00 PM Eastern (excluding holidays).
• Cut-off times: Friday at 5:00 PM EST for Monday’s batch; Tuesday at 5:00 PM EST for Wednesday’s batch.
• Elite Sim-Funded payouts: processed twice weekly, on Mondays and Wednesdays.
• LIVE Elite payouts: processed daily. Requests submitted before 1:00 PM EST are processed same day (best effort).

48-Hour Payout Guarantee

ETF guarantees that all eligible payouts will be approved or LIVE Elite transitions initiated within 48 business hours of the trader’s request (excluding weekends, U.S. bank holidays, federal holidays, and system outages). If this deadline is missed, ETF will add $1,000 to the trader’s account. This guarantee is subject to successful KYC and Rise verification, and the trader’s accounts must remain in good standing.

Minimum Withdrawal Amounts

• Standard Elite Sim-Funded accounts: $100 minimum per cycle (as indicated by the cycle floor amounts in the tables above).
• DTF 25K and 50K: $1,000 minimum per cycle.
• DTF 100K: $500 minimum per cycle.
• LIVE Elite: $250 minimum per request.

Withdrawal Method and Fees

All outbound payments are processed through Riseworks.io. Traders must complete KYC verification and Rise onboarding before receiving any payout. Geographic restrictions apply based on Rise and Stripe supported countries.

Diamond Hands Payout Note

Diamond Hands accounts require the trader to withdraw the full cycle maximum before advancing to the next payout cycle. This also applies to Fast Track (Intermediate) plans.

Trading Pause During Payout Review

Traders must wait for payout approval confirmation from ETF’s Payroll team before resuming trading. Any trading on the day of the payout request does not count toward ATD totals.

Unclaimed Payout Amounts

Unclaimed payout amounts are forfeited upon the initiation of the subsequent payout cycle.

Geographic Restrictions

Traders must be in a country supported by both Rise and Stripe. Traders in countries restricted by ETF’s live broker but supported by Rise and Stripe will receive a partial refund for Elite Sim-Funded accounts and cannot transition to LIVE Elite.