FTMO

Imagine trading with up to $200,000 in virtual capital, pocketing 90% of simulated profits, and never putting your own money at risk. Sounds too good to be true, right? 

That’s exactly what FTMO offers: a chance to prove your skills in a demo environment and get rewarded like a pro. 

But what’s the catch? In this detailed breakdown, we’ll go through FTMO’s challenge, evaluation steps, payout structure, and the long-term opportunity behind Quantlane. 

If you’re thinking of going funded, you’ll want to read this first.

FTMO Review

Let’s start with the basics of what FTMO is and who it’s for.

FTMO is a proprietary trading firm founded in 2015 that helps traders earn money by proving their trading skills in a risk-free simulated environment. 

The core idea is simple: if you’re profitable on a demo account under strict risk controls, FTMO will pay you up to 90% of the simulated profits you generate. 

No real money is used in the trading – but real payouts are on the line. 

Their model is built around a structured evaluation process and offers accounts up to $200,000.

Simulated Trading with Real Rewards

FTMO’s entire ecosystem is based on demo trading. 

Traders operate with virtual funds, but once they pass FTMO’s evaluation, they become eligible for payouts, despite no real capital being risked. 

This model gives beginners and experienced traders a safer path to monetizing their strategies without blowing personal accounts.

How the FTMO Challenge Works

Here’s how the evaluation process unfolds step-by-step.

FTMO’s path to monetized trading includes three main steps: the FTMO Challenge, the Verification phase, and finally, the FTMO Trader account. Each step tests a trader’s ability to follow rules and manage risk consistently.

Step 1: FTMO Challenge

This is the paid entry phase where you prove you can hit performance targets without breaking risk rules. 

The profit target is usually 10%, and you must trade for a minimum of 4 days. 

Daily loss limits and maximum drawdowns apply, which means you can’t go full degen mode – discipline is key here.

• Profit Target: $1,000 on a $10,000 account (10%)
• Max Daily Loss: $500
• Max Loss Overall: $1,000
• Minimum Trading Days: 4
• Duration: Unlimited
• Refundable Fee: €89 (for $10,000 account)

If you pass, you move to the next stage – Verification.

Step 2: Verification

This is a softer second round with a reduced profit target of just 5%, but the risk rules stay the same. You still need to trade for at least 4 days and avoid breaching daily or overall loss limits.

• Profit Target: $500 (on $10,000 account)
• Max Loss Rules: Same as before
• Trading Period: Unlimited
• Minimum Trading Days: 4

There’s no fee for this step. Pass this, and you earn your FTMO Account.

Step 3: FTMO Trader

Once you’re in, you can earn up to 90% of the profits you generate from demo trades. 

While you’re still trading with fictitious funds, FTMO calculates payouts based on your performance and sends real money to your account. 

This is where things get real.

You can also unlock premium features like:

• Performance Coaching
• FTMO Premium Programme
• Access to Tools & Services

FTMO Trading Objectives and Rules

Here’s a closer look at the rules you need to follow to avoid disqualification.

FTMO’s Trading Objectives are based on strict risk management principles. The idea is to reward consistent, disciplined trading rather than gambling-style strategies.

Here’s how they compare across stages (based on a $10,000 account):

Fail any of the limits, and your account is disqualified. Hit the goals, and you get a shot at real payout percentages – even if the trading is all simulated.

FTMO Account Sizes & Payouts

FTMO offers a wide range of demo account sizes, letting traders choose a level that matches their strategy.

Available account balances include:

• $10,000
• $25,000
• $50,000
• $100,000
• $200,000

Traders can earn up to 90% of their simulated profits once funded. FTMO pays this out monthly, assuming all objectives are met and no rules are broken. 

For many traders, this is a unique opportunity to scale their trading income without touching real capital.

The Quantlane Opportunity

Let’s talk about what comes after FTMO success.

FTMO has partnered with Quantlane, a traditional proprietary trading firm, to offer real salaried positions to top-performing traders. 

Once you’ve proven yourself consistently, you may be invited to join Quantlane under a fixed salary contract with access to institutional-level tools and spreads.

Key Quantlane benefits:

• Fixed salary employment
• Institutional conditions (tight spreads, deep liquidity)
• Custom platforms
• Professional coaching

This is a long-term path for those who want more than just funded accounts – it’s a real job offer for traders who excel.

Extra FTMO Features Worth Mentioning

FTMO isn’t just about accounts and challenges – there’s more under the hood.

FTMO Academy

Educational resources, articles, and videos for traders looking to sharpen their skills, especially useful for beginners.

Performance Coaching

FTMO offers access to mindset and performance coaches to help traders overcome mental barriers like fear, revenge trading, or overtrading.

Trading Tools & Quantlane Platform

You’ll also get tools like trading journals, account analysis, and performance metrics – all built to help you improve.

Pros and Cons of FTMO

Every platform has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Pros

• No risk of losing real capital
• Up to 90% profit share
• Solid educational support
• Low entry cost (€89 for $10k challenge)
• Access to professional trading via Quantlane

Cons

• Strict rules that can disqualify accounts
• No real capital trading, only demo
• Requires high discipline
• Not ideal for high-frequency or news-based traders

Best Prop Firms in January 2026

Heads up! If you don’t have the time to read and research for weeks to find the best prop firm, then save yourself some hassle.

I personally recommend the prop firms below. They all have excellent reputations with great trader feedback. If any of them do stop being any less than excellent, I will stop recommending them. That’s my promise to you. I only promote great prop firms.

Oh, and we have also managed to negotiate some really great discounts to go with them!

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

Time to wrap up with a realistic conclusion.

This review of FTMO reveals one of the most unique prop firm models in the industry. 

You’re trading in a simulated environment – but the profits are very real. 

For just €89, you get a shot at managing $10,000–$200,000 in virtual capital, and if you can trade consistently without breaking the rules, you’ll earn up to 90% of what you generate. 

Get Started Here

No risk, no hidden fees, and even a shot at a pro trading career through Quantlane. 

If you’re serious about becoming a funded trader, FTMO is easily one of the most legit platforms out there.