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Choosing between Crypto Fund Trader (CFT) and FTMO depends on your primary trading focus—CFT dominates crypto markets with 715+ trading pairs and a strategic Bybit partnership, while FTMO excels as a multi-asset forex-first platform with decade-long industry credibility. This comprehensive comparison breaks down everything serious traders need to know before committing to either prop firm in 2026.
The proprietary trading landscape has evolved dramatically, and both firms represent distinct philosophies. Understanding these differences isn’t just about finding the cheapest evaluation—it’s about aligning your trading style with the right infrastructure, market access, and long-term growth potential.
CFT has established itself as the original crypto-focused prop firm since launching in November 2022, while FTMO pioneered the modern prop trading model when it was founded in Prague in 2015.
Operating since November 2022, Crypto Fund Trader has rapidly carved out its niche as the go-to platform for dedicated cryptocurrency traders. Based in Switzerland with a Spanish entity handling European operations, CFT has processed over $16.67 million in trader payouts while maintaining a 4.5/5 TrustScore across 1,000+ Trustpilot reviews.
The firm’s defining moment came in April 2025 with the announcement of its strategic partnership with Bybit—one of the world’s top three cryptocurrency exchanges by volume. This collaboration fundamentally transformed CFT’s value proposition, providing traders with institutional-grade execution, exchange-level liquidity, and access to the same infrastructure trusted by over 60 million Bybit users globally.
FTMO‘s ten-year track record speaks volumes about longevity and reliability in an industry where firms frequently disappear overnight. Having created over 240,000 funded accounts and maintaining consistent payouts throughout multiple market cycles, FTMO has become the gold standard against which other prop firms are measured. The firm’s headquarters in the Czech Republic and its Premium Programme partnership with Quantlane—a traditional proprietary trading company—provides an additional layer of institutional credibility that few competitors can match.
FTMO dominates branded search interest globally, ranking first alongside FundedNext with approximately 673,000 monthly Google searches. This visibility reflects both marketing success and genuine trader interest built over years of consistent operations.
Both firms use challenge-based evaluation systems, but their approaches reflect fundamentally different trading philosophies.
FTMO employs a structured two-step process designed to assess consistency and discipline:
Phase 1 (FTMO Challenge):
Phase 2 (Verification):
The elimination of time limits in 2025 marked a significant shift toward trader-friendly policies, removing artificial pressure while maintaining rigorous risk management standards. FTMO also offers Aggressive accounts with higher risk limits (10% daily loss, 20% maximum loss) for traders comfortable with elevated risk parameters.
Crypto Fund Trader provides three distinct routes to funding, accommodating different experience levels and trading styles:
1-Phase Evaluation:
2-Phase Evaluation:
Instant Challenge:
The Instant Challenge program represents a unique offering for traders confident in their abilities who want immediate funded access without navigating evaluation phases.
Understanding the investment required to access funded capital helps determine value for money across both platforms.
| Account | FTMO Standard | CFT 2-Phase | CFT 1-Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$5,000
|
N/A
|
$55
|
$59 |
|
$10,000
|
~€155 ($183)
|
$99
|
$109 |
|
$25,000 |
~€250 ($295)
|
$230
|
$250
|
|
$50,000
|
~€345 ($407)
|
$345
|
$399 |
|
$100,000 |
~€540 ($636) |
$540 |
$599 |
|
$200,000 |
~€1,080 ($1,272) |
$998 |
$1,199 |
Critical Difference: FTMO refunds evaluation fees with your first profit withdrawal after successfully passing both phases. CFT’s fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome. This creates different risk-reward calculations—FTMO’s higher upfront costs become recoverable upon success, while CFT offers lower entry points but treats fees as one-time educational investments.
Getting paid quickly and fairly separates legitimate prop firms from those that create friction around payouts.
FTMO delivers an 80% baseline profit split, increasing to 90% for traders who meet Scaling Plan requirements. Payouts operate on a bi-weekly (14-day) cycle, with the firm processing withdrawal requests in an impressive average of 8 hours. Notably, FTMO covers all transaction fees, ensuring traders receive their full entitled amounts without deductions.
The first payout includes full refund of the original challenge fee, effectively making the evaluation free for successful traders.
Crypto Fund Trader matches FTMO’s 80% base profit split, with add-ons available to reach 90%. However, CFT’s true competitive advantage emerges in payout velocity—processing times of 8-24 hours mean traders can access earnings almost immediately after requesting withdrawal.
Multiple payout options accommodate different preferences, including cryptocurrency payouts in USDT/USDC through the Bybit infrastructure. For crypto-native traders, receiving profits in digital assets eliminates conversion friction and banking delays.
Platform availability and market access represent perhaps the most significant differentiator between these firms.
FTMO provides access to industry-standard platforms familiar to most retail traders:
All platforms offer the same asset selection, allowing traders to use their preferred interface without sacrificing trading opportunities.
Crypto Fund Trader takes a different approach with its platform lineup:
The Bybit integration deserves special emphasis. Unlike CFD-based crypto access where prices are derived from liquidity providers, CFT’s Bybit partnership enables trading directly on exchange order books with real market liquidity. Your orders route through the same matching engine processing billions in daily volume for 60+ million Bybit users globally.
For traders focused on digital assets, the contrast between CFT and FTMO couldn’t be more pronounced.
FTMO expanded its cryptocurrency selection in July 2025, adding 22 new altcoin pairs including Solana, Avalanche, AAVE, Chainlink, and BNB. The total crypto offering now includes approximately 32 pairs covering major cryptocurrencies.
However, significant limitations constrain crypto-focused strategies:
Spread considerations: Forum discussions indicate wider spreads compared to dedicated crypto platforms
The strategic Bybit partnership positions CFT as the definitive choice for serious cryptocurrency traders:
This isn’t incremental improvement—it’s a fundamentally different infrastructure. If your strategy involves identifying momentum in mid-cap altcoins, capitalizing on new token listings, or executing high-frequency crypto strategies, CFT provides access FTMO simply cannot match.
While crypto represents CFT’s strength, traders seeking diverse forex and traditional asset exposure should consider both firms’ capabilities.
FTMO’s forex-first heritage shows in its comprehensive traditional asset coverage:
Forex leverage reaches 1:100 on standard accounts, with the Swing account variant reducing leverage to 1:30 while removing weekend holding and news trading restrictions.
CFT provides access beyond crypto, including:
While capable, CFT’s traditional asset selection reflects its crypto-first focus. Traders prioritizing forex diversity may find FTMO’s established infrastructure more suitable.
Both firms reward consistent performance with capital increases, though their structures differ substantially.
FTMO’s Scaling Plan increases account balance by 25% every four months when traders achieve 10% total profit. This methodical approach can eventually reach $2,000,000 in funded capital—an impressive ceiling for consistent performers.
Additional benefits include profit split increases to 90% and potential entry into the Premium Programme (Prime and Supreme tiers), with top performers eligible for employment opportunities at Quantlane as salaried professional traders.
Standard CFT evaluations allow up to $300,000 in maximum allocation during the funded stage. Traders can hold multiple accounts simultaneously—for example, a $200,000 account alongside a $100,000 account—as long as total funded capital doesn’t exceed $300,000.
The Instant Challenge program offers exceptional scaling potential up to $1,280,000, notably without maximum allocation limits applying. For traders starting small but aiming for aggressive growth, this pathway provides faster scaling than traditional evaluation accounts.
Understanding what you can and cannot do prevents costly rule violations and failed accounts.
Both firms prohibit:
FTMO remains an excellent choice for specific trader profiles.
Multi-asset traders who rotate between forex, indices, commodities, and crypto benefit from FTMO’s comprehensive offering and established execution infrastructure. The platform supports diverse portfolio strategies without requiring multiple firm relationships.
Forex-first traders seeking proven infrastructure and decade-long operational history will appreciate FTMO’s stability and reputation. The firm’s educational resources, including the Mentor App, Trading Journal, and Statistical App, provide valuable support for developing traders.
Risk-conscious traders who prefer the security of refundable fees gain peace of mind knowing successful completion returns their initial investment. This effectively makes the challenge free for those who pass.
Swing traders using the dedicated Swing account enjoy relaxed restrictions around weekend holding and news events, accommodating longer-term position strategies.
CFT’s infrastructure serves traders with specific priorities.
Dedicated cryptocurrency traders gain unmatched advantages through the strategic Bybit partnership. With 715+ pairs, 1:100 leverage, and institutional execution quality, CFT provides everything serious crypto traders need to execute sophisticated strategies.
Scalability-focused traders seeking aggressive capital growth find unique value in the Instant Challenge program’s $1,280,000 ceiling without standard allocation limits.
Speed-conscious traders prioritizing rapid payout access appreciate CFT’s 8-24 hour processing, enabling consistent cash flow from trading profits.
Weekend traders wanting full 24/7 crypto market access without position restrictions can trade through weekends and holidays without artificial constraints.
Budget-conscious beginners benefit from lower entry points starting at $55 for $5,000 accounts—among the most accessible prices in the prop trading industry.
| Feature | Crypto Fund Trader | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
|
Founded
|
November 2022
|
2015
|
|
Crypto Pairs
|
715+
|
~32
|
|
Crypto Leverage
|
Up to 1:100
|
1:3 (Standard), 1:1 (Swing)
|
|
Base Profit Split
|
80%
|
80%
|
|
Maximum Profit Split |
90%
|
90% |
|
Payout Speed |
8-24 hours |
~8 hours (bi-weekly cycle) |
|
Max Allocation (Standard) |
$300,000 |
$400,000
|
|
Max Allocation (Scaling) |
$1,280,000 (Instant) |
$2,000,000 |
|
Fee Refund |
No |
Yes (with first payout) |
|
Evaluation Options |
1-Phase, 2-Phase, Instant |
2-Phase (Standard, Aggressive, Swing) |
|
Time Limits
|
Unlimited
|
Unlimited
|
|
Minimum Trading Days |
5 |
4
|
|
Weekend Crypto Trading
|
Full access
|
Restrictions apply
|
|
Restrictions apply
|
Bybit (strategic) |
None |
|
Platforms |
MT5, MatchTrader, Bybit
|
MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade
|
Your choice between CFT and FTMO ultimately depends on trading identity and market focus.
Choose Crypto Fund Trader if:
Choose FTMO if:
Both firms represent legitimate, established operations in the prop trading space. Neither choice is wrong—the right decision depends entirely on matching firm infrastructure with your trading focus, strategy requirements, and long-term career goals.
The cryptocurrency revolution has created unprecedented opportunity for skilled traders. Whether you choose CFT’s purpose-built crypto infrastructure or FTMO’s multi-asset credibility, the path to funded trading success begins with honest self-assessment about your strengths, preferred markets, and how you want to build your trading career.
Which funded account is best for crypto trading?
Crypto Fund Trader offers the best funded account for cryptocurrency trading, providing 715+ trading pairs through its strategic Bybit partnership with up to 1:100 leverage and 24/7 market access. Crypto-specialized prop firms outperform forex-first platforms for dedicated digital asset traders seeking institutional-grade execution.
Does FTMO do crypto trading?
Yes, FTMO offers approximately 32 cryptocurrency CFD pairs including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and major altcoins, though leverage is limited to 1:3 on standard accounts. FTMO’s crypto offering suits multi-asset traders but may feel restrictive for those focused primarily on digital asset strategies.
Who is better than FTMO?
Several prop trading firms compete with FTMO depending on your trading focus—Crypto Fund Trader surpasses FTMO for cryptocurrency traders with its Bybit integration and 715+ crypto pairs, while firms like FundedNext and MyFundedFX offer alternatives for forex-focused strategies. The “best” prop firm depends entirely on your preferred markets and trading style.
Do FTMO actually pay out?
Yes, FTMO has a proven payout track record spanning nearly a decade, processing withdrawals within an average of 8 hours on a bi-weekly cycle. The firm has created over 240,000 funded accounts and maintains strong Trustpilot reviews confirming consistent, reliable profit distributions to successful traders.
Can I pass FTMO in 1 day?
No, FTMO requires a minimum of 4 trading days during both the Challenge and Verification phases, meaning the fastest possible completion is 8 trading days total. This minimum trading period ensures traders demonstrate consistent performance rather than achieving targets through single lucky trades.
What is the 1% rule in FTMO?
The 1% rule refers to FTMO’s recommended risk management guideline suggesting traders risk only 1-1.5% of account balance per trade to avoid breaching the 5% daily loss limit. Following conservative position sizing helps maintain account longevity and demonstrates the disciplined trading approach prop firms seek during evaluations.
Trading involves significant risk. The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Both Crypto Fund Trader and FTMO operate demo accounts with simulated trading environments. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Crypto Fund Trader is an evaluation firm where we boost the best traders in addition to testing their qualities.
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