Four funding routes — Instant, Direct Funding, 1-Step and 2-Step, with a scaling plan and long-term focus.
Trading Platforms
Match Trader
MT5Payout Methods
Crypto
PayPalAbout City Traders Imperium
City Traders Imperium has been funding traders from Dubai since July 2018, which makes it older than most of the firms it competes with — eight years in a market where two is a long run. Martin Najat and Daniel Martin run four routes to capital: Instant Funding and Direct Funding skip the evaluation entirely, while 1-Step and 2-Step follow the familiar challenge path. Accounts start at $2,500 and the split runs from 70% or 80% up to a full 100% through the VIP program, with scaling that reaches $4 million on the instant side. CTI holds a 4.2 TrustPilot rating across 1,630 reviews.
Challenge Programs
Instant Funding
No evaluation. The account starts at half its fully funded balance; reach 10% profit on that initial balance and CTI adds the remaining 50% to move you to Level 2. From $67.15.
Profit Split: 70% → 100% with the VIP Program
Leverage: 1:30 FX • 1:10 Metals/Indices/Energy/Commodities • 1:2 Crypto | Daily Loss: None | Max Drawdown: 6% (Static)
Direct Funding
Funded immediately at the full balance, with no evaluation and no discount on the purchase price. From $229.00.
Profit Split: 70% → 100% with the VIP Program
Leverage: 1:30 FX • 1:10 Metals/Indices/Energy/Commodities • 1:2 Crypto | Daily Loss: None | Max Drawdown: 6% (Static)
1-Step Challenge
Single-phase evaluation with an 8% profit target and no daily loss limit. From $24.65.
Profit Split: 80% → 100% with the VIP Program
Leverage: 1:30 FX • 1:10 Metals/Indices/Energy/Commodities • 1:2 Crypto | Daily Loss: None | Max Drawdown: 5% (EOD Trailing)
2-Step Challenge
Two phases: 10% in Phase 1, then 5% in Phase 2, against a 5% daily loss. From $33.15.
Profit Split: 80% → 100% with the VIP Program
Leverage: 1:30 FX • 1:10 Metals/Indices/Energy/Commodities • 1:2 Crypto | Daily Loss: 5% | Max Drawdown: 10% (Static)
Key Features
• 8 Years in Operation: funding traders continuously since July 2018
• Splits to 100%: 70% on instant accounts, 80% on the challenges, both reaching 100% through the VIP program
• Scaling to $4M: Instant and Direct Funding double up to $2M per account; 1-Step and 2-Step reach $200K per account
• No Consistency Rule: on the challenges — a 20% consistency score applies only to scaling on the instant programs
• First Payout in 5–7 Days: then monthly on the challenges and bi-weekly on the instant accounts
• News Trading Allowed: no restrictions on any account type
• Copy Trading Allowed: when the CTI account is the master — to a personal broker or another prop firm
• Stop-Loss Required: within 1 minute of every entry, or the system closes the position as a soft breach
• No Hedging: not permitted on any program, including within a single account
• Three Payout Rails: bank transfer, crypto or PayPal, with a 2% net profit or $100 minimum
Leverage
| Asset | Instant | 1-Step | 2-Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| FX | |||
| Metals | |||
| Indices | |||
| Energy | |||
| Crypto | |||
| Other Commodities |
Commissions
| Asset | Commission |
|---|---|
| FX | $5 per round lot |
| Metals | $5 per round lot |
| Indices | $0.5 per round lot |
| Energy | $0.05 per round lot |
| Crypto | No commission |
| Other Commodities | $5 per round lot |
Restricted Countries
| Size | Program | Profit Target | Max Loss | Daily Loss | Drawdown | Profit Split | Payout | Loyalty | Activation Fee | Price |
|---|
15% Off All Programs
Use code GUIDE for 15% off every City Traders Imperium program. Direct Funding accounts are excluded from the discount.
News Trading Allowed
Allowed without restrictions on every account type.
Overnight & Weekend Holding Allowed
Allowed on all account types, including crypto positions.
Copy Trading Allowed
Permitted only when the CTI account is the master: CTI master to a personal broker account, CTI master to another prop firm, or between your own CTI accounts with one acting as master. Copying into a CTI account from another firm or a personal account is prohibited, as is social copy trading, challenge-pass services and sharing an EA with other traders.
Scaling Plan Allowed
1-Step and 2-Step: +10% profit across the last 4 months, profitable in at least 2 of them, with a positive balance at the time of scaling. The balance grows 50% of its original size up to $100,000, then 12.5% twice and 25% up to $200,000 per account ($400,000 in total). Instant and Direct Funding: 10% net profit on the initial balance plus a 20% consistency score, and the balance doubles up to $2 million per account ($4 million total).
Consistency Score Restricted
A 20% consistency score is required for scaling on Instant Funding and Direct Funding plans.
Stop-Loss Requirement Restricted
A stop-loss must be placed within 1 minute of opening a trade. Miss it and the system closes the position automatically — a soft breach. Profit made without a stop-loss does not count toward your profit target.
Minimum Trading Days Restricted
1-Step and 2-Step evaluations: at least 3 profitable days per phase, each with a minimum 0.5% profit. Funded: at least 7 profitable days at 0.5% each, on the first payout only. Instant and Direct Funding: at least 5 profitable days at 0.5% each, first payout only.
Expert Advisors Restricted
Third-party EAs you do not own the source code for are not allowed, except on the 1-Step Challenge where any EA is permitted. Trade managers and calculators are always allowed.
Inactivity Rule Restricted
Place at least one trade every 30 days. Violation results in account termination.
Risk Parameters Restricted
The risk department may impose temporary leverage limits or position-size restrictions after multiple account blowouts, limited trading history, sudden deviations from your usual patterns, repeated risk violations, excessive drawdowns or heavy exposure in volatile markets.
Instant Funding Structure Restricted
An Instant Funding account starts at half its fully funded balance — a $5,000 initial balance on a $10,000 account. Reach 10% profit on that initial balance and CTI adds the remaining 50%, moving you to Level 2.
Country Restrictions Restricted
Vietnam is restricted from the 2-Step Challenge and Direct Funding programs specifically.
Hedging Prohibited
Hedging is not allowed on any CTI program. That covers buy and sell positions on the same symbol at the same time, hedging across multiple CTI accounts, coordinated hedging between different traders, EAs or tools that automatically create offsetting trades, reverse trading between accounts, and hedging highly correlated instruments to bypass the rules — EURUSD against DXY, or US30 against SPX500. Unintentional cases still count. Detected hedging can close the account immediately, void any profit made, and in repeated cases lead to a permanent ban.
Prohibited Trading Practices Prohibited
Exploiting price inefficiencies or feed errors, group trading, account sharing, reselling or management, one-sided bets, gambling to pass through over-leveraging — extreme risk on one idea, risking the entire drawdown in one go, or exceeding a 150% margin level, where the profit will not count. Also banned: third-party EAs outside the 1-Step Challenge, bracketing strategies, martingale outside the 1-Step Challenge, and grid trading.
VPN / VPS & Device Policy Prohibited
VPNs, proxies and IP-masking services are prohibited. Changing IP address is fine, though CTI monitors IP, device and behaviour patterns. A VPS may only be used for an EA or for copy trading. Trading is limited to two devices, a PC and a mobile; more requires approval with proof by video call, and unauthorised device use ends the account without a refund.
Restricted Countries
We only track firms that pay via RISEPAY on-chain. This firm uses a different payout method.
See All Live-Tracked Firms →Minimum: 2% net profit or $100 (whichever is higher) • Maximum: No limit
Processing: Standard processing
1-Step & 2-Step
Profit split 80% up to 100% • At least 7 profitable trading days on the first payout only • First payout on demand, then monthly during the last 5 days of each month.
Instant Funding (from Level 2)
Profit split 70% up to 100% • At least 5 profitable trading days at 0.5% each on the first payout only • First payout on demand, then bi-weekly on the 14th or 15th and the last two days of each month.
Direct Funding
Profit split 70% up to 100% • At least 5 profitable trading days at 0.5% each on the first payout only • First payout on demand, then bi-weekly on the 14th or 15th and the last two days of each month.
Early Payout Trigger
Reach 10% eligible net profit including past payouts and you can request a payout immediately, without waiting for the last 5 days of the month. Applies to every program.
Minimum Withdrawal
2% net profit or $100, whichever is higher.
Monthly Salary
Available to traders who qualify for the CTI VIP Program and reach Elite, the Gold Trader level.
Available Markets & Leverage
FX
Metals
Indices
Energy
Crypto
Other Commodities
Commissions
FX & Metals
$5 per round lot
Indices
$0.5 per round lot
Energy
$0.05 per round lot
Crypto
No commission
Other Commodities
$5 per round lot
Trader Reviews 0
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City Traders Imperium Reviews & Ratings
Rated by our community & expert team
Eight years of continuous operation is the strongest thing on this page. Prop firms fold constantly; CTI has been paying since 2018, and its scaling plan reflects that long view — instant accounts double until they hit $2 million, and the VIP program takes your split to 100%. A 1-Step challenge starts at $24.65. What you accept in return is a firm that wants to see how you actually trade: a stop-loss on every position within one minute, no hedging of any kind, and third-party EAs blocked everywhere except the 1-Step. If you already trade with a stop and a plan, none of that will bother you. If you rely on hedges or bought EAs, look elsewhere.
Summary
CTI runs four programs from Dubai. Instant Funding starts you at half the target balance and completes the funding once you make 10%; Direct Funding puts you straight on the full balance with no evaluation and no discount; 1-Step asks for a single 8% target; 2-Step splits 10% and 5% across two phases. Accounts run from $2,500 to $100,000 with a $400,000 maximum allocation, and 15% off brings a 1-Step 2.5K to $24.65 — Direct Funding is excluded from the discount. Splits are 70% on the instant programs and 80% on the challenges, both reaching 100% through the VIP program. First payouts arrive in 5 to 7 days, then monthly on the challenges and bi-weekly on the instant accounts, paid by bank transfer, crypto or PayPal. Three rules define the experience: a stop-loss within one minute of every entry, a total ban on hedging including within a single account, and a two-device limit. Its 4.2 TrustPilot rating from 1,630 reviews is built on eight years of history rather than a launch-week push.
Deep Dive
More About City Traders Imperium
Is City Traders Imperium Legit?
CTI has traded continuously since July 2018 under Martin Najat and Daniel Martin, based in the UAE. In an industry where most firms disappear inside two years, eight years of uninterrupted payouts is harder evidence than any marketing claim. Its 4.2 TrustPilot rating across 1,630 reviews has been accumulated over that period rather than in a burst. The rules are published in full, including the unpopular ones — the one-minute stop-loss, the hedging ban, the two-device limit — and a firm intending not to pay would have little reason to publish a scaling plan that runs to $4 million. Start small, place a stop on every trade, and check your country is eligible before buying.
City Traders Imperium vs Other Forex Prop Firms
City Traders Imperium vs Darwinex Zero: Both reward patience, and both have been around long enough to prove it. Darwinex Zero drops the evaluation altogether and pays 15% of whatever your track record earns in allocation. CTI still runs challenges with stop-loss requirements and a consistency score, but the trader keeps up to 100% of the profit rather than a fee on someone else’s capital.
City Traders Imperium vs BrightFunded: BrightFunded also scales without a ceiling and reaches 100%, but it launched in 2023. If unlimited scaling is what you want and track record is what you trust, CTI has both; BrightFunded has one.
City Traders Imperium vs Funded Trading Plus: Funded Trading Plus pays every three days and puts no consistency rule on two of its three programs, which suits traders who want money out quickly. CTI is built the other way round: a longer runway, a scaling plan, and a 20% consistency score attached to growing the account rather than to getting paid.
City Traders Imperium Frequently Asked Questions
What is CTI's profit split?
Instant Funding and Direct Funding start at 70%, the 1-Step and 2-Step challenges at 80%. Both routes reach 100% through the CTI VIP Program.
How much does a CTI account cost?
A 1-Step 2.5K challenge is $24.65 with 15% off using code GUIDE, rising to $999 for a 100K account. Direct Funding starts at $229 and is excluded from the discount.
What programs does CTI offer?
Four. Instant Funding starts you at half the target balance and completes the funding at 10% profit. Direct Funding places you on the full balance immediately. 1-Step asks for a single 8% target, and 2-Step splits 10% and 5% across two phases.
How long has CTI been operating?
Since July 2018, which is eight years and makes it one of the longest-running prop firms still trading. It is based in the UAE and led by Martin Najat and Daniel Martin.
Does CTI have a consistency rule?
Not on the challenges. A 20% consistency score applies only to scaling on the Instant Funding and Direct Funding programs, and it affects whether the account grows rather than whether you get paid.
What is the stop-loss requirement?
Every trade needs a stop-loss within one minute of opening. Miss it and the system closes the position automatically as a soft breach, and any profit made without a stop does not count toward your target.
Is hedging allowed at CTI?
No, on any program. That includes buy and sell positions on the same symbol at once, hedging across CTI accounts, coordinated hedging between traders, EAs that create offsetting trades, and hedging correlated instruments such as EURUSD against DXY. Detected hedging can close the account and void the profit.
How do CTI payouts work?
The first payout comes after 7 profitable days on the challenges or 5 on the instant programs. After that, challenges pay monthly during the last five days of the month and instant accounts pay bi-weekly. Reach 10% net profit and you can request a payout immediately without waiting.
How does CTI pay traders?
By bank transfer, crypto or PayPal. The minimum withdrawal is 2% net profit or $100, whichever is higher.
How does CTI's scaling plan work?
On 1-Step and 2-Step you need 10% profit across four months, profitability in two of them and a positive balance, and the account grows 50% up to $100,000 then in steps to $200,000. Instant and Direct Funding need 10% net profit and a 20% consistency score, and the balance doubles until it reaches $2 million per account.
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