Elite Trader Funding
CEO
Christopher Allen
Country
US
Date Created
Sep, 2022
Years in Operation
3
Restricted Countries
Afghanistan
Belarus
Central African Republic
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Iran
Iraq
Lebanon
Libya
Mali
Myanmar
Nicaragua
North Korea
Russia
Somalia
South Korea
Sudan
Syria
Venezuela
Yemen
Zimbabwe
Platforms:
Rithmic
Tradovate
ATAS Orderflow Trading
MotiveWave
Bookmap
NinjaTrader
Quantower
Payment Methods:
Payout Methods
Assets
What Is Elite Trader Funding?
Elite Trader Funding (ETF) is a US-based futures prop firm that funds traders through a simulated evaluation model. Traders pass a one-step challenge under defined risk rules and receive an Elite Sim-Funded account where real payouts begin. No personal capital is at risk in the markets.
What distinguishes ETF from most rivals is the sheer breadth of its evaluation lineup — six distinct account models spanning 1-Step, EOD, Fast Track, Static, Diamond Hands, and Direct to Funded (DTF) — plus an unusually deep instrument catalogue, broad platform support, and one of the most affordable entry points in the funded futures industry. The $75 Fast Track is the cheapest path to a large funded account available anywhere as of 2026.
Evaluation Rules
All ETF evaluations are one-step — there is no Phase 2. The flagship 1-Step plan uses an intraday trailing drawdown with no daily loss limit and no time limit to pass. Minimum trading days vary by plan, starting at just 5 for the 1-Step. Trades must be closed at least one minute before market close; overnight holding is only permitted on Diamond Hands and DTF accounts.
Plan Comparison — Key Differences
| Plan | Drawdown Type | Daily Loss Limit | Overnight | Consistency Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Step | Intraday Trailing | None | No | None |
| EOD | EOD Trailing | ~2.2% of balance | No | None |
| Fast Track | Intraday Trailing | None | No | 40% best day |
| Static | Fixed (never trails) | None | No | None |
| Diamond Hands | EOD Trailing | ~2.2% of balance | Yes | None |
| DTF (Direct to Funded) | EOD or Static | None | Yes | None |
ETF's payout system does not operate on a simple calendar cycle — it requires qualifying Active Trading Days (ATDs). To count as an ATD, a trading day must generate at least $200 in realized profit AND that amount must equal at least 23% of your single best ATD P&L on record. This second condition is the one traders consistently miss: one outsized winning day raises the bar for every future ATD in that cycle. The first payout requires 8 qualifying ATDs; subsequent payouts require 10. If your best day dwarfs the rest of your results, you may be locked out of a payout even with solid cumulative profits. Model your trading days, not just your totals.
Account Sizes & Pricing
The 1-Step is ETF's flagship plan and covers account sizes from $50K to $300K on a monthly subscription. An $80/month activation fee applies once a trader passes and enters the Elite Sim-Funded phase — an ongoing cost that is uncommon in the industry and worth factoring into profitability calculations.
ETF regularly runs promotional discounts of up to 80% off evaluation fees. However, discounts are applied via manual promo codes — if you fail to enter the code at checkout, the full retail price is charged with no automatic refund. Always confirm the discounted price is reflected before completing your purchase.
1-Step Plan
| Account Size | Profit Target | Trailing Drawdown | Monthly Fee | Max Contracts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $165/mo | 8 minis |
| $100,000 | $6,000 | $3,000 | $205/mo | 14 minis |
| $150,000 | $9,000 | $4,500 | $315/mo | 20 minis |
| $250,000 | $15,000 | $6,500 | $597/mo | 35 minis |
| $300,000 | $20,000 | $7,500 | $655/mo | 40 minis |
Other Plan Entry Points
| Plan | Sizes Available | Fee Structure | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Track | $100K / $250K | $75 / $175 one-time | Budget entry, fast pass |
| Static | $10K – $50K | $99 – $449 one-time | Fixed-floor preference |
| EOD | $50K – $150K | $295/mo | Intraday volatility traders |
| Diamond Hands | $100K only | $365/mo | Swing / overnight traders |
| DTF | $25K / $50K | $599 / $699 one-time | Skip eval entirely |
Funded Account & Payouts
Once traders pass the evaluation, they enter the Elite Sim-Funded phase, which carries the same trailing drawdown rules as the evaluation. A Safety Net mechanism permanently removes the trailing drawdown floor once realized profits cover the max drawdown plus $100 — at that point the account floor becomes a fixed static level. Traders may qualify for LIVE Elite capital allocation after completing 5 payouts, with a scaling path that runs from $50K up to $1.5M. A $25,000 payout cap applies per trader on the Sim-Funded phase before transitioning to LIVE Elite.
Platforms & Instruments
ETF offers one of the widest platform selections in funded futures trading, spanning both Rithmic and Tradovate data infrastructure, and supporting a broad range of third-party front ends including NinjaTrader, TradingView, Quantower, Sierra Chart, ATAS, Bookmap, MotiveWave, and EdgeProX. Tradovate also enables full mobile account management on iOS and Android.
Note: automated trading systems and bots are prohibited unless expressly authorized in writing by ETF. Approved trade copier partners are supported. All trades must be held for a minimum of 10 seconds — sub-10-second fills are flagged as violations.
Pros & Cons
- ✓Six distinct evaluation models covering intraday, EOD, swing, and instant-funded
- ✓Cheapest funded futures entry in the industry — $75 Fast Track for a $100K account
- ✓100% payout on the first $12,500 per account
- ✓Safety Net permanently removes trailing drawdown once activated
- ✓No daily loss limit on the 1-Step flagship plan
- ✓Widest platform selection of any futures prop firm — 10+ supported front ends
- ✓Scaling path to $1.5M in LIVE capital after 5 sim payouts
- ✓Diamond Hands plan for swing and overnight traders — rare in funded futures
- ✓News trading permitted on all plans
- ✓No evaluation time limit on the 1-Step plan
- ✗Active Trading Day (ATD) rule ties payout eligibility to a dynamic threshold — one outlier day raises the bar for all subsequent days in the cycle
- ✗$80/month activation fee on Sim-Funded accounts — an ongoing cost not charged by most competitors
- ✗$2.00/round-turn commission on mini contracts — active scalpers should model total monthly commission costs carefully
- ✗Max 5 active Sim-Funded accounts per trader (reduced from 20 in Sep 2025)
- ✗Promotional discounts require manual promo code entry — the checkout does not apply them automatically
- ✗Automated trading and bots prohibited unless specifically approved in writing
- ✗Intraday trailing drawdown on the 1-Step tracks unrealized equity — a large open gain that retraces compresses your risk window even without a realized loss
MarketGrid Verdict
Elite Trader Funding earns its place at the top tier of funded futures prop firms through sheer breadth. No other firm in the space offers six evaluation models, ten-plus supported platforms, a path to $1.5M in live capital, and a $75 entry price simultaneously. For traders who want to match their account structure to their actual trading style — rather than compromise to fit a one-size model — ETF is the firmest foundation available in 2026.
The trade-offs are real: the ATD payout rule is genuinely complex, the activation fee adds ongoing overhead, and commissions on high-frequency strategies can be substantial. Traders who go in with eyes open on those mechanics and pick the right plan for their approach will find ETF a highly competitive and well-structured firm to build a funded career on.
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