Inactivity Rule
To maintain fairness and promote consistent trading discipline, the following rule applies to both Challenge and Funded accounts:
Rule
The 30-day inactivity period begins on the day the account is purchased—not from the date of last activity.
If no trades are placed within this period, the account is automatically failed due to inactivity.
Once failed for inactivity, the account is permanently closed and cannot be restored or reactivated.
Why This Rule Exists
Consistency is one of the core drivers of trading success. Regular participation helps traders:
Build disciplined trading habits
Refine and strengthen strategies
Improve long-term profitability
By ensuring that only active traders maintain access, we can:
Allocate resources more effectively
Keep the trading environment competitive
Reward those who are fully engaged in managing their accounts
Summary
To keep your account active, you must place at least one trade within every 30-day period.
Copy Trading
Allowed
Using copy trading software between your own FundingTraders Pro accounts.
Using copy trading software to copy trades from your accounts on other brokers/firms into your FundingTraders Pro account.
Not Allowed
Copying trades from accounts owned by other traders.
Sharing signals with other traders.
Are EA/Bots allowed?
At FundingTraders, the use of EAs (Expert Advisors) and Bots is permitted, but only if they are focused on risk management and help foster disciplined and sustainable trading practices.
Allowed
EAs and Bots designed solely for risk management purposes, such as:
Position Size Calculator EAs
Auto-position Size Execution Bots
Consultation Required
Before using any EA or Bot, traders are encouraged to consult with the support team to confirm eligibility.
Restricted Practices
Off-the-Shelf EAs/Bots
EAs purchased or downloaded online are not allowed, unless the tool is exclusively dedicated to risk management (e.g., determining position size).
EAs that automatically place trades on the account are not permitted, unless the EA has been programmed or developed personally by the trader.
Grid Trading EAs/Bots
Strictly not permitted due to the high risk and aggressive strategy involved.
Hedge Trading EAs/Bots
Not allowed, as these do not align with the firm’s risk and trading guidelines.
Is trading from multiple IP Addresses allowed?
Traders at FundingTraders are allowed to use VPNs for enhanced online security while trading on the platform. This policy is designed to support privacy and flexibility so traders can safeguard their accounts and operate with confidence.
However, it is the trader’s responsibility to maintain the security of login credentials and remain vigilant against possible threats. Using a VPN does not absolve the obligation to keep account details private and secure; neglecting this may expose accounts to risks.
Allowed
VPNs can be used for increased account security and privacy.
Traders’ Responsibility
Protect login credentials
Monitor for unusual activity
Stay alert against phishing or unauthorized access
This approach ensures both maximum flexibility and a secure environment for every trader.
Can I hold trades overnight/weekend allowed?
Pro accounts are allowed to hold trades overnight and over the weekends. This flexibility empowers traders to execute swing strategies and manage positions in alignment with their analysis.
Widened Spreads on Daily Rollover
During the Asian market open, spreads may widen significantly. Incorporate this into your trading plan to avoid unexpected losses or margin issues.
Wider Spreads on Monday Asia Open
At the Monday market open, following the weekend, spreads are often substantially wider than usual. This can result in less favorable fills or increased slippage for positions held over the weekend.
Swap Rates Apply
Swap rates (overnight fees) are charged for positions held overnight or over weekends. Review the relevant terms for your account type to understand potential costs.
By staying informed and integrating these considerations into a sound risk management strategy, traders can make the most of this flexibility while minimizing potential drawbacks. FundingTraders is committed to supporting a transparent and trader-friendly environment.
Lot Size Limit
FundingTraders does not impose lot size limits for most account types, allowing traders to choose position sizes appropriate to their trading style, whether swing trading, intraday, or scalping. The focus is on the consistency of position sizing, not the absolute size of lots opened.
No Lot Size Limit
No restrictions for most accounts; different strategies require different lot sizes. Swing traders typically use lower lots due to wider stops, while scalpers and intraday traders may use higher lots with tighter stops.
Consistency Required
Position sizing must be consistent. Persistently “going all in” or risking a significant percentage of the account on one trade, especially increasing size during news events, will raise red flags.
Red Flag Behavior
Sudden or inconsistent increases in position size, particularly around economic news, will trigger review. Accounts exhibiting dangerous risk management may be terminated following investigation.
Traders should always aim for responsible, steady risk management. Extreme or inconsistent lot sizes are specifically monitored to protect both the individual and the community from undue risk.
Stop Loss Requirement
There is no requirement to place a stop-loss order on trades at FundingTraders, recognizing that many traders use EAs or bots for automated risk management. This flexibility accommodates those who automate protective measures through their own systems.
However, it is highly recommended to always use a stop-loss order as a best practice. Setting a stop-loss helps manage risk, prevent unexpected large losses, and maintain account discipline, especially in volatile or fast-moving markets.
Not Required
No mandatory stop-loss order on each trade, due to the allowance for risk-managed EAs/bots.
Strongly Advised
Always use a stop-loss order to ensure robust risk management and account protection.
Traders should review their strategy and automation setup to confirm that risk controls are in place, even if stop-loss orders are not manually applied to every trade.
Unrealistic Trading Practices
Unrealistic Trading Practices are strategies or behaviors that do not reflect sustainable or genuine market participation, such as placing trades with extremely short holding times or employing methods that cannot be replicated in live trading conditions.
Unrealistic Trading Practices include any approach that lacks real market analysis or long-term viability.
Most commonly, this refers to trades with very short holding times that do not reflect realistic market execution, such as scalping for seconds or trading in ways that evade real-world slippage and liquidity.
Volume-Weighted Average Holding Time (VWHT) Requirement
To encourage authentic trading, all trades must meet a minimum VWHT threshold:
Holding Time: The duration (in minutes) a position remains open before closing.
Trade Volume: The size of each position, giving more weight to larger trades.
If a trader's VWHT is less than 2 minutes, the account is considered to be using unrealistic trading practices and will be flagged for review:
Action Taken: The account will be terminated for "Unrealistic Trading Method."
Formula:
Summation of Holding Time X Trade Volume / Summation of Trade Volume = VWHT
High-Frequency Trading (HFT) Restrictions
High-frequency trading (HFT) strategies, especially those involving trades lasting from 0–15 seconds, are considered unrealistic and unsustainable in this context:
Such techniques cannot be reliably duplicated under live market conditions due to issues like execution speed, slippage, and liquidity.
These strategies are therefore not allowed and will lead to account termination.
Summary
Traders must hold positions for a realistic period (VWHT of at least 2 minutes weighted by trade volume). Practices that involve fleeting trades or HFT methods are not allowed, helping maintain an authentic and sustainable trading environment.
High-Frequency Trading (HFT)
High-Frequency Trading (HFT) is not allowed on funded accounts due to the challenges of reproducing such strategies in real-world market conditions, especially because of unavoidable latency between a funded trader’s account and the master account. This restriction specifically applies to trades lasting 15 seconds or less, which are unsustainable because real execution speeds, even on advanced infrastructure, are subject to technology and distance limitations.
However, if a trader executes a single trade below 15 seconds, it may be permitted as an isolated event. Repetitive trades of this nature, though, will lead to the account being flagged, and eventually failing, due to the use of prohibited HFT strategies.
Summary
HFT (trades ≤ 15 seconds): Not allowed, due to unsustainable latency and execution limitations.
1-off trade: May be permitted.
Repeated trades: Will result in account failure for unrealistic trading methods.
This ensures trading practices remain fair and realistically achievable for all participants.
Is Grid Trading allowed?
At FundingTraders, grid trading is strictly prohibited because it poses elevated risk and can distort fair market participation. Grid trading involves placing multiple buy and sell orders at varied price intervals to profit from fluctuations within a set range, but it can rapidly lead to large drawdowns in volatile markets and misrepresent true trading activity.
What is Grid Trading?
Grid Trading is a strategy where traders maintain three or more open positions simultaneously on the same pair and in the same direction. Although its goal is to accumulate a large volume of lots to attempt to maximize profits through partial closures or mitigate losses, this practice carries extreme risk.
The main danger of this strategy lies in overexposure to risk due to excessive leverage and the accumulated lot size it generates.
Examples:
Adding in Losses:
A trader opens a buy position on EUR/USD with 10 lots. If the market moves against them, they open a second buy trade with 30 lots, and if it continues to move unfavorably, they open a third buy trade. This multiplies the risk exposure; if the market persists in the unfavorable direction, losses accelerate drastically, putting the account at risk.
Adding in Profits:
A trader opens a buy position on EUR/USD with 10 lots, and the price starts to rise, showing a profit. To try to maximize the benefit, the trader opens a second and then a third buy position. While this increases potential revenue as the market moves in their favor, a sudden reversal exposes the account to a large accumulated lot size (30 lots in this example) that the trader may not be able to manage, resulting in much larger losses than anticipated.
Why Grid Trading is Prohibited
Risk Amplification: Grid trading can lead to rapid, substantial drawdowns, especially during market breakouts or strong trends, exceeding normal risk management thresholds
Market Manipulation: The practice of layering numerous bids or asks may create an artificial appearance of market liquidity or movement, which goes against the spirit of fair trading.
Violation of Responsible Risk Rules: Because grid trading relies on aggressive position stacking, it often violates principles of disciplined risk-taking required to protect both traders and the broader community.
Summary
Grid trading is not allowed under any circumstances. Traders using grid strategies may face penalties, including possible disqualification from funded accounts. This policy helps maintain a safe, fair, and transparent environment for all traders.