City Traders Imperium
Four programmes, and only one of them runs the floor the brand is built on. The 2-Step, Instant Funding and Direct Funding all publish a static limit; the 1-Step — the cheapest way in — is a 5% drawdown pinned to the highest balance the account has ever closed at, and nothing CTI publishes says where that trail stops. What is good here is not small: every programme measures drawdown on balance rather than on floating equity, two product pages put "No Consistency Rules" in writing, both founders are named with photographs, and the firm has been trading since 2018. What costs you is reading only what you are sold — five of its hardest rules exist nowhere but a blog post signed by a co-founder in December 2025, starting with "You must set a stop-loss within 60 seconds of opening any position."
Six places where CTI answers its own question twice. The sharpest is not a trading rule: its payout blog says "City Traders Imperium Limited is registered in England & Wales (registration number 11463147)" while the footer under every other page says the same company is "incorporated under the laws of Comoros Union with company number 15969". On the money, both challenge pages advertise a first payout at seven days and the same firm’s blog puts the gate at "10 active trading days and hit 7 profitable days" — where a profitable day is "When you end the day with at least 0.5% of your initial balance in net profit". Instant Funding is sold on "1st Payout 5 days (Fully Funded)" while its own guide says "your first payout comes after you hit 10% profit", on a balance that begins at "Starting Capital 50% of the fully funded account size". Direct Funding promises payouts "with no fixed schedule and no minimum profitable trading days" and its own FAQ answers that "It starts monthly, moves to weekly once you hit Bronze, and becomes on demand once you hit Silver". One clause reads worse than it is and we say so: the 1-Step page says withdrawals do not affect the floor while the guide subtracts them, but working CTI’s own example through leaves the 5% buffer exactly where it was, so that gap is filed as wording rather than as money lost.
Not enough published data to simulate this firm’s floor.
Judged, clean of all seven hard bars, and the scorecard still came in under the bar. Nothing here is an accusation — it is a firm we would not open an account with, and the card says on which axes it fell short.
Scorecard
11Trails on live equity, then freezes at your starting balance
A named company, but no financial regulator anywhere — or a light-touch one only
Workable, but a cap or a waiting period bites
Two official channels disagree on a number that matters
Short history, or a sharply polarised review profile
Each axis is scored 0–5 against a published scale. The line under each bar is the rung this firm landed on — not our summary of it, the scale entry itself.
Plan by plan
6 of this firm’s challenges were read plan by plan, with a citation behind every answer. See them side by side →
An 8% target against a 5% floor that follows your highest closed balance upward, and no page says where it stops — the one CTI product whose limit can end up above the balance you bought. It is also the only one that allows bought EAs and martingale, and the only one that never says whether a consistency rule exists.
The cleanest thing CTI sells: 10% static room that does not move, no consistency rule in writing, no time limit on either phase. The catch is the only daily limit in the catalogue at 5%, and three CTI documents disagree about whether it is measured on the initial balance or on the balance you opened the day with.
Funded on day one with half the balance you paid for, at half the split of Direct Funding — so the 6% static floor is 6% of the halved figure. Its own page never mentions consistency; the firm’s guide gates every doubling on a 20% Consistency Score it never defines.
The same 6% static floor as Instant Funding on the whole balance instead of half of it, at 70% from the first trade, and no consistency rule in writing. It is the most expensive door in the catalogue and the one thing it is sold on — payouts whenever you ask — is answered differently by the FAQ on its own page.
A product with rules and no page. CTI’s December 2025 guide gives it its own payout cadence and its own split ladder; no menu, shop card or page in the August 2026 archive mentions it. Listed separately so its rules are not quietly published as Direct Funding’s.
Fourteen days on a $100,000 demo account, no card, no targets and — in the firm’s own words — no payouts. Costs nothing and risks nothing; the only thing its page does not say is what loss limit, if any, applies to it.
Trustpilot
What this firm published
Everything below is quoted from a page we opened, on the date shown. The quotes are in the firm’s own language, exactly as published — never edited, never shortened, never swapped for a translation. On the Spanish edition our own rendering appears underneath each one, unquoted and marked as ours: the quotation marks on this site mean the words are the firm’s, and nothing we wrote ever wears them. Where we have not read enough to put a number on an axis, we say so instead of guessing.
4/5
Can you even pass?
Almost nobody who pays for an evaluation ever reaches a funded account, so this is the part of the product most customers actually buy. Every firm advertises its profit target; none of them advertises that target next to how much you are allowed to lose while chasing it.
2/5
Can you keep the money?
The drawdown takes the account away; the payout rules take the money. Answered by whichever of the two we can measure and is worse — they are two ways of losing the same thing, so a good half cannot pay for a bad one.
1/5
Is anyone behind it?
A named company, a market, and rules you could read before paying. These three do not substitute for one another — a company you can sue does not stop existing because the account is a simulation — so this is the average of the ones we could measure, not the worst.
How hard the test is
Not the profit target on the sales page — that target measured against the room you are given to reach it.
How much you must win to survivefor every $1 you are allowed to lose, you must make $1.60.80/8
“Profit Target 8% of starting balance”A profit target only means something next to the room you are given to reach it. Ten per cent to make against ten to lose is a coin flip sold as an exam.
Days you have to finishThey state there is none.3/3
“Time Limit None”A deadline turns a test of skill into a test of whether the market happened to move during your month.
Trading days you must put in3 days2/2
“Min Profitable Trading Days 3”Cuts both ways: it costs you time, and it also stops an account passing on one lucky afternoon you could never repeat.
A second attempt costsa second attempt is discounted1/2
“Reset on Failure 15% Discount”A free second attempt turns one bad week into a delay instead of another invoice.
Profit target8%—
“Profit Target 8% of starting balance”Maximum loss
The loss limit that closes your account. Does it sit still, or does it climb behind you as you win?
What makes the loss limit riseit rises tick by tick, while you tradeno change0.75/3
“Your drawdown floor is set by your high watermark, the highest balance your account has reached, minus a fixed 5% of your starting balance. As your high watermark rises, the floor rises with it by that same fixed amount.”“Fair concern. Here’s how it works for 1-Step: Your stop-out level equals (High-water mark minus last withdrawal) minus (Initial balance times 5%).”A limit that climbs takes back the cushion you already earned.
Where the limit stops risingThey do not say.0/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The difference between a danger with an end date and one that never ends.
What the limit is measured againstthe day's closing figureno change2/2
“Drawdown is calculated from account balance, not equity, giving traders room to let a good trade play out instead of getting stopped out early.”“Every CTI program calculates drawdown from your account balance, not your floating equity, so a good trade has room to play out instead of getting stopped out early by a temporary dip.”Decides whether a trade that dips and recovers can close an account that ended the day green.
What taking a payout does to the limitnothing — the limit stays where it was2/2
“Example: You start with $100k, grow it to $105k, withdraw $4k. Your new stop-out is $96k. The math is: ($105k – $4k) – ($100k × 0.05) = $96k. (not $101k).”Taking your money out should not leave you closer to losing the account.
Daily limitThey state there is none.no change2/2
“Max Daily Drawdown None”“You’re working with a 5% balance-based trailing drawdown ( MTD ). No daily drawdown limit. Take as long as you need. There’s no time limit.”A generous percentage measured on live equity is not generous — it is the same number with a trapdoor under it.
Total loss allowed5%no change0.25/1
“Max Trailing Drawdown 5% of the starting balance”“Your stop-out level equals (High-water mark minus last withdrawal) minus (Initial balance times 5%).”How much room you have. Worth little, because almost every firm offers the same.
Withdrawing
How much can leave the account, how soon, how often — and whether they can say no.
Withdrawals before the account endsThey publish no ceiling.3/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The cap per withdrawal times how many they allow is the real size of the account. One plan here is sold on a $200,000 banner and closes after five withdrawals of $2,100.
What else a payout changesThey do not say.0/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The floor is not the only thing a withdrawal moves, and the rest of it is never on the same page. Position size, the consistency rule and the share you are paid all reset or shift at some firms, and a trader who checked only the drawdown finds out afterwards.
What breaking the consistency rule costsThey do not say.no change0/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Weighted by what it costs, not by existing: reading plan by plan, no consistency rule ever closed an account — they postponed the withdrawal.
Can it refuse without giving a reasonyes — it reserves that right in writing0/3
“Forfeiture of payouts while an investigation is ongoing.”“We may decline for any reason” is not a rule, it is the absence of one — it makes every other number on this axis conditional on goodwill.
Days before you can ask for money10 days2/2
“Even with our 1-Step and 2-Step challenge models, we remain among the fastest . Once you complete 10 active trading days and hit 7 profitable days, you’re free to request your first payout, without being forced into a 30-day cycle.”How long your money is theirs.
Most one withdrawal can pay youThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
$2,000 is generous on a $25K account and a joke on a $200K one, so it is measured as a share and at the worst size sold.
Does that cap rise with the accountThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Profit required before the first request2%1/1
“– Minimum $100 profit (or 2% of account balance).”How much you have to make before you can touch anything.
Fee charged to pay youThey do not say.0/1
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
What they charge you to pay you.
How you may trade
Can you trade the way you actually trade — around the news, over the weekend, at the size and speed you use?
Restriction around the newsThey state there is none.no change—
“News Trading Allowed”“Yes. All programs allow news trading, holding positions overnight and over weekends, and using EAs.”Mandatory stop-lossrequired on every positionno change—
“You must set a stop-loss within 60 seconds of opening any position. “Stealth” stop-losses aren’t permitted. If you don’t set a stop-loss within the time frame, your position will be automatically closed after a minute, and considered a soft breach.”Minimum time a trade must be heldThey do not say.no change—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Forced close before the weekendThey state there is none.no change—
“Weekend Holds Allowed”“Yes. All programs allow news trading, holding positions overnight and over weekends, and using EAs.”LeverageThey do not say.no change—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Limit on position sizeThey do not say.no change—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
No score here, on purpose. The six axes above ask whether the firm can take your money or refuse to pay it. These rules ask something else — whether you can trade your way — and the right weight depends on who is reading: a minimum holding time decides the account for a scalper and is invisible to anyone else, while the weekend rule is the reverse. A single number would be wrong for half of you, and would look decided. The firm’s own sentences are here; the judgement is yours.
How it grows
What makes the account get bigger, how big it can get, and whether the path ends at a real market or at a larger simulation.
What makes the account growprofit · time elapsed — all of them—
“Scaling happens when you make 10% profit over 4 months, with 2 of those 4 months profitable, and you end the period in the black.”How large it can get$200,000—
“Max Scaling per Account $200K”Where the path endsat a larger simulation—
“No Client Funds / No Live Trading: Neither CTI FZCO nor City Traders Imperium Limited is a broker, dealer, exchange, or investment adviser, and neither accepts nor manages client deposits. Participants do not trade real assets or place live market orders. Any rewards are performance-based and derived from skill assessment results only.”One of these questions is scored and it is not here. “Does the cap rise with the account” sits on the cash axis, next to the cap itself, because it has a right answer: a bigger account that pays the same cheque has handed you a larger number and the same money. The three below are different. A two-million ceiling is the whole point of the product for one reader and irrelevant to someone who wants one clean payout, so the firm’s sentences are here and the weight is yours.
How hard the test is
Not the profit target on the sales page — that target measured against the room you are given to reach it.
How much you must win to survivefor every $1 you are allowed to lose, you must make $14.40/8
“Phase 1 Profit Target 10% of starting balance”A profit target only means something next to the room you are given to reach it. Ten per cent to make against ten to lose is a coin flip sold as an exam.
Days you have to finishThey state there is none.no change3/3
“Time Limit None”“No. All programs have unlimited time.”A deadline turns a test of skill into a test of whether the market happened to move during your month.
Trading days you must put in3 daysno change2/2
“Min Profitable Trading Days 3 per phase”Cuts both ways: it costs you time, and it also stops an account passing on one lucky afternoon you could never repeat.
A second attempt costsa second attempt is discounted1/2
“Reset on Failure 15% Discount”A free second attempt turns one bad week into a delay instead of another invoice.
Profit target10%5%—
“Phase 1 Profit Target 10% of starting balance”“Phase 2 Profit Target 5% of starting balance”Maximum loss
The loss limit that closes your account. Does it sit still, or does it climb behind you as you win?
What makes the loss limit riseit does not move at allno changeno change3/3
“Max Static Drawdown 10% of the initial balance”“You get both a 5% daily drawdown ( MDD ) and a 10% static drawdown ( MAD ). The daily resets each morning, while the static is fixed from your starting balance. Again, unlimited time to complete both phases.”A limit that climbs takes back the cushion you already earned.
What the limit is measured againstthe day's closing figureno changeno change2/2
“Your drawdown is calculated from account balance, not equity, so an open floating loss never counts against your limit. That gives you room to let a good trade play out instead of getting stopped out early.”“Your drawdown is calculated from account balance, not equity, so an open floating loss never counts against your limit.”“Every CTI program calculates drawdown from your account balance, not your floating equity”Decides whether a trade that dips and recovers can close an account that ended the day green.
What taking a payout does to the limitThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Taking your money out should not leave you closer to losing the account.
Daily limit5%, measured on the day's closing figureno changeno change2/2
“Max Daily Drawdown 5% of start-of-day balance”“The 2-Step daily drawdown is 5% of your initial balance, measured against your balance at the start of each day. It resets daily.”A generous percentage measured on live equity is not generous — it is the same number with a trapdoor under it.
Total loss allowed10%no changeno change1/1
“Max Static Drawdown 10% of the initial balance”“You get both a 5% daily drawdown ( MDD ) and a 10% static drawdown ( MAD ). The daily resets each morning, while the static is fixed from your starting balance.”How much room you have. Worth little, because almost every firm offers the same.
Where the limit stops risingNo such thing in this plan.—
“Max Static Drawdown 10% of the initial balance”The difference between a danger with an end date and one that never ends.
Withdrawing
How much can leave the account, how soon, how often — and whether they can say no.
Withdrawals before the account endsThey publish no ceiling.3/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The cap per withdrawal times how many they allow is the real size of the account. One plan here is sold on a $200,000 banner and closes after five withdrawals of $2,100.
What else a payout changesThey do not say.0/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The floor is not the only thing a withdrawal moves, and the rest of it is never on the same page. Position size, the consistency rule and the share you are paid all reset or shift at some firms, and a trader who checked only the drawdown finds out afterwards.
What breaking the consistency rule costsThey state there is none.no changeno change3/3
“No Consistency Rules”Weighted by what it costs, not by existing: reading plan by plan, no consistency rule ever closed an account — they postponed the withdrawal.
Can it refuse without giving a reasonyes — it reserves that right in writing0/3
“Forfeiture of payouts while an investigation is ongoing.”“We may decline for any reason” is not a rule, it is the absence of one — it makes every other number on this axis conditional on goodwill.
Days before you can ask for money10 days2/2
“Even with our 1-Step and 2-Step challenge models, we remain among the fastest . Once you complete 10 active trading days and hit 7 profitable days, you’re free to request your first payout, without being forced into a 30-day cycle.”How long your money is theirs.
Most one withdrawal can pay youThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
$2,000 is generous on a $25K account and a joke on a $200K one, so it is measured as a share and at the worst size sold.
Does that cap rise with the accountThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Profit required before the first request2%1/1
“– Minimum $100 profit (or 2% of account balance).”How much you have to make before you can touch anything.
Fee charged to pay youThey do not say.0/1
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
What they charge you to pay you.
How you may trade
Can you trade the way you actually trade — around the news, over the weekend, at the size and speed you use?
Restriction around the newsThey state there is none.no changeno change—
“News Trading Allowed”“Yes. All programs allow news trading, holding positions overnight and over weekends, and using EAs.”Mandatory stop-lossrequired on every positionno changeno change—
“You must set a stop-loss within 60 seconds of opening any position. “Stealth” stop-losses aren’t permitted. If you don’t set a stop-loss within the time frame, your position will be automatically closed after a minute, and considered a soft breach.”Minimum time a trade must be heldThey do not say.no changeno change—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Forced close before the weekendThey state there is none.no changeno change—
“Weekend Holds Allowed”“Yes. All programs allow news trading, holding positions overnight and over weekends, and using EAs.”LeverageThey do not say.no changeno change—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Limit on position sizeThey do not say.no changeno change—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
No score here, on purpose. The six axes above ask whether the firm can take your money or refuse to pay it. These rules ask something else — whether you can trade your way — and the right weight depends on who is reading: a minimum holding time decides the account for a scalper and is invisible to anyone else, while the weekend rule is the reverse. A single number would be wrong for half of you, and would look decided. The firm’s own sentences are here; the judgement is yours.
How it grows
What makes the account get bigger, how big it can get, and whether the path ends at a real market or at a larger simulation.
What makes the account growprofit · time elapsed — all of them—
“Scaling happens when you make 10% profit over 4 months, with 2 of those 4 months profitable, and you end the period in the black.”How large it can get$200,000—
“Max Scaling per Account $200K”Where the path endsat a larger simulation—
“No Client Funds / No Live Trading: Neither CTI FZCO nor City Traders Imperium Limited is a broker, dealer, exchange, or investment adviser, and neither accepts nor manages client deposits. Participants do not trade real assets or place live market orders. Any rewards are performance-based and derived from skill assessment results only.”One of these questions is scored and it is not here. “Does the cap rise with the account” sits on the cash axis, next to the cap itself, because it has a right answer: a bigger account that pays the same cheque has handed you a larger number and the same money. The three below are different. A two-million ceiling is the whole point of the product for one reader and irrelevant to someone who wants one clean payout, so the firm’s sentences are here and the weight is yours.
How hard the test is
Not the profit target on the sales page — that target measured against the room you are given to reach it.
How much you must win to surviveNo such thing in this plan.—
“Evaluation Phase None funded from day one”A profit target only means something next to the room you are given to reach it. Ten per cent to make against ten to lose is a coin flip sold as an exam.
Days you have to finishwe did not read this stageThey state there is none.3/3
“Time Limit None”A deadline turns a test of skill into a test of whether the market happened to move during your month.
Trading days you must put inNo such thing in this plan.we did not read this stage—
“Evaluation Phase None funded from day one”Cuts both ways: it costs you time, and it also stops an account passing on one lucky afternoon you could never repeat.
A second attempt costsa second attempt is discounted1/2
“Reset on Failure 10% Discount”A free second attempt turns one bad week into a delay instead of another invoice.
Profit targetNo such thing in this plan.we did not read this stage—
“Evaluation Phase None funded from day one”Maximum loss
The loss limit that closes your account. Does it sit still, or does it climb behind you as you win?
What makes the loss limit riseit does not move at all3/3
“Max Drawdown 6% static from initial balance”A limit that climbs takes back the cushion you already earned.
What the limit is measured againstthe day's closing figure2/2
“Drawdown is calculated from your account balance, not your equity, giving you room to let a good trade play out instead of getting stopped out early.”Decides whether a trade that dips and recovers can close an account that ended the day green.
What taking a payout does to the limitThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Taking your money out should not leave you closer to losing the account.
Daily limitThey state there is none.2/2
“Max Daily Drawdown None”A generous percentage measured on live equity is not generous — it is the same number with a trapdoor under it.
Total loss allowed6%0.50/1
“Your 6% maximum drawdown is calculated from your initial account balance, not your peak equity, so it never trails your profits.”How much room you have. Worth little, because almost every firm offers the same.
Where the limit stops risingNo such thing in this plan.—
“No trailing drawdown.”The difference between a danger with an end date and one that never ends.
Withdrawing
How much can leave the account, how soon, how often — and whether they can say no.
Withdrawals before the account endsThey publish no ceiling.3/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The cap per withdrawal times how many they allow is the real size of the account. One plan here is sold on a $200,000 banner and closes after five withdrawals of $2,100.
What else a payout changesThey do not say.0/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The floor is not the only thing a withdrawal moves, and the rest of it is never on the same page. Position size, the consistency rule and the share you are paid all reset or shift at some firms, and a trader who checked only the drawdown finds out afterwards.
What breaking the consistency rule costsThey do not say.0/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Weighted by what it costs, not by existing: reading plan by plan, no consistency rule ever closed an account — they postponed the withdrawal.
Can it refuse without giving a reasonyes — it reserves that right in writing0/3
“Forfeiture of payouts while an investigation is ongoing.”“We may decline for any reason” is not a rule, it is the absence of one — it makes every other number on this axis conditional on goodwill.
Days before you can ask for money5 days2/2
“Both options require you to have 5 profitable days and at least a 2%/$100 profit when you request a payout. After your first withdrawal, you’re on a bi-weekly schedule (mid-month around the 14th/15th, and the last two days of the month).”How long your money is theirs.
Most one withdrawal can pay youThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
$2,000 is generous on a $25K account and a joke on a $200K one, so it is measured as a share and at the worst size sold.
Does that cap rise with the accountThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Profit required before the first request10%0.40/1
“With regular Instant Funding, your first payout comes after you hit 10% profit. With Instant Pro, you can request payouts on demand right away.”How much you have to make before you can touch anything.
Fee charged to pay youThey do not say.0/1
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
What they charge you to pay you.
How you may trade
Can you trade the way you actually trade — around the news, over the weekend, at the size and speed you use?
Restriction around the newsThey state there is none.—
“News Trading Allowed”Mandatory stop-lossrequired on every position—
“You must set a stop-loss within 60 seconds of opening any position. “Stealth” stop-losses aren’t permitted. If you don’t set a stop-loss within the time frame, your position will be automatically closed after a minute, and considered a soft breach.”Minimum time a trade must be heldThey do not say.—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Forced close before the weekendThey state there is none.—
“Weekend Holds Allowed”LeverageThey do not say.—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Limit on position sizeThey do not say.—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
No score here, on purpose. The six axes above ask whether the firm can take your money or refuse to pay it. These rules ask something else — whether you can trade your way — and the right weight depends on who is reading: a minimum holding time decides the account for a scalper and is invisible to anyone else, while the weekend rule is the reverse. A single number would be wrong for half of you, and would look decided. The firm’s own sentences are here; the judgement is yours.
How it grows
What makes the account get bigger, how big it can get, and whether the path ends at a real market or at a larger simulation.
What makes the account growprofit—
“Every time you achieve 10% profit (with a 20% Consistency Score), your account doubles. A $20k account becomes $40k, then $80k, then $160k, and so on.”How large it can get$2,000,000—
“Max Scaling per Account $2M”Where the path endsat a larger simulation—
“No Client Funds / No Live Trading: Neither CTI FZCO nor City Traders Imperium Limited is a broker, dealer, exchange, or investment adviser, and neither accepts nor manages client deposits. Participants do not trade real assets or place live market orders. Any rewards are performance-based and derived from skill assessment results only.”One of these questions is scored and it is not here. “Does the cap rise with the account” sits on the cash axis, next to the cap itself, because it has a right answer: a bigger account that pays the same cheque has handed you a larger number and the same money. The three below are different. A two-million ceiling is the whole point of the product for one reader and irrelevant to someone who wants one clean payout, so the firm’s sentences are here and the weight is yours.
How hard the test is
Not the profit target on the sales page — that target measured against the room you are given to reach it.
How much you must win to surviveNo such thing in this plan.—
“Evaluation Phase None funded from day one”A profit target only means something next to the room you are given to reach it. Ten per cent to make against ten to lose is a coin flip sold as an exam.
Days you have to finishwe did not read this stageThey state there is none.3/3
“Time Limit None”A deadline turns a test of skill into a test of whether the market happened to move during your month.
Trading days you must put inwe did not read this stageThey state there is none.2/2
“Your first payout unlocks on demand from day 5, with no fixed schedule and no minimum profitable trading days.”Cuts both ways: it costs you time, and it also stops an account passing on one lucky afternoon you could never repeat.
A second attempt costsa second attempt is discounted1/2
“Reset on Failure 10% Discount”A free second attempt turns one bad week into a delay instead of another invoice.
Profit targetNo such thing in this plan.we did not read this stage—
“Evaluation Phase None funded from day one”Maximum loss
The loss limit that closes your account. Does it sit still, or does it climb behind you as you win?
What makes the loss limit riseit does not move at all3/3
“Max Drawdown 6% static from initial balance”A limit that climbs takes back the cushion you already earned.
What the limit is measured againstthe day's closing figure2/2
“Drawdown is calculated from your account balance, not your floating equity, giving a good trade room to play out instead of getting stopped out early.”Decides whether a trade that dips and recovers can close an account that ended the day green.
What taking a payout does to the limitThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Taking your money out should not leave you closer to losing the account.
Daily limitThey state there is none.2/2
“Max Daily Drawdown None”A generous percentage measured on live equity is not generous — it is the same number with a trapdoor under it.
Total loss allowed6%0.50/1
“Your 6% maximum drawdown is calculated once, from your initial account balance, not your peak equity, so it never trails your profits as you grow.”How much room you have. Worth little, because almost every firm offers the same.
Where the limit stops risingNo such thing in this plan.—
“No trailing drawdown, no daily drawdown.”The difference between a danger with an end date and one that never ends.
Withdrawing
How much can leave the account, how soon, how often — and whether they can say no.
Withdrawals before the account endsThey publish no ceiling.3/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The cap per withdrawal times how many they allow is the real size of the account. One plan here is sold on a $200,000 banner and closes after five withdrawals of $2,100.
What else a payout changesThey do not say.0/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The floor is not the only thing a withdrawal moves, and the rest of it is never on the same page. Position size, the consistency rule and the share you are paid all reset or shift at some firms, and a trader who checked only the drawdown finds out afterwards.
What breaking the consistency rule costsThey state there is none.3/3
“Direct Funding has no consistency rule. However your edge shows up, whether it’s spread evenly or you catch one big move, it all counts toward your payout.”Weighted by what it costs, not by existing: reading plan by plan, no consistency rule ever closed an account — they postponed the withdrawal.
Can it refuse without giving a reasonyes — it reserves that right in writing0/3
“Forfeiture of payouts while an investigation is ongoing.”“We may decline for any reason” is not a rule, it is the absence of one — it makes every other number on this axis conditional on goodwill.
Days before you can ask for money5 days2/2
“1st Payout On demand, from day 5”How long your money is theirs.
Most one withdrawal can pay youThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
$2,000 is generous on a $25K account and a joke on a $200K one, so it is measured as a share and at the worst size sold.
Does that cap rise with the accountThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Profit required before the first request2%1/1
“– Minimum $100 profit (or 2% of account balance).”How much you have to make before you can touch anything.
Fee charged to pay youThey do not say.0/1
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
What they charge you to pay you.
How you may trade
Can you trade the way you actually trade — around the news, over the weekend, at the size and speed you use?
Restriction around the newsThey state there is none.—
“News Trading Allowed”Mandatory stop-lossrequired on every position—
“You must set a stop-loss within 60 seconds of opening any position. “Stealth” stop-losses aren’t permitted. If you don’t set a stop-loss within the time frame, your position will be automatically closed after a minute, and considered a soft breach.”Minimum time a trade must be heldThey do not say.—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Forced close before the weekendThey state there is none.—
“Weekend Holds Allowed”LeverageThey do not say.—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Limit on position sizeThey do not say.—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
No score here, on purpose. The six axes above ask whether the firm can take your money or refuse to pay it. These rules ask something else — whether you can trade your way — and the right weight depends on who is reading: a minimum holding time decides the account for a scalper and is invisible to anyone else, while the weekend rule is the reverse. A single number would be wrong for half of you, and would look decided. The firm’s own sentences are here; the judgement is yours.
How it grows
What makes the account get bigger, how big it can get, and whether the path ends at a real market or at a larger simulation.
What makes the account growprofit—
“Hit a 10% profit target and your account scales to the next tier, for example from $5,000 to $10,000. Every additional 10% milestone after that adds another 100% to your balance, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 per account ($4,000,000 across two accounts).”How large it can get$2,000,000—
“Max Scaling per Account $2M”Where the path endsat a larger simulation—
“No Client Funds / No Live Trading: Neither CTI FZCO nor City Traders Imperium Limited is a broker, dealer, exchange, or investment adviser, and neither accepts nor manages client deposits. Participants do not trade real assets or place live market orders. Any rewards are performance-based and derived from skill assessment results only.”One of these questions is scored and it is not here. “Does the cap rise with the account” sits on the cash axis, next to the cap itself, because it has a right answer: a bigger account that pays the same cheque has handed you a larger number and the same money. The three below are different. A two-million ceiling is the whole point of the product for one reader and irrelevant to someone who wants one clean payout, so the firm’s sentences are here and the weight is yours.
How hard the test is
we did not read enough to sayNot the profit target on the sales page — that target measured against the room you are given to reach it.
Below 60% read we publish no number at all, because a grade computed from two facts out of six is not a lenient grade — it is a different measurement wearing the same label.
How much you must win to survive · Profit target · Days you have to finish · Trading days you must put in · A second attempt costs
Maximum loss
The loss limit that closes your account. Does it sit still, or does it climb behind you as you win?
What makes the loss limit riseit does not move at all3/3
“Just a 6% static drawdown. That’s it. You’re trading live capital from day one with no time pressure.”A limit that climbs takes back the cushion you already earned.
Daily limitThey state there is none.2/2
“1-Step: 5% trailing (MTD, balance-based). 2-Step: 5% daily plus 10% static. Instant/Pro: 6% static.”A generous percentage measured on live equity is not generous — it is the same number with a trapdoor under it.
Total loss allowed6%0.50/1
“Just a 6% static drawdown. That’s it. You’re trading live capital from day one with no time pressure.”How much room you have. Worth little, because almost every firm offers the same.
Where the limit stops risingNo such thing in this plan.—
“Just a 6% static drawdown. That’s it.”The difference between a danger with an end date and one that never ends.
What the limit is measured against · What taking a payout does to the limit
Withdrawing
we did not read enough to sayHow much can leave the account, how soon, how often — and whether they can say no.
Can it refuse without giving a reasonyes — it reserves that right in writing0/3
“Forfeiture of payouts while an investigation is ongoing.”“We may decline for any reason” is not a rule, it is the absence of one — it makes every other number on this axis conditional on goodwill.
Days before you can ask for money5 days2/2
“Instant Pro: on-demand payouts (bi-weekly thereafter). Both require 5 PTDs & ≥2%/$100 for the first payout”How long your money is theirs.
Profit required before the first request2%1/1
“Both require 5 PTDs & ≥2%/$100 for the first payout”How much you have to make before you can touch anything.
Below 60% read we publish no number at all, because a grade computed from two facts out of six is not a lenient grade — it is a different measurement wearing the same label.
Most one withdrawal can pay you · Does that cap rise with the account · Withdrawals before the account ends · What else a payout changes · What breaking the consistency rule costs · Fee charged to pay you
How you may trade
Can you trade the way you actually trade — around the news, over the weekend, at the size and speed you use?
Restriction around the newsThey state there is none.—
“Yes. All programs allow news trading, holding positions overnight and over weekends, and using EAs.”Mandatory stop-lossrequired on every position—
“You must set a stop-loss within 60 seconds of opening any position. “Stealth” stop-losses aren’t permitted. If you don’t set a stop-loss within the time frame, your position will be automatically closed after a minute, and considered a soft breach.”Forced close before the weekendThey state there is none.—
“Yes. All programs allow news trading, holding positions overnight and over weekends, and using EAs.”No score here, on purpose. The six axes above ask whether the firm can take your money or refuse to pay it. These rules ask something else — whether you can trade your way — and the right weight depends on who is reading: a minimum holding time decides the account for a scalper and is invisible to anyone else, while the weekend rule is the reverse. A single number would be wrong for half of you, and would look decided. The firm’s own sentences are here; the judgement is yours.
How it grows
What makes the account get bigger, how big it can get, and whether the path ends at a real market or at a larger simulation.
How large it can get$2,000,000—
“Maximum per account: $2M. Maximum across all accounts combined: $4M.”Where the path endsat a larger simulation—
“No Client Funds / No Live Trading: Neither CTI FZCO nor City Traders Imperium Limited is a broker, dealer, exchange, or investment adviser, and neither accepts nor manages client deposits. Participants do not trade real assets or place live market orders. Any rewards are performance-based and derived from skill assessment results only.”One of these questions is scored and it is not here. “Does the cap rise with the account” sits on the cash axis, next to the cap itself, because it has a right answer: a bigger account that pays the same cheque has handed you a larger number and the same money. The three below are different. A two-million ceiling is the whole point of the product for one reader and irrelevant to someone who wants one clean payout, so the firm’s sentences are here and the weight is yours.
How hard the test is
Not the profit target on the sales page — that target measured against the room you are given to reach it.
How much you must win to surviveThey state there is none.8/8
“The conditions are identical: same platforms, same spreads, same execution you’d get on any CTI account, challenge or funded. The only difference is there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts, because the trial exists to test the firm, not to evaluate you.”A profit target only means something next to the room you are given to reach it. Ten per cent to make against ten to lose is a coin flip sold as an exam.
Days you have to finish14 days0/3
“The CTI Free Trial is a free, 14-day test drive of City Traders Imperium’s real trading conditions, no strings attached.”A deadline turns a test of skill into a test of whether the market happened to move during your month.
Trading days you must put inThey state there is none.2/2
“The only difference is there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts, because the trial exists to test the firm, not to evaluate you.”Cuts both ways: it costs you time, and it also stops an account passing on one lucky afternoon you could never repeat.
Profit targetThey state there is none.—
“The conditions are identical: same platforms, same spreads, same execution you’d get on any CTI account, challenge or funded. The only difference is there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts, because the trial exists to test the firm, not to evaluate you.”A second attempt costs
Maximum loss
The loss limit that closes your account. Does it sit still, or does it climb behind you as you win?
What makes the loss limit riseThey do not say.0/3
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
A limit that climbs takes back the cushion you already earned.
What the limit is measured againstThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Decides whether a trade that dips and recovers can close an account that ended the day green.
What taking a payout does to the limitNo such thing in this plan.—
“The only difference is there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts, because the trial exists to test the firm, not to evaluate you.”Taking your money out should not leave you closer to losing the account.
Daily limitThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
A generous percentage measured on live equity is not generous — it is the same number with a trapdoor under it.
Total loss allowedThey do not say.0/1
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
How much room you have. Worth little, because almost every firm offers the same.
Where the limit stops risingThey do not say.—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
The difference between a danger with an end date and one that never ends.
Withdrawing
we did not read enough to sayHow much can leave the account, how soon, how often — and whether they can say no.
Withdrawals before the account endsNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”The cap per withdrawal times how many they allow is the real size of the account. One plan here is sold on a $200,000 banner and closes after five withdrawals of $2,100.
What else a payout changesNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”The floor is not the only thing a withdrawal moves, and the rest of it is never on the same page. Position size, the consistency rule and the share you are paid all reset or shift at some firms, and a trader who checked only the drawdown finds out afterwards.
What breaking the consistency rule costsNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”Weighted by what it costs, not by existing: reading plan by plan, no consistency rule ever closed an account — they postponed the withdrawal.
Can it refuse without giving a reasonNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”“We may decline for any reason” is not a rule, it is the absence of one — it makes every other number on this axis conditional on goodwill.
Days before you can ask for moneyNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”How long your money is theirs.
Most one withdrawal can pay youNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”$2,000 is generous on a $25K account and a joke on a $200K one, so it is measured as a share and at the worst size sold.
Does that cap rise with the accountNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”Profit required before the first requestNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”How much you have to make before you can touch anything.
Fee charged to pay youNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”What they charge you to pay you.
Below 60% read we publish no number at all, because a grade computed from two facts out of six is not a lenient grade — it is a different measurement wearing the same label.
How you may trade
Can you trade the way you actually trade — around the news, over the weekend, at the size and speed you use?
Restriction around the newsThey state there is none.—
“News trading is permitted with no time-window restrictions, and positions can be held over the weekend or overnight on every CTI program. Algorithmic and EA trading are fully supported, so you can trade your own strategy without added limits.”Forced close before the weekendThey state there is none.—
“positions can be held over the weekend or overnight on every CTI program”LeverageThey do not say.—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Limit on position sizeThey do not say.—
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
No score here, on purpose. The six axes above ask whether the firm can take your money or refuse to pay it. These rules ask something else — whether you can trade your way — and the right weight depends on who is reading: a minimum holding time decides the account for a scalper and is invisible to anyone else, while the weekend rule is the reverse. A single number would be wrong for half of you, and would look decided. The firm’s own sentences are here; the judgement is yours.
How it grows
What makes the account get bigger, how big it can get, and whether the path ends at a real market or at a larger simulation.
What makes the account growNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”How large it can getNo such thing in this plan.—
“there are no profit targets, no rules to pass and no payouts”Where the path endsat a larger simulation—
“No Client Funds / No Live Trading: Neither CTI FZCO nor City Traders Imperium Limited is a broker, dealer, exchange, or investment adviser, and neither accepts nor manages client deposits. Participants do not trade real assets or place live market orders. Any rewards are performance-based and derived from skill assessment results only.”One of these questions is scored and it is not here. “Does the cap rise with the account” sits on the cash axis, next to the cap itself, because it has a right answer: a bigger account that pays the same cheque has handed you a larger number and the same money. The three below are different. A two-million ceiling is the whole point of the product for one reader and irrelevant to someone who wants one clean payout, so the firm’s sentences are here and the weight is yours.
The rules in writing
Could you read the rule before paying, and can they change it afterwards?
Can it change the rules without noticeyes, and it says so0.60/3
“City Traders Imperium reserves the right to update this Refund Policy at any time. Changes will be reflected on this page with an updated “Last Revised” date. Continued use of our services after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.”The clause that makes every dated verdict perishable, including ours. Near-universal, so not fatal.
Is the binding document datedThey do not say.0/2
we read the page that should answer this and it does not
Without a date you cannot tell whether the rule you read is the rule they apply.
Two official pages that disagree
who stands behind the account · costs money
“Skill assessment programmes and simulated demo trading services are provided exclusively by City Traders Imperium Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Comoros Union with company number 15969 (License No. L15969/CTI), registered address at Hamchako, Mutsamudu, Autonomous Island of Anjouan, Comoros Union, with operating address at Edificio Faro, Oficina 4, Avenidas 12 y 14, Calle 12, Barrio Luján, San José, Costa Rica. City Traders Imperium Academy educational courses are provided by CTI FZCO (Company No. DSO-FZCO-21340), registered at Dubai Silicon Oasis, DDP, Building A1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.”“City Traders Imperium Limited is registered in England & Wales (registration number 11463147), but we operate globally from Dubai, maintaining regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.”the daily limit · costs money
“The 2-Step uses a static drawdown of 10% of your initial balance, plus a daily drawdown of 5% of your start-of-day balance. Both are fixed dollar amounts that don t move as your account grows, so a winning trade never eats into your remaining buffer.”“The 2-Step daily drawdown is 5% of your initial balance, measured against your balance at the start of each day. It resets daily. So if you have a bad Monday, Tuesday is a fresh start.”the payout terms · costs money
“1st Payout 7 days”“Even with our 1-Step and 2-Step challenge models, we remain among the fastest . Once you complete 10 active trading days and hit 7 profitable days, you’re free to request your first payout, without being forced into a 30-day cycle.”the payout terms · costs money
“Instant Pro – on-demand payouts. Regular Instant Funding pays after you hit 10%. Challenge programs pay on demand after 7 profitable days and at least 2%/$100. After your first payout, each program follows its own schedule (monthly for Challenges, bi-weekly for Instant).”“Challenge programs: Monthly (last 5 days of each calendar month).”the payout terms · costs money
“Your first payout unlocks on demand from day 5, with no fixed schedule and no minimum profitable trading days. Request a payout the moment you’re ready, not when a calendar says you can.”“Payout frequency increases right alongside it. It starts monthly, moves to weekly once you hit Bronze, and becomes on demand once you hit Silver, so consistent progress gets you both a bigger share and faster access to it.”whether the account reaches a real market · costs credibility
“Skip the evaluation. Trade real capital from day one.”“Legal Disclosure: City Traders Imperium Limited provides access to simulated trading skill assessment programmes designed solely for the evaluation of trading proficiency and risk-management skills. City Traders Imperium Academy provides structured educational courses. All trading activity occurs in a demo environment using virtual capital.”Where the rule that binds you is published
The company behind it
If it goes wrong, which company do you claim against, and under whose laws?
The company you contract withCity Traders Imperium Limitedno change4/4
“Skill assessment programmes and simulated demo trading services are provided exclusively by City Traders Imperium Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Comoros Union with company number 15969 (License No. L15969/CTI), registered address at Hamchako, Mutsamudu, Autonomous Island of Anjouan, Comoros Union, with operating address at Edificio Faro, Oficina 4, Avenidas 12 y 14, Calle 12, Barrio Luján, San José, Costa Rica.”“Skill assessment programmes and simulated demo trading services are provided exclusively by City Traders Imperium Limited”With no named company there is nobody to sue.
Where it is registeredwe did not read this stageComoros Union — Autonomous Island of Anjouan0.40/2
“a company incorporated under the laws of Comoros Union with company number 15969 (License No. L15969/CTI), registered address at Hamchako, Mutsamudu, Autonomous Island of Anjouan, Comoros Union”A claim in the Czech Republic and a claim in St Vincent are not the same claim.
Its registration numberwe did not read this stage15969 (License No. L15969/CTI)2/2
“company number 15969 (License No. L15969/CTI)”What turns a name into something checkable in a public register.
The people behind it are namedyes2/2
“Daniel Martin founded City Traders Imperium in 2018 (London, UK) to fix the broken relationship between retail traders and prop firms.”Named people can be looked up. A company on its own cannot always be.
Almost no firm here has a financial regulator, because selling simulated evaluations is not a regulated activity anywhere. Of the 114 firms we scored by hand, 96 sat in the bottom two rungs of backing for this reason. So we do not count it against anyone — it only adds when a firm genuinely has one.
That company owns the brand
The market
Do your orders reach a market, or is all of it a simulation?
What the funded account issimulated, with no route to real capital0/4
“Legal Disclosure: City Traders Imperium Limited provides access to simulated trading skill assessment programmes designed solely for the evaluation of trading proficiency and risk-management skills. City Traders Imperium Academy provides structured educational courses. All trading activity occurs in a demo environment using virtual capital.”The question that separates a firm that earns when you lose from one that earns when you last.
Conditions to reach a real marketNo such thing in this plan.—
“Legal Disclosure: City Traders Imperium Limited provides access to simulated trading skill assessment programmes designed solely for the evaluation of trading proficiency and risk-management skills. City Traders Imperium Academy provides structured educational courses. All trading activity occurs in a demo environment using virtual capital.”Promising a route to a real market without publishing the conditions is promising nothing.
Almost none names a broker or a clearing house either, and that follows from the account being a simulation rather than being a second, separate failing. Charging for both would count one fact twice.
We read the rules of every plan it sells and issued a verdict on each one.