FTMO Announces Major Rule Changes for 2025

FTMO, widely regarded as the firm that pioneered the modern prop trading challenge model, has announced a sweeping set of changes to their program effective April 2025. These updates touch nearly every aspect of the trader experience — from profit splits and challenge structure to trading rules and payout processing.

For the thousands of traders currently funded with FTMO, and the many more considering their program, these changes carry significant implications. Let’s break down what’s new, what it means for you, and how FTMO now stacks up against the competition.

Profit Split Increase — A Long-Awaited Move

The headline change is a base profit split increase from 80% to 85% for all standard funded accounts. Traders enrolled in FTMO’s scaling plan will be eligible for up to 90%, matching what several newer competitors have been offering for the past year.

This is a meaningful improvement, particularly for high-volume traders. Consider a funded trader generating $8,000 per month in profits. Under the old 80% split, they’d take home $6,400. At the new 85%, that number climbs to $6,800 — an extra $4,800 per year without changing anything about their trading. For scaling plan members at 90%, the annual difference is even more pronounced.

FTMO has acknowledged that this change is a direct response to competitive pressure. Firms like Take Profit Trader and Apex Trader Funding have been offering 90% splits for some time now, and FTMO’s previous 80% split was increasingly seen as a weak point in an otherwise strong program.

Streamlined Challenge Structure

FTMO is making notable changes to their two-phase evaluation process. While the basic structure remains the same — you still need to pass both phases to receive funding — the specific parameters are being adjusted to reduce friction and increase pass rates.

Phase 1 retains the 10% profit target but now comes with significantly relaxed time limits. Previously, traders had 30 days to complete Phase 1, which created unnecessary pressure for traders who preferred a slower, more methodical approach. The new structure gives traders considerably more breathing room.

Phase 2 is where the biggest change lands. The 5% profit target remains, but the time limit has been completely removed. Previously capped at 60 days, traders can now take as long as they need to reach the target. This is a game-changing update for traders who prioritize consistency over speed, and it brings FTMO in line with competitors who already offer unlimited-time challenges.

Relaxed Trading Rules

Beyond the structural changes, FTMO is loosening several trading restrictions that have been pain points for traders.

News trading is now permitted on all account types, including funded accounts. This is a significant shift for macroeconomic traders whose strategies are built around high-impact data releases like NFP, CPI, and FOMC statements. Previously, FTMO restricted trading around these events, which excluded an entire category of legitimate trading strategies.

Weekend holding is now allowed for forex pairs. Traders can carry positions over the weekend without concern for automatic closure or rule violations. This is particularly relevant for swing traders who operate on daily or weekly timeframes and don’t want to be forced into closing positions every Friday afternoon.

Daily drawdown calculation has been changed to closed-equity only. Under the previous system, drawdown was calculated based on floating (unrealized) equity, which meant a temporary adverse move could trigger a violation even if the trade ultimately would have been profitable. The new closed-equity calculation only considers realized losses, giving traders more flexibility to manage positions through normal market volatility.

How FTMO Now Compares to Competitors

With these changes, FTMO has significantly closed the gap with newer, more aggressive competitors. Here’s how the updated program compares to some of the most popular alternatives:

Feature	FTMO (Updated)	Take Profit Trader	Apex Trader Funding
Profit Split	85-90%	90%	90%
Payout Speed	2-3 business days	Instant	2 business days
News Trading	Allowed	Allowed	Allowed
Time Limit	None (Phase 2)	None	None
Daily Drawdown	Closed equity	Closed equity	Trailing
Scaling Plan	Yes	Yes	Yes

As the table shows, FTMO is now competitive on most fronts, though Take Profit Trader still holds an edge with instant payouts and a slightly higher base profit split. Apex Trader Funding remains competitive on pricing but uses a trailing drawdown model that some traders find more restrictive.

Impact on Existing Funded Traders

Here’s the good news: FTMO has confirmed that the profit split increase will apply retroactively to all currently funded traders. You don’t need to do anything — the new rate will be reflected automatically in your next payout cycle.

The rule changes, including the relaxed news trading and weekend holding policies, will also apply to existing accounts effective April 1st. However, the extended time limits on challenges only apply to evaluations started after the change takes effect.

Our Take

These improvements are long overdue, and they represent FTMO’s recognition that the prop trading landscape has evolved dramatically since they first popularized the challenge model. The profit split increase and rule relaxation bring them back into serious contention as a top-tier option.

That said, FTMO still trails the best firms in payout speed — instant payouts have become the industry standard, and 2-3 business days feels slow by comparison. Their challenge pricing is also on the higher end of the market, which makes sense given their brand recognition but means you’re paying a premium for the FTMO name.

For traders who value brand stability, a proven track record, and a massive community of fellow funded traders, FTMO remains an excellent choice — especially now. But for those who prioritize getting paid fast and keeping more of their profits, firms like Take Profit Trader still offer a better overall package.