📋 In This Review
📊 Firm Overview
Updated Sep 2026Account Sizes
$2.5K – $200K
Min Eval Fee
$39 (one-time)
CEO / Founder
Daniel Martin & Martin Najat
Profit Split
70% – 100%
Payout Time
5 - 7 Days
DD Type
Hybrid
Markets
Forex, Gold, Commodities, Indices, Crypto
News Trading
Yes
Overnight Hold
Yes
Scaling
Up to $4M
Exclusive Discount
SINCE2018
15% off 1-Step, 2-Step, and Instant Funding evaluation packages
🔬 SPR Intelligence Analysis
Proprietary MetricsDifficulty Score Based on profit target, drawdown type, min days and restrictions. 10 = extremely hard to pass.
5.8/10
Average difficulty — hybrid drawdown
Value Score Lower = better value. Industry average ~$7.00 per $1K.
$6.58 per $1K funded
$39 (one-time)
vs ~$7.00 avg across all tracked firms
Best Trader Profile Trading styles most likely to succeed given this firm's specific rule set and drawdown type.
Swing Trader
Position Trader
Risk-Conscious Scalper
City Traders Imperium suits swing traders and day traders who benefit from balance-based drawdown protection, avoiding premature stop-outs from unrealized open profit swings. Its 2-Step Challenge features a high 10% static max drawdown, while its Instant Funding paths provide immediate live sim capital access without evaluation hurdles.
📰 Firm Updates & News
Live Feed2026-09-01
SINCE2018 promo code active offering 15% discount across 1-Step, 2-Step, and Instant programs Promo
2026-07-14
CTI VIP ladder structure updated enabling weekly payouts and 100% profit split progression Rule
2026-05-20
Instant Funding Pro expanded with $2M account tier capacity and balance-based drawdown rules Platform
2026-04-10
1-Step Challenge profit target optimized to 8% target with balance-based trailing drawdown Rule
🛡️ Is City Traders Imperium (CTI) Legitimate?
✓ Legitimate
Registered In
United Kingdom (London) / City Traders Imperium Ltd
Operating Since
2018
Reported Payouts
$15M+ paid out to traders globally
Regulation
Prop Model
⚠ Red Flags to Know
Mandatory stop-loss rule enforced on all positions within 60 seconds of execution
30-day inactivity rule can trigger account termination if no trade is placed
1-Step Challenge total drawdown ceiling is restricted to 5%
📋 Challenge Rules
1️⃣ 1-step
2️⃣ 2-step
⚡ Instant Funding
🧮 Challenge Fee Calculator
Select account size to see full cost breakdown:
✅ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Balance-based drawdown calculation protects floating profit from trailing loss limits
10% static overall maximum drawdown on 2-Step Challenge programs
Profit split scales up to 100% with no add-on fees via the CTI VIP ladder program
Unrestricted news trading, overnight position holding, and weekend holding permitted
Direct Instant Funding available up to $2M per account and $4M aggregate allocation
No maximum time limits across 1-Step, 2-Step, or Instant evaluation programs
❌ Cons
Mandatory stop-loss placement required within 1 minute of opening trades
Minimum 3 profitable trading days (achieving at least 0.5% profit) required per phase
Inactivity rule deactivates accounts if no trade is placed within 30 consecutive days
1-Step Challenge features a tighter 5% total drawdown limit
🎯 Who Is This Firm For?
✅ Ideal For
Traders who hold winning positions overnight without risking trailing equity drawdowns
Swing traders needing weekend and high-impact news event flexibility
Traders looking for direct instant funding with immediate payout eligibility
Traders aiming to scale accounts long-term up to a 100% profit split
❌ Not Ideal For
Traders who dislike mandatory stop-loss execution rules
Scalpers who operate without defined stop-loss risk management
Traders seeking extremely high leverage above 1:30 on Forex pairs
⚖️ Our Verdict
★★★★☆ 4.4/5
City Traders Imperium remains one of the highest-rated UK prop firms due to its structural focus on balance-based drawdown rules rather than high-watermark equity limits. Its 2-Step Challenge provides an excellent 10% static drawdown balance buffer, while its Instant Funding models allow serious traders to bypass evaluation phases entirely and scale capital up to $4M.
✓ Recommended for Swing Trader, Position Trader, Risk-Conscious Scalper
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. City Traders Imperium is an established UK-based prop firm headquartered in London and operating since 2018. It has paid out over $15,000,000 to funded traders worldwide and holds strong ratings across independent industry review sites.
Unlike equity-based trailing drawdowns, CTI calculates drawdown strictly from your closed account balance. Open winning trades that temporarily retraced do not pull up your loss limit, giving your positions room to breathe.
Yes. CTI requires traders to place a stop loss on every open position within 1 minute of trade execution. Missing a stop loss is treated as a soft breach rule.
CTI offers three core funding models: 2-Step Challenge (10% static DD, 5% daily DD), 1-Step Challenge (8% target, 5% balance-based DD), and Instant Funding / Instant Funding Pro (direct live sim capital up to $2M).
Yes. City Traders Imperium permits unrestricted news trading, overnight holding, and weekend position holding across all account types, provided proper risk controls (like stop losses) are maintained.
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