Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | Klein Funding | City Traders Imperium |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 40% → 70% | 80% (up to 100%) |
| First Payout | — | On demand (after 7 profitable days) |
| Payout Frequency | On-demand | Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant) |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $100,000 |
Winner: City Traders Imperium
In this independent head-to-head comparison of Klein Funding vs City Traders Imperium, we break down challenge rules, pricing, profit splits, and payout conditions to help you decide which prop firm is the better fit for your trading style.
Klein Funding: Set Your Own Risk, Trade Crypto Your Way
City Traders Imperium: Est. 2018. No Daily Loss Limit on 1-Step. Monthly Salary. Scales to $4M.
Based on our independent scoring methodology, City Traders Imperium scores 8.6/10 overall — but the best choice depends on your specific needs. Read the full comparison below.
BestProp Score: Klein Funding scores 7.8/10 vs City Traders Imperium at 8.6/10.
Minimum Fee: Klein Funding starts from Trading fees only; City Traders Imperium starts from $29.
Profit Split: Klein Funding offers 40% → 70%; City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%). City Traders Imperium has the higher split.
Platforms: Klein Funding supports Bybit; City Traders Imperium is on MT5, Match Trader.
Tradeable Markets: Klein Funding covers Crypto (700+ pairs); City Traders Imperium offers Forex (28 pairs), Indices (9), Gold, Silver, Oil, Crypto (BTC, ETH, LTC, ADA, XRP).
Challenge fees are typically the biggest factor when choosing a prop firm. Here is how Klein Funding and City Traders Imperium compare on pricing.
Klein Funding challenge fees start from Trading fees only. The firm has operated since 2024.
City Traders Imperium challenge fees start from $29. The firm has operated since 2018.
Klein Funding profit split: 40% → 70%. City Traders Imperium profit split: 80% (up to 100%). City Traders Imperium delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: Klein Funding pays On-demand; City Traders Imperium pays Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant). Faster payouts are better for cash flow management.
Here is our full independent review of Klein Funding:
Klein Funding is a London-based cryptocurrency prop firm founded in November 2024 by David Allard. It operates in the same Prague-adjacent EU-registered crypto prop firm category as HyroTrader and Mubite, but with one notable structural difference: rather than charging upfront challenge fees, Klein Funding’s costs come from Bybit exchange maker/taker fees (0.02% maker, 0.055% taker) accrued during trading. This makes it one of the few prop firms where the barrier to entry is behaviour, not capital.
The firm is still building its verified track record, but has accumulated a 4.9/5 customer rating across review platforms and offers one of the more flexible challenge structures in the crypto prop space — including a customisable drawdown system where traders set their own risk parameters.
Klein Funding is designed for cryptocurrency futures traders who want to choose their own risk profile rather than accept a fixed set of rules. The customisable drawdown model — where you set your maximum drawdown between 6% and 14%, with the profit target adjusting accordingly — suits traders who know their strategy’s risk parameters and want the rules to match them.
It is not suitable for forex, stocks, or indices traders, and traders who rely on automated systems, copy trading, or high-frequency strategies should note these are restricted. The firm is very young, which means the payout track record is still forming — experienced traders who prefer certainty may want to wait for more data.
Klein Funding offers four paths to funding:
Evaluation accounts range from $6,000 to $200,000. Challenge costs come from Bybit trading fees rather than upfront registration fees — check the Klein Funding website for the current fee structure as it may have been updated.
Klein Funding’s standout feature is its customisable risk system. You can set your maximum drawdown anywhere between 6% and 14%, and the profit target adjusts in proportion. Choosing a tighter drawdown (6%) means a lower profit target; choosing a looser drawdown (14%) means a higher target. Daily drawdown is always set at half your chosen maximum drawdown.
This is genuinely useful for systematic traders who know their strategy’s expected maximum drawdown and don’t want to be disqualified by an arbitrary rule that doesn’t match their approach.
The base 40% profit split on challenge accounts is below the industry standard of 70–80% seen at most competitors. Klein Funding’s model is structured differently to most — lower upfront costs but a lower initial split — so factor this into your overall return calculation before committing.
Klein Funding earns a 6.5 BestProp score. The customisable drawdown system is a genuinely innovative feature, the no-upfront-fee model lowers the barrier to entry, and the Instant Pro scaling path to $2M is ambitious. These are real positives.
The significant caution: Klein Funding launched in November 2024 and has no published track record of total payouts or funded trader numbers. The base 40% profit split on challenge accounts is the lowest we have reviewed. For traders who want to try the customisable drawdown model, starting with Instant Pro (70% split) rather than the evaluation path makes more financial sense until the firm establishes a longer track record.
Here is our full independent review of City Traders Imperium:
City Traders Imperium (CTI) was founded in June 2018, making it one of the longest-established prop firms in the world. Operated by CTI FZCO and headquartered at Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE, with UK phone support, the firm is led by CEO Daniel Martin and co-founder Martin Najat. CTI holds a 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating from 1,150+ reviews. Maximum initial account: $100,000; maximum combined allocation: $440,000; scaling potential to $4,000,000. All accounts operate on MetaTrader 5 or Match Trader.
CTI distinguishes itself on two fronts: the 1-Step challenge carries no daily loss limit — one of very few prop firms to offer this — and traders receive a monthly salary ($12.50-$500 depending on account size and program) in addition to profit splits. The firm also includes trading education (academy access) with all programs.
1-Step Challenge ($29-$469 for $2.5K-$100K): Single phase, 8% profit target. No daily loss limit. Max drawdown: 5% static. Minimum 3 profitable days. First payout on demand after 7 profitable days and 2% net profit (or $100 minimum). Subsequent payouts monthly (last 5 days of month). Up to 100% profit split. No time limit. The absence of a daily loss limit is the defining feature — traders cannot be stopped out by a single volatile session as long as their total equity remains above the 5% threshold. Available from $2,500 (entry fee: $29) up to $100,000 ($469).
2-Step Evaluation ($39-$549 for $2.5K-$100K): Phase 1: 10% target. Phase 2: 5% target. Daily loss: 5%. Max drawdown: 10% static. Minimum 3 profitable days. First payout on demand after 7 profitable days. Subsequent payouts monthly. 80-100% split. No time limit. Standard two-phase structure with the widest max drawdown buffer of any CTI program.
Instant Funding ($69-$1,499 for $2.5K-$80K): No evaluation required. 10% profit target required before scaling. Max drawdown: 6% static. First payout on demand after 5 profitable days and 2% net profit. Bi-weekly payouts (14th/15th and last 2 days of month). Up to 100% split. Leverage 1:10. Suitable for traders who want immediate funded access and are willing to demonstrate a 10% gain before accessing scaling.
Instant Funding Pro ($299-$4,799 for $5K-$80K): Premium instant access tier with the same fundamental structure as Instant Funding but at a higher fee level. Verify full specifications and any additional benefits directly on the CTI website.
CTI pays a monthly salary to all funded traders regardless of trading performance — amounts range from $12.50/month (small 1-Step) to $500/month ($100K 2-Step or Instant accounts). This is a genuinely unusual feature in the prop firm industry: traders receive guaranteed regular income in addition to their profit split. Confirm exact salary amounts per program on the CTI website.
The $5/lot forex commission meaningfully impacts scalpers and high-frequency traders. Factor into target calculations: on 100 round trips/month on a $50K account, that is $500 in commission before profit split.
Platforms: MetaTrader 5, Match Trader. Instruments: 28 Forex pairs, 9 major indices (leverage 1:10), Gold, Silver, Oil (leverage 1:10), Crypto (BTC, ETH, LTC, ADA, XRP — zero commission). Leverage on Forex: 1:30. No restrictions on news or overnight trading on funded accounts.
City Traders Imperium earns a 7.6 BestProp score. Founded in 2018 — over seven years of operation — makes CTI one of the most battle-tested prop firms in existence. The 4.5/5 Trustpilot from 1,150+ reviews reflects a long track record. The no-daily-loss-limit on the 1-Step is a meaningful structural advantage for traders who can manage total drawdown discipline. The monthly salary is a genuinely unique feature that adds a real income floor. Small account sizes from $2,500 at $29 entry fee are accessible. Scales to $4,000,000.
Key trade-offs: the EA restriction (own source code only) makes CTI unsuitable for most algorithmic traders who use commercial tools. The $5/lot forex commission is high and penalises active traders. MT5/Match Trader only limits platform choice. Monthly payouts on 1-Step/2-Step (once per month window) means cash flow is less frequent than bi-weekly or weekly competitors. The 7-profitable-day minimum for first payout also adds waiting time. CTI is best suited to discretionary traders — particularly those with a custom EA — who value longevity and the unique salary feature over faster payouts or EA flexibility.
Overall, our independent scoring gives City Traders Imperium the edge in this 2026 comparison. However, both firms have their merits. If Klein Funding better matches your specific trading style, instruments, or preferred platform, it may still be the right choice for you.
Use our comparison table above and review the challenge fees at both firms before making your final decision. Both offer risk-free evaluation programs — the challenge fee is the only money at risk.
Based on our independent scoring, City Traders Imperium scores higher overall (8.6/10). The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
Both firms have similar entry-level pricing. Compare the full fee schedule for your target account size.
City Traders Imperium offers the higher profit split. Klein Funding: 40% → 70%. City Traders Imperium: 80% (up to 100%).
EA policies: Klein Funding — check the review. City Traders Imperium — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: Klein Funding — check the review. City Traders Imperium — check the review.
Read the full Klein Funding review → · Read the full City Traders Imperium review →
Based on our scoring methodology, City Traders Imperium edges ahead in this comparison. However, the best choice depends on your trading style, preferred platform and account size. Read the full breakdown above for a detailed verdict.
Klein Funding offers 40% → 70% profit split, while City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%) profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Check our offers page for the latest verified deals on both firms.
Klein Funding processes first payouts in a variable timeframe, while City Traders Imperium takes approximately On demand (after 7 profitable days) day(s). Always verify current payout timelines on the firm's website.
Neither Klein Funding nor City Traders Imperium are regulated in the traditional financial sense — prop firms operate as private companies providing traders access to simulated or real capital. Always read the terms and conditions carefully before participating in any prop challenge.
