Our editorial team compared every key metric — fees, rules, profit split, payouts — so you can pick the right firm.
| Feature | Crypto Fund Trader | City Traders Imperium |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | ||
| Profit Split | 80% → 90% | 80% (up to 100%) |
| First Payout | — | On demand (after 7 profitable days) |
| Payout Frequency | Weekly, on-demand | Monthly (1-Step/2-Step); Bi-weekly (Instant) |
| Max Account Size | $200,000 | $100,000 |
It's a Tie!
In this independent head-to-head comparison of Crypto Fund Trader 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.
Crypto Fund Trader: 715 Crypto Pairs. The #1 Crypto Prop Firm.
City Traders Imperium: Est. 2018. No Daily Loss Limit on 1-Step. Monthly Salary. Scales to $4M.
Both firms score equally in our independent methodology. The best choice depends on which specific features matter most to your trading style.
BestProp Score: Crypto Fund Trader scores 8.6/10 vs City Traders Imperium at 8.6/10.
Minimum Fee: Crypto Fund Trader starts from $45; City Traders Imperium starts from $29. City Traders Imperium is cheaper at entry level.
Profit Split: Crypto Fund Trader offers 80% → 90%; City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%). City Traders Imperium has the higher split.
Platforms: Crypto Fund Trader supports MT5, Match-Trader, Bybit; City Traders Imperium is on MT5, Match Trader.
Tradeable Markets: Crypto Fund Trader covers Crypto (715 pairs), Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities; 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 Crypto Fund Trader and City Traders Imperium compare on pricing.
Crypto Fund Trader challenge fees start from $45. The firm has operated since 2021. They have funded over 55,000+ traders. Total payouts to date: $20M+.
City Traders Imperium challenge fees start from $29. The firm has operated since 2018.
On entry-level pricing, City Traders Imperium offers a lower starting fee — an important factor if you are testing with a smaller account first.
Crypto Fund Trader profit split: 80% → 90%. City Traders Imperium profit split: 80% (up to 100%). City Traders Imperium delivers the higher cut to traders.
Payout frequency: Crypto Fund Trader pays Weekly, 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 Crypto Fund Trader:
Crypto Fund Trader was founded in 2021 by Alan Sánchez and is legally registered in Switzerland (SWISS RLCRATES AG) with offices in Pamplona, Spain and Dubai. It positions itself as a crypto-first prop firm — and backs that claim with access to 715 crypto pairs across Bybit, MT5, and Match-Trader, a wider crypto instrument selection than any other firm we have reviewed.
With $20M+ in total payouts and 4.4/5 on Trustpilot from over 1,100 reviews, the track record is solid for a firm of its age. One of its more unusual features is the Ascend program, where a portion of challenge fees is donated to educational projects in underprivileged countries — a rare charitable dimension in the prop firm industry.
Crypto Fund Trader suits dedicated crypto traders who want access to the deepest crypto instrument selection available in funded trading. The 715 crypto pairs — including access through real Bybit infrastructure — gives serious crypto traders breadth that crypto-adjacent prop firms cannot match.
The firm also suits traders who want flexibility in evaluation format: from a fast 1-phase Break program to a structured 2-phase Ascend challenge to instant live funding, there is a path for every risk appetite and time horizon.
Crypto Fund Trader offers four programs:
715 crypto pairs — the widest crypto selection of any prop firm reviewed on BestProp. Bybit integration gives real exchange liquidity on crypto trades. Beyond crypto, the firm covers forex, indices, stocks, and commodities, making it one of the few crypto-first firms with genuine multi-asset reach.
Crypto Fund Trader earns a 7.5 BestProp score. The 715-pair crypto depth, Swiss legal registration, multi-platform setup with real Bybit execution, and charitable Ascend program are genuine differentiators. The $20M+ in payouts and 1,100+ Trustpilot reviews provide reasonable validation for a firm founded in 2021.
The trade-offs: the Instant program’s 50–70% split is the lowest we have seen in instant funding, the Break program’s 40% consistency rule adds a layer of complexity to payout calculations, and the wide fee range on Ascend ($45–$1,798) means due diligence on pricing is essential before committing to a large account size.
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.
Both Crypto Fund Trader and City Traders Imperium are evenly matched in our scoring. The right choice depends on specific features that matter most to you: pricing, profit split, platforms, or trading conditions.
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, both firms score equally. The best choice depends on your trading style, preferred instruments, and account size.
City Traders Imperium offers a lower entry-level challenge fee. However, always compare the full account sizes you plan to trade before deciding purely on price.
City Traders Imperium offers the higher profit split. Crypto Fund Trader: 80% → 90%. City Traders Imperium: 80% (up to 100%).
EA policies: Crypto Fund Trader — check the review. City Traders Imperium — check the review. Always verify the latest policy directly with the firm.
News trading: Crypto Fund Trader — check the review. City Traders Imperium — check the review.
Read the full Crypto Fund Trader review → · Read the full City Traders Imperium review →
Both Crypto Fund Trader and City Traders Imperium are strong prop firms. The right choice depends on your trading style, preferred platform and rules. Use the side-by-side table above to compare the key metrics.
Crypto Fund Trader offers 80% → 90% profit split, while City Traders Imperium offers 80% (up to 100%) profit split. Check each firm's current terms as these can change.
Yes! Crypto Fund Trader: 10% off — code BESTPROPIO. See the offer button above for full terms.
Crypto Fund Trader 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 Crypto Fund Trader 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.
