For traders in South Africa—from Johannesburg to Cape Town—FTMO offers a two-step evaluation to unlock up to $200 K in virtual trading capital and keep up to 90% of your profits. Fees start at USD 155 (≈ZAR 2 500), risk limits are transparent, and payouts occur bi-weekly via local bank transfer, Skrill, cards, PayPal or crypto.
Table of Contents
- Company Overview
- Program Structure
- FTMO Challenge (Step 1)
- Verification (Step 2)
- FTMO Account & Payouts
- Deposit & Withdrawal Methods
- Pros & Cons
- FAQ
- Who Should Choose FTMO?
- Next Steps
Company Overview
FTMO was founded in 2015 as a modern prop-trading firm that funds talented traders via a simulated evaluation rather than acting as a traditional broker. Over 240 000 FTMO Challenge accounts have been opened globally—including many in South Africa—allowing you to prove your edge without risking personal capital.
Program Structure
FTMO’s funding path has three stages:
- FTMO Challenge – achieve +10% profit under strict loss limits (no time limit).
- Verification – demonstrate consistency with +5% profit under the same loss rules.
- FTMO Account – trade up to $200 K virtual capital; keep up to 90% of profits.
FTMO Challenge (Step 1)
- Profit Target: +10%
- Max Loss: 10%; Daily Drawdown Limit: 5%
- Minimum Trading Days: 4 (at least one trade per day)
- Time Limit: none
- Fee: USD 155 for a USD 50 K challenge
Verification (Step 2)
- Profit Target: +5%
- Loss Rules: same 10% max, 5% daily
- Time Limit: none
- Outcome: pass and sign FTMO Agreement to receive a funded demo account
FTMO Account & Payouts
- Virtual Capital: up to USD 200 K
- Profit Split: 80% initially → 90% after meeting scale criteria
- Fee Refund: challenge fee refunded with first payout
- Scaling Plan: increase account in 25% increments up to USD 2 M
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods
- Payout Cycle: bi-weekly via South African bank transfer, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, PayPal
- Crypto Payouts: USDT/USDC on request
- Challenge Purchase: credit card, bank transfer, Skrill, PayPal (no ZAR rails—use USD or crypto)
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Builds disciplined risk management habits | Upfront fee; no refund if you fail challenge |
| Keep up to 90% of profits | No direct ZAR funding—requires USD/crypto conversion |
| No time limits; focus on consistency | Demo environment before live capital |
| Bi-weekly payouts via multiple methods | Minimum trading days requirement |
| Clear rules & free tools during evaluation | Fee refund only after first payout |
FAQ
Q: Can I use EAs or scalping?
A: Yes—MT5 supports EAs and scalping if you adhere to stop-loss rules and avoid arbitrage/copy-trading.
Q: What if I hit max loss or daily drawdown?
A: Your challenge or verification ends; you must repurchase to retry. Daily pause resets next trading day.
Q: How many accounts can I hold?
A: One active Challenge or Verification at a time per account size; you may progress sequentially through sizes.
Who Should Choose FTMO?
- Disciplined traders who thrive under clear risk rules
- Part-time traders needing unlimited time to meet targets
- South African traders with USD/crypto access seeking remote funding
Next Steps
Ready to prove your trading edge and access up to USD 200 K in virtual capital? Start your FTMO Challenge today:
Data sourced from FTMO.com as of April 2025.