City Traders Imperium Review
VerifiedEst. 2018 · AE · 24,000+ Discord, 21,500+ Instagram
Our Final Verdict On City Traders Imperium
City Traders Imperium is a viable option if you want multiple routes to funding, including One Step, Two Step, and Instant Funding programs, all with no time limits. All accounts operate in a simulated environment. Evaluation challenges use balance-based (static) drawdown, while Instant Funding accounts use trailing drawdown tied to the account balance.
BPF Score
Trustpilot: 4.4/5
★
From $39
Challenge Types
1-step, 2-step, instant
Profit Split
100%
Challenge Fees
Starting from $39
Trading Platforms
MT5, MatchTrader
Independent Review
Our Rating
Challenges
Spreads
Markets
Payouts
Platforms
Trust
Pros
- Scaling up to $4 million across multiple Instant Funding accounts
- Instant Funding accounts with no evaluation required
- Salary payments available for traders meeting long-term consistency criteria
- No time limits on any challenge type
- Balance-based (static) drawdown on evaluation challenges
- $5 round-turn forex and commodities commissions, $0.50 for indices, zero for crypto
Cons
- US clients restricted to MatchTrader platform only
- No stock or share trading available
- Maximum $100,000 individual account size
- Low leverage compared to competitors (1:30 forex challenges)
- Profit splits start around 50% on Instant Funding
- Around 50 tradeable instruments — exact counts may vary
Best For
Traders who prefer slower progression, strict risk controls, and long-term consistency over flexibility or fast payouts
Not Ideal For
Traders looking for higher leverage, larger starting capital, broader markets, or firms with stock trading and higher starting profit splits
Our Take on City Traders Imperium
City Traders Imperium (CTI) scored 72/100 in our 2026 review. Founded in 2018, CTI offers four routes to funding: One Step and Two Step evaluation challenges, plus Instant Funding and Instant Funding Pro. All accounts operate in a simulated environment. Evaluation challenges use balance-based (static) drawdown, while Instant Funding accounts use trailing drawdown tied to the account balance.
Profit splits on evaluation challenges start at 80% and can scale to 100%. Instant Funding starts around 50% and increases through scaling milestones. The $4M scaling potential only applies to Instant Funding accounts across multiple accounts — evaluation challenges are effectively capped at $200K per account. Instant Funding traders start with half the advertised balance and unlock the full amount after hitting the first profit milestone.
Commissions are $5 round-turn per lot for forex and commodities, $0.50 round-turn for indices, and zero commission for crypto. The platform lists around 50 instruments across forex, indices, commodities, and crypto, though exact counts can change. MT5 is available outside the US only — US traders must use MatchTrader. CTI is best suited to traders who prefer structured progression and strict risk controls over flexibility or aggressive exposure.
Key Facts
| Evaluation Types | 1-step, 2-step, instant |
| Max Payout Split | 100% |
| Payout Schedule | Bi-weekly (14 days) |
| First Payout | After 14 days |
| Daily Drawdown | 5% |
| Max Drawdown | 10% |
| Platforms | MT5, MatchTrader |
| News Trading | — |
| Weekend Holding | Allowed |
| Copy Trading | — |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | Allowed |
| Trustpilot | 4.4/5 (undefined reviews) |
Challenge Accounts
City Traders Imperium offers four routes to funding: a One Step challenge, a Two Step challenge, and two Instant Funding models. All accounts operate in a simulated environment with no maximum time limits. Evaluation challenges (One Step, Two Step) use balance-based (static) drawdown, while Instant Funding accounts use trailing drawdown tied to the account balance.
One Step Challenge
Single-phase evaluation with a 10% profit target. Account sizes from $2,500 to $100,000 with fees starting at $49.
80%–100% profit split · Balance-based drawdown · No time limit
Two Step Challenge
Two-phase evaluation: 10% target in Phase 1, 5% in Phase 2. Account sizes from $2,500 to $100,000 with fees starting at $39.
80%–100% profit split · Balance-based drawdown · No time limit
Instant Funding
Skip the evaluation entirely. Traders start with half the advertised balance and unlock the full amount after hitting the first 10% profit milestone. Account sizes from $2,500 to $80,000 with fees starting at $89.
Starts ~50% profit split (scales to 100%) · Trailing drawdown · Scaling to $2M per account
Instant Funding Pro
Higher-cost version starting at a higher funding level. Account sizes from $5,000 to $80,000 with fees starting at $329. Same 10% scaling milestones. Profit split starts around 50% and increases through milestones.
Starts ~50% profit split (scales to 100%) · Trailing drawdown · Accelerated path to larger capital
Challenge Comparison
| Attribute | One Step | Two Step | Instant Funding | Instant Funding Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation Steps | One phase | Two phases | No evaluation | No evaluation |
| Account Sizes | $2,500 – $100,000 | $2,500 – $100,000 | $2,500 – $80,000 | $5,000 – $80,000 |
| One-Time Fee | $49 – $519 | $39 – $519 | $89 – $2,399 | $329 – $4,799 |
| Time Limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit |
| Drawdown Model | Balance-based (static) | Balance-based (static) | Trailing | Trailing |
| Profit Split | 80%–100% | 80%–100% | ~50% → 100% (scales) | ~50% → 100% (scales) |
| Scaling Potential | Up to $200K/account | Up to $200K/account | Up to $2M/account | Up to $2M/account |
1 One Step Challenge
The One Step Challenge is CTI's simplest evaluation, requiring you to reach a single profit target while staying within defined drawdown limits.
You must achieve a 10% profit target with no time limit, using a balance-based (static) drawdown model. Both a maximum daily drawdown and a maximum overall drawdown apply, and breaching either results in account failure.
While CTI markets scaling across its programs, One Step accounts are effectively capped at $200,000 per account. This means the widely promoted $4 million scaling potential does not apply to this challenge type.
Profit Target
10%
Drawdown Type
Static (Balance-based)
Max Daily Drawdown
5%
Max Overall Drawdown
10%
Time Limit
Unlimited
Scaling Cap
$200K/account
| Account Size | One-Time Fee | Profit Target ($) | Max Daily DD ($) | Max Overall DD ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $49 | $250 | $125 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $59 | $500 | $250 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $99 | $1,000 | $500 | $1,000 |
| $25,000 | $179 | $2,500 | $1,250 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $329 | $5,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $519 | $10,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
2 Two Step Challenge
The Two Step Challenge follows a more traditional evaluation structure, split across two phases with smaller profit targets.
In Phase One, you must reach a 10% profit target, followed by 5% in Phase Two, while remaining within the same balance-based drawdown limits. There is no time limit, and CTI requires a minimum number of profitable trading days in each phase.
Like the One Step Challenge, Two Step accounts are subject to an effective scaling cap of $200,000 per account, making this route more suitable for traders focused on passing an evaluation rather than long-term capital growth.
Phase 1 Target
10%
Phase 2 Target
5%
Drawdown Type
Static (Balance-based)
Max Daily Drawdown
5%
Max Overall Drawdown
10%
Time Limit
Unlimited
| Account Size | One-Time Fee | Phase 1 Target ($) | Phase 2 Target ($) | Max Daily DD ($) | Max Overall DD ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $39 | $250 | $125 | $125 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $59 | $500 | $250 | $250 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $99 | $1,000 | $500 | $500 | $1,000 |
| $25,000 | $179 | $2,500 | $1,250 | $1,250 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $329 | $5,000 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $519 | $10,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
3 Instant Funding
Instant Funding allows you to skip the evaluation process and start trading on a simulated funded account immediately. Unlike evaluation challenges, Instant Funding uses trailing drawdown tied to the account balance, not static drawdown.
Traders start with half the advertised balance and unlock the full amount after hitting the first 10% profit milestone. Each subsequent 10% milestone doubles the account balance, allowing you to scale progressively up to $2 million per account and $4 million across multiple Instant Funding accounts.
Profit share starts at around 50% — significantly lower than evaluation-based programs — and increases through scaling milestones, reaching up to 100% at higher funding levels. The early-stage profit split is notably lower than most competing instant funding firms.
Evaluation
None
Drawdown Type
Trailing
Starting Balance
Half of advertised
Scale Milestone
Every 10% profit
Max Per Account
$2M
| Account Size | One-Time Fee | Starting Balance | Fully Funded Level | Target to Scale ($) | Max Drawdown ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $89 | $1,250 | $2,500 | $250 | $150 |
| $5,000 | $249 | $2,500 | $5,000 | $500 | $300 |
| $10,000 | $449 | $5,000 | $10,000 | $1,000 | $600 |
| $20,000 | $849 | $10,000 | $20,000 | $2,000 | $1,200 |
| $40,000 | $1,499 | $20,000 | $40,000 | $4,000 | $2,400 |
| $80,000 | $2,399 | $40,000 | $80,000 | $8,000 | $4,800 |
4 Instant Funding Pro
Instant Funding Pro is a higher-cost version of the standard Instant Funding model designed to accelerate access to larger capital.
You start at a higher funding level but operate under the same 10% scaling milestones. Profit share still begins at the lower tier and improves only as you progress through the scaling structure. While this model shortens the path to larger account sizes, it does not materially improve early earning potential compared to standard Instant Funding.
| Account Size | One-Time Fee | Fully Funded Level | Target to Scale ($) | Max Drawdown ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $329 | $5,000 | $500 | $300 |
| $10,000 | $599 | $10,000 | $1,000 | $600 |
| $20,000 | $1,199 | $20,000 | $2,000 | $1,200 |
| $40,000 | $2,399 | $40,000 | $4,000 | $2,400 |
| $80,000 | $4,799 | $80,000 | $8,000 | $4,800 |
Golden Trader Loyalty Program
CTI's Golden Trader Program rewards long-term consistency rather than short-term performance. It is divided into Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers.
Bronze
Unlocks weekly payouts, a 90% profit share, and additional support benefits after several months of clean trading and multiple successful payouts.
Silver
Moves profit share to 100% and enables on-demand payouts, but requires further months of consistent profitability.
Gold
Offers institutional-style conditions and potential salary arrangements, but progression requires extended performance over many months.
While the structure is transparent, the qualification requirements are demanding, and most traders will not reach the higher tiers.
Scaling Plans
Scaling depends heavily on the account type you choose. One Step and Two Step Challenges scale incrementally but are effectively capped at $200,000 per account — they do not participate in the $4 million scaling headline. Instant Funding and Instant Funding Pro allow balance doubling at every 10% profit milestone, with a maximum of $2 million per account and $4 million across multiple Instant Funding accounts.
Profit splits improve as you scale, particularly on Instant Funding accounts, but meaningful increases require sustained performance over multiple levels.
Verdict on Challenges
CTI offers flexibility through multiple funding routes, but each comes with clear trade-offs. Evaluation challenges use static drawdown and limit long-term scaling to $200K/account, while Instant Funding uses trailing drawdown and provides higher capital potential (up to $4M across accounts) at the cost of lower early profit splits starting around 50%. Instant Funding traders also start with half the advertised balance. Unlimited time limits improve flexibility, but leverage and earning potential remain conservative compared to top-tier competitors. This mix explains why CTI scores 8/10 for challenges — varied and structured, but constrained in ways that matter once you look beyond the surface.
Commission Fees & Pricing
CTI's spreads are reasonable but not the tightest you'll find. EUR/USD averages around 0.3 pips, which is fine for most strategies, but it isn't consistently lower than other top prop firms.
The bigger issue is that CTI doesn't publish much detail beyond the majors, so if you trade indices, commodities, or cross pairs, you're left guessing what your real costs will look like until you're in the account.
Execution is handled through Broctagon, a CySEC regulated liquidity provider. That setup gives you access to institutional-grade liquidity rather than a forex broker feed.
Commission fees are straightforward and competitive. Forex and commodities are $5 round-turn per lot, well below the industry average of $7. Indices are $0.50 round-turn per lot, and crypto is commission-free.
Commission Fees
| Asset Class | Commission (Per Side) | Commission (Roundturn) |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | $2.50 per lot | $5 per lot |
| Commodities | $2.50 per lot | $5 per lot |
| Indices | $0.25 per lot | $0.50 per lot |
| Crypto | Zero commission | Zero commission |
Verdict on Spreads
Overall, costs for forex and indices are competitive, and if you're mostly focused on majors, the setup works well. If you trade a broader range of markets, it's harder to judge whether CTI offers good value compared to other firms.
Financial Markets & Leverage
CTI gives access to around 50 instruments across forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies — though exact counts can change. The coverage is okay but the real issue is leverage, which is far lower than you'll find at the majority of prop firms.
On CTI's One Step and Two Step challenge accounts, forex leverage is capped at 1:30, which is similar to what you'd see with regulated retail brokers. Indices and commodities are more restricted at 1:10, while crypto leverage remains fixed at 1:2.
Leverage becomes more restrictive on Instant Funding accounts. Forex, indices, and commodities are all limited to 1:10, with crypto still capped at 1:2. This conservative leverage structure reduces exposure but also limits flexibility, particularly if you rely on position sizing rather than tight stop placement.
Markets and Leverage by Asset Class
| Asset Class | No. of Markets | Leverage (1-Step & 2-Step) | Leverage (No Evaluation) | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Pairs | ~28 | 1:30 | 1:10 | EUR/USD, GBP/JPY, USD/CAD |
| Commodities | ~3 | 1:10 | 1:10 | XAU/USD, XAG/USD, XTI/USD |
| Indices | ~13 | 1:10 | 1:10 | US30, UK100, DE40 |
| Cryptocurrencies | ~6 | 1:2 | 1:2 | BTC/USD, ETH/USD, ADA/USD |
Compared to firms like FundedNext, which offers up to 1:100 leverage, or DNA Funded and Blueberry Funded, which both provide up to 1:50 on two-step challenges, CTI's leverage is clearly on the lower end and will feel restrictive if you trade more aggressively.
Verdict on Markets
CTI offers around 50 instruments across forex, indices, commodities, and crypto — but no stocks or broader coverage. Exact instrument counts may vary. The biggest issue is leverage, capped at 1:30 on challenges and only 1:10 on instant funding, which is well below most firms. Limited markets and low leverage means they only earned a 7/10 score for markets.
Trading Platforms
CTI now offers two platforms: MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and MatchTrader — but what you can use depends on where you live. MT5 is available to traders outside the US, while US clients are limited to MatchTrader.
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
MT5 is the natural upgrade from MT4, with more timeframes, extra indicators, depth of market, and an integrated economic calendar. It supports automated trading and gives you the flexibility to run advanced strategies, whether you're on desktop, web, or mobile.
Available outside the US only
MatchTrader
MatchTrader is the alternative for US traders and has fewer features than MT5, but it covers the basics well. You still get multiple order types, solid charting, and mobile or web access, so it works fine if you're looking for an easy-to-use setup without the complexity of MT5.
US clients only
Verdict on Trading Platforms
The split between MT5 and MatchTrader isn't ideal, as US traders miss out on the more advanced platform. Still, having both options does give CTI coverage across regions, and while MT5 is the stronger of the two, MatchTrader holds up as a functional alternative.
Payments & Profit Payout
City Traders Imperium offers flexible payment options for challenge fees and profit payouts, including bank transfers, cryptocurrencies, and credit/debit cards. However, the minimum withdrawal is relatively high, and the withdrawal methods differ from the options available for paying fees.
Min Withdrawal
$100
Payout Cycle
Bi-weekly (14 days)
Internal Transfer
2 business days
External Withdrawal
1 business day
Audition Fee Payment
CTI offers multiple payment methods for the one-time audition fee, including credit cards, debit cards, cryptocurrencies, and bank wire transfers. The fee range depends on the evaluation process and funding level selected, ranging from $39 to $4,799.
Accepted Cryptocurrencies for Fee Payment
To pay via bank transfer, you'll need to contact support and request an invoice.
Fee Refunds
City Traders Imperium does not offer refunds once trading activity has started on an account. The one-time access fee may only be eligible for a refund if the account remains completely inactive and a request is made within seven days of purchase, in line with CTI's refund policy. Fees for Instant Funding programs are non-refundable once access has been granted.
Profit Payout Process
CTI makes profit payouts relatively straightforward through their centralized Dashboard Wallet. Once you reach your profit targets, you can transfer your earnings from the trading account to your Wallet for withdrawal. Payment methods for withdrawals include bank transfers and cryptocurrency wallets.
Minimum Withdrawal
$100 minimum profit withdrawal required.
Payout Qualification
Traders must trade at least 10 days or reach the minimum withdrawal threshold ($100), whichever requirement applies first. Payouts are processed bi-weekly (14 days) after eligibility is met.
Processing Times
Internal transfers to the Wallet are processed within 2 business days. Withdrawals to bank accounts or crypto wallets are processed within 1 business day.
Third-Party Withdrawals
CTI does not allow third-party withdrawals. Funds must be withdrawn to a bank account or wallet under the trader's name.
Funded Trader Salary Payments
CTI offers funded trader salary payments, but these are only available to traders who meet specific long-term consistency criteria — they are not a standard benefit for all funded accounts. Qualifying requires sustained profitability and rule compliance over an extended period.
Salary payments are separate from profit payouts and are deposited directly into the trader's bank or crypto wallet. Most traders will not immediately qualify for salary payments upon becoming funded.
Verdict on Payments and Payouts
Profit payouts are efficient, with straightforward withdrawal processes via bank transfer or cryptocurrency. The addition of funded trader salaries further rewards consistent performance.
Customer Service & Education
City Traders Imperium focuses on supporting traders through dedicated customer service and comprehensive educational programs.
Customer Support
CTI provides customer support through various channels, including live chat, email, and a comprehensive FAQ section, which is managed by an interactive chatbot. While helpful for basic queries, the chatbot is less advanced compared to AI bots used by prop firms like IC Funded or FundedNext, which may offer more dynamic responses.
Live Chat
Available via website
Email Support
Standard response times
FAQ / Chatbot
Interactive FAQ section
Educational Resources
City Traders Imperium offers a wide range of educational resources to help traders at all skill levels:
Bank Level Trading
Combines Smart Money Concepts, Wave Theory, and Wyckoff methods to identify high-probability trading opportunities.
STT Strategy
Focuses on swing trading using triangle patterns to find trades with good risk-to-reward ratios.
CS Strategy
Designed for traders who want to capitalise on quick, significant price movements. Teaches how to trade sharp market corrections.
Forex for Beginners
A mentoring program that helps new traders learn quickly and start trading with confidence.
Build Your Edge – Trading Psychology
Teaches traders how to manage their emotions and make disciplined trading decisions.
CTI complements these resources with ongoing courses and webinars, diving into specific trading strategies and market analyses, equipping traders with the knowledge to succeed in professional trading environments.
Verdict on Support
CTI provides comprehensive support through live chat, email, and an FAQ section. The active Discord community and educational resources enhance the overall trader experience.
Trust & Community
City Traders Imperium (CTI), established in 2018 and based in Dubai, has built a reputation for creating a solid prop trading community with generally favourable feedback from clients.
While we consider CTI a well-established and trusted prop firm, it is important to note that CTI is not a brokerage service but a proprietary trading firm. They partner with a CySEC regulated broker and liquidity provider, Broctagon, to ensure high-quality trading conditions and regulatory compliance, enhancing the security and reliability of their trading environment.
Trustpilot Score
4.4/5
TrustScore
CTI maintains an excellent TrustPilot score of 4.4 out of 5. Customer reviews frequently praise the platform for its comprehensive support and prop trading tools.
There are occasional critiques regarding server reliability during volatile market conditions, which the company actively addresses in its responses, highlighting their commitment to continuous improvement.
Prop Trading Community
The community engagement at CTI is extensive and active, shown by their over 24,000 Discord members, including over 700 funded traders. CTI's Discord channel provides valuable trading information, client support, and announcements around promotions and giveaways.
On social media, CTI has a significant presence with 21,800 followers on Twitter/X, 4,600 on Facebook, and over 21,500 on Instagram. These platforms are used for announcements, support, success stories, and educational content, helping maintain a connected and informed community.
24K+
Discord
21.8K
Twitter/X
21.5K
4.6K
How Popular Is City Traders Imperium?
City Traders Imperium sees around 9,900 Google searches each month, ranking it as the 30th most searched prop firm in 2025. It also received 189,390 global visits in March 2025, placing it 26th for website traffic among the prop firms we track.
Since launching in 2018, CTI says it has funded over 36,000 prop traders and allocated more than $367 million in capital, making it one of the most established names in the prop trading industry.
Search interest is highest in the United States and India, followed by the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Nigeria, showing where CTI has its largest trading communities.
9,900
Monthly Searches
30th
Search Rank
189,390
Monthly Visits
26th
Traffic Rank
Top Branded Searches by Country
| Rank | Country | Monthly Searches |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | United States | 880 |
| 2nd | India | 880 |
| 3rd | United Kingdom | 720 |
| 4th | South Africa | 390 |
| 5th | Nigeria | 390 |
| 6th | Pakistan | 260 |
| 7th | Vietnam | 260 |
| 8th | Canada | 210 |
| 9th | Indonesia | 210 |
| 10th | Germany | 170 |
Verdict on Trust and Community
CTI's strong TrustPilot score (4.4/5) and partnerships with CySEC-regulated liquidity providers establish it as a reliable and secure prop trading firm.
Our Final Verdict On City Traders Imperium
City Traders Imperium is a viable option if you want multiple routes to funding, including One Step, Two Step, and Instant Funding programs, all with no time limits. All accounts operate in a simulated environment. Evaluation challenges use balance-based (static) drawdown, while Instant Funding accounts use trailing drawdown tied to the account balance.
Profit splits on evaluation challenges start at 80% and can reach 100%, while Instant Funding starts around 50% and scales through milestones. The $4M scaling headline applies only to Instant Funding across multiple accounts — evaluation challenges are capped at $200K per account. Funded trader salary payments require meeting specific long-term consistency criteria. Account sizes, leverage, and market coverage are more limited than many competitors, so CTI makes more sense if you prioritise structured rules and long-term progression over higher risk or aggressive exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Data Sources
- https://citytradersimperium.com
Last reviewed 2026-03-11 · Data verified 2026-03-11