Is FTMO Legit?

Short answer: FTMO is a real, long-running company with a public office, named founders and published rules. It is not a broker, and it says all client accounts are demo accounts with fictitious funds. Whether it is right for you depends on the rules, not the brand. This page sets out what FTMO itself discloses so you can judge.

Who runs FTMO

FTMO's press kit states these company facts:

• Founded: 2015, by Otakar Šuffner and Marek Vašíček.
• Office: Quadrio offices, Purkyňova 2121/3, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic.
• Legal name on the site: FTMO s.r.o., a Czech limited company.
• Staff: "400+ employees globally", per the press kit.
• Group: the press kit says the FTMO group also includes the broker OANDA.

FTMO lists a phone number, WhatsApp and 24/7 live chat on its contact FAQ. A named team and a physical office do not prove good conduct. They do mean you know who you are dealing with.

How the business model works

FTMO sells evaluations. You pay a fee, trade a simulated account and try to meet its Trading Objectives. If you pass and complete identity checks, you sign the FTMO Account Terms and Conditions and trade a simulated FTMO Account. FTMO then pays you a reward based on your simulated results.

FTMO is open about the simulation. Its site footer says "all accounts we provide to our clients are demo accounts with fictitious funds." Its FAQ on real-market trading adds that FTMO "may use the data obtained from FTMO Accounts to trade on our own separate live accounts."

So you are not managing FTMO's real capital. You are paid from FTMO's business, which the fees fund. FTMO's fee FAQ says the fee covers the cost of running its products and tools.

Fees are charged in euros. The 2-Step Challenge runs from €89 (for a $10,000 account) to €1,080 (for $200,000). The 1-Step runs from €79 to €999. The 2-Step fee is refunded with your first reward. The 1-Step and Instant Account fees are not refundable.

Payout terms and what FTMO publishes

FTMO pays on request, not on a fixed cycle. Its withdrawal FAQ sets out the process:

• Your first reward claim opens on the 14th day after your first trade on the FTMO Account.
• All positions must be closed before you claim.
• FTMO says it reviews claims within 1-2 business days and typically pays 1-2 business days after approval.
• The 2-Step split is 80%, rising to 90% under its Scaling Plan or Premium Programme. The 1-Step split is 90%.
• Methods include bank wire, card payouts, Skrill and crypto, each with limits.

On payout totals, FTMO's own pages differ. Its press kit and its trustworthiness FAQ say it has paid more than $650 million in rewards. The homepage counter showed "$500M+" when we checked on 3 November 2026. These are FTMO's own claims. We cannot audit them.

The same FAQ suggests checking independent client feedback, such as Trustpilot, YouTube and FTMO's Discord. That is sound advice. Read recent reviews, especially the negative ones, and look for patterns.

Is FTMO regulated?

No regulator licenses FTMO's challenges. FTMO does not claim one. Its footer states that "FTMO companies do not act as a broker and do not accept any deposits." The licences FTMO's press kit mentions belong to OANDA, a separate broker in the group, not to the FTMO evaluation.

This is normal for prop firms. It also means you have no broker-style protection, such as a compensation scheme. Your rights come from FTMO's terms and conditions. Our guide on whether prop firms are legit explains why this matters.

Rules that cause most disputes

Most complaints about any prop firm come down to rules the trader missed. With FTMO, read these closely:

• Daily loss: 5% on the 2-Step and 3% on the 1-Step, reset at 00:00 CE(S)T.
• Max loss: 10% static on the 2-Step. On the 1-Step it trails at end of day, so profits raise your floor.
• Best Day Rule: on 1-Step orders created from 12 October 2026, your best day can be no more than 50% of total profit.
• News and weekends: funded Standard accounts cannot place orders 2 minutes either side of selected news. Positions must close before long market breaks. The Swing account removes both limits.
• Identity checks: you must pass verification before you can sign the funded contract.
• Prohibited practices: FTMO's terms list banned strategies. Read them before you use EAs or copy trading.

Full details are in our FTMO challenge rules guide and on our prop firm rules pages.

Red flags checklist

Use this list for FTMO or any firm. We did not find these issues on FTMO's site, but check for yourself at the time you buy:

• No named legal entity or address on the site.
• Rules that are vague, missing or changed without notice.
• Payout terms with no stated timing or method.
• Claims of "real capital" with no explanation of how accounts work.
• Pressure to buy fast, or promises of guaranteed income.
• Many recent reviews describing denied payouts for unclear reasons.

How to protect yourself

• Read the Trading Objectives and the terms for the exact product you buy.
• Screenshot the rules and price on the day you pay.
• Start with a smaller account to test the process, including a payout.
• Use a payment method with some buyer protection.
• Keep records of every trade, ticket and email.
• Run through our prop firm challenge checklist before you pay.

For our full assessment, including pros and cons, see the FTMO review.

Common questions

Is FTMO a scam?

We found no basis to call it one. FTMO publishes its company name, address, founders and rules. It also states plainly that accounts are simulated. A firm being legitimate does not mean every trader gets paid; rule breaches void rewards.

Does FTMO trade with real money?

Not on your account. FTMO says client accounts are demo accounts with fictitious funds. It may use data from FTMO Accounts to trade its own separate live accounts.

Is FTMO regulated by the Czech National Bank?

FTMO does not claim any licence for its challenges. It states that FTMO companies do not act as a broker and do not take deposits.

Do you get the FTMO fee back?

On the 2-Step Challenge, yes, with your first reward. The 1-Step and Instant Account fees are not refundable.

Related reading

• Are prop firms legit? How to check a firm before you pay
• Prop firm challenge checklist
• How to pass the FTMO Challenge
• Prop firm payout rules explained

Company details, fees and rules were checked on FTMO's official site on 3 November 2026. Terms change, so confirm current details on ftmo.com before you buy. This is educational content, not financial advice. Trading involves risk.