Forex / Firms / City Traders Imperium

City Traders Imperium review: rules, prices and payouts

United Kingdom·Founded 2018·★ 4.3 (1,635)

1-Step asks for only 8% with no daily limitChallenge fees refunded with the first payoutSplits rise to 100% through VIP progressionInstant funding from $79, starting at half balanceStop loss required within 1 minute of openingCrypto leverage only 1:1

From

$29

From $29

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Rankings are never paid. Disclosure

Cheapest start$29$3K · 1 Step

Profit splitUp to 80%Your share of profits

Daily / max lossNone / 5%static max loss

Leverage1:30Forex pairs

First payout5 daysAfter funding

Trust score

Trustpilot

4.31,635 reviews · 6% one-star

5★83%

4★9%

3★2%

2★1%

1★6%

Average stars per month (Trustpilot). Red points are months under 3.5. Source ↗

Our verdict

City Traders Imperium suits a trader who wants the widest choice of funding routes from one firm, since the 1-Step asks for only 8% with no daily limit from $29, and the 2-Step pairs a 10% then 5% path with a refundable fee from $39. The instant route is genuinely cheap at $79 for $2,500, but it starts at half the advertised balance with a tight 6% trailing loss and a 70% split. The stop loss within 1 minute rule is the hidden tripwire, since profits made without one do not count toward the target. Payouts from day 7 on challenges and day 5 on instant accounts, plus splits rising to 100%, make the funded stage attractive for patient traders.

What traders likeReviewers describe responsive, helpful supportReviewers find the rules clear and trader-friendlyReviewers report fast, reliable payoutsReviewers like the spreads and trading conditionsReviewers praise the trading platform as easy to use or smooth and reliable to trade on

What traders complain aboutReviewers call rules hidden, shifting or applied to fail them after they passReviewers report accounts closed, banned or disqualified, often with explanations they disputeReviewers report server lag, platform failures and trades closed or not executedReviewers report payouts delayed, restricted or refusedSome reviewers call the firm a scam

True cost to get funded

One-time

$299

1-Step Challenge · no activation

1-Step Challenge is a one-time fee of $299, so the months slider does not change it.

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Summary

City Traders Imperium, funding traders since 2018, offers four routes: a 1-Step challenge from $29, a 2-Step challenge from $39, instant funding from $79 and direct funding from $229, with scaling to $4,000,000. The 1-Step asks for 8% with a 5% static maximum loss and no daily limit, while the 2-Step asks for 10% then 5% with a 5% daily loss and 10% static maximum loss. Instant and direct accounts scale on 5% or 10% profit milestones. Splits start at 80% on challenges and 70% on instant and direct accounts, rising to 100% through VIP progression, with first payouts from day 7 on challenges and day 5 on instant and direct accounts.

Firm overview

Which trading platforms can you use?MT5, Match-Trader

How can a trader pay?Apple PayCredit/Debit CardCryptoCTI WalletGoogle PayNetellerPayPalSkrillWire Transfer

How are payouts sent?Bank Transfer · Crypto

CEO—

Clearing broker for prop program—

Where is the firm based?United Kingdom

Founded2018

Years operating8

Instruments and assets

Example symbolsEURUSDGBPUSDUSDJPYAUDUSDUSDCADEURGBPGBPJPYXAUUSDXAGUSDUS30US500US100USOILBTCUSD

Leverage

Forex1:30

Indices1:10

Metals1:10

Energy1:10

Crypto1:1

Commissions

$5 per round lot on forex and metals, $0.50 per round lot on indices, $0.05 per round lot on energy and no commission on crypto.

FX $5 per lotExample 1 lot EURUSD costs $5 round trip before spread; 1 lot on an index costs $0.50 round trip before spread.

Consistency

EvaluationNo consistency rule for evaluation phases.

Funded accountA 20% consistency score is used for scaling on instant funding plans.

Firm rules

News tradingNews trading is allowed without restrictions, but a stop loss must be placed within 1 minute of opening a trade; the system closes the trade after 1 minute without one, and profits made without a stop loss do not count toward the target.

Copy tradingCopy trading is allowed only when a CTI account is the master account; copying from another firm or a personal account into a CTI account, social trading copies and pass services are not allowed.

InactivityAn account must be traded at least once every 30 days.

Challenges

Program	Account	Price	Activation	Target	Max loss	Drawdown	Daily loss	True cost (1 mo) ↓
1-Step Challenge	$2,500	$29 once	$0 (Free)	$200	$125	Static	None	$29	Get
1-Step Challenge	$5K	$49 once	$0 (Free)	$400	$250	Static	None	$49	Get
1-Step Challenge	$10K	$79 once	$0 (Free)	$800	$500	Static	None	$79	Get
1-Step Challenge	$25K	$159 once	$0 (Free)	$2,000	$1,250	Static	None	$159	Get
1-Step Challenge	$50K	$299 once	$0 (Free)	$4,000	$2,500	Static	None	$299	Get
1-Step Challenge	$100K	$449 once	$0 (Free)	$8,000	$5,000	Static	None	$449	Get
2-Step Challenge	$2,500	$39 once	$0 (Free)	$250	$250	Static	5% (equity)	$39	Get
2-Step Challenge	$5K	$59 once	$0 (Free)	$500	$500	Static	5% (equity)	$59	Get
2-Step Challenge	$10K	$99 once	$0 (Free)	$1,000	$1,000	Static	5% (equity)	$99	Get
2-Step Challenge	$25K	$199 once	$0 (Free)	$2,500	$2,500	Static	5% (equity)	$199	Get
2-Step Challenge	$50K	$329 once	$0 (Free)	$5,000	$5,000	Static	5% (equity)	$329	Get
2-Step Challenge	$100K	$549 once	$0 (Free)	$10,000	$10,000	Static	5% (equity)	$549	Get
Instant Funding	$2,500	$79 once	$0 (Free)	—	$150	Trailing	None	$79	Get
Instant Funding	$5K	$139 once	$0 (Free)	—	$300	Trailing	None	$139	Get
Instant Funding	$10K	$259 once	$0 (Free)	—	$600	Trailing	None	$259	Get
Instant Funding	$20K	$449 once	$0 (Free)	—	$1,200	Trailing	None	$449	Get
Instant Funding	$40K	$849 once	$0 (Free)	—	$2,400	Trailing	None	$849	Get
Instant Funding	$80K	$1,599 once	$0 (Free)	—	$4,800	Trailing	None	$1,599	Get
Direct Funding	$5K	$229 once	$0 (Free)	—	$300	Trailing	None	$229	Get
Direct Funding	$10K	$399 once	$0 (Free)	—	$600	Trailing	None	$399	Get
Direct Funding	$20K	$999 once	$0 (Free)	—	$1,200	Trailing	None	$999	Get
Direct Funding	$40K	$1,999 once	$0 (Free)	—	$2,400	Trailing	None	$1,999	Get
Direct Funding	$80K	$3,999 once	$0 (Free)	—	$4,800	Trailing	None	$3,999	Get

Payouts

Profit split80% to the trader

Minimum payout$100

Restricted countries

Fully restricted (4):

North KoreaCubaSyriaIran

Announcements

October 25, 2026 · Four funding programs shown on the official homepageThe official homepage lists 1-Step from $29, 2-Step from $39, instant funding from $79 and direct funding from $229, with scaling to $4,000,000 and profit shares up to 100%.

2025 · Four industry awards in 2025Top Choice for Traders and Best Match-Trader Prop Firm awards, plus Best UAE Prop Firm and Most Trusted Prop Firm awards, are shown on the official homepage.

FAQ

What does a City Traders Imperium challenge cost?The 1-Step costs $29 for $2,500, $49 for $5,000, $79 for $10,000, $159 for $25,000, $299 for $50,000 and $449 for $100,000. The 2-Step costs $39, $59, $99, $199, $329 and $549 for the same sizes. Instant funding costs $79 to $1,599 for $2,500 to $80,000, and direct funding costs $229 to $3,999 for $5,000 to $80,000.

What are the 1-Step and 2-Step rules?The 1-Step asks for 8% once with a 5% static maximum loss and no daily loss limit. The 2-Step asks for 10% in phase 1 and 5% in phase 2 with a 5% daily loss and 10% static maximum loss. Neither has a time limit, and challenge fees are refunded with the first payout.

How do instant and direct funding work?Instant accounts start with half the advertised balance and unlock the full balance after a 5% profit target to scale, with a 6% trailing maximum loss and no daily limit. Direct accounts start fully funded and scale on a 10% profit target to scale, also with a 6% trailing maximum loss. Both start at a 70% split rising to 100%.

Is news trading allowed, and is a stop loss required?Yes, news trading is allowed without restrictions. A stop loss must still be placed within 1 minute of opening a trade; the system closes the trade after 1 minute without one, and profits made without a stop loss do not count toward the target.

Can I copy trades or use an expert advisor?Copy trading is allowed only when a CTI account is the master account. Expert advisors from outside providers may be used on the 1-Step Challenge, while other programs require the trader to own the advisor and show its source code on request.

What leverage and commissions apply?Leverage is 1:30 on forex and 1:10 on metals, indices and energy, with 1:1 on crypto. Commissions are $5 per round lot on forex and metals, $0.50 on indices, $0.05 on energy and none on crypto.

When do payouts happen, and what is the minimum?The first payout can be requested from day 7 on challenges and day 5 on instant and direct accounts. After that, payouts run monthly on challenges and every 14 days on instant and direct accounts, with weekly and anytime payouts through VIP progression. The minimum withdrawal is 2% net profit or $100, whichever is higher.

How far can an account scale?Challenge and instant accounts scale by 25% of the original balance after 4 months funded, profitability in at least 2 months and a positive balance with 10% profit at scaling, and instant accounts double on a 20% consistency score. Overall scaling runs to $4,000,000, with $2,000,000 per account.

Reddit corner

Public Reddit threads about this firm — titles and short paraphrased themes, not full posts.

r/PropFirmTester2026-08-19
City Traders Imperium (CTI)
Asker considers a direct funded account and wants experiences. The only reply advises sticking to long-established firms.
r/propfirm2026-03-06
City Trader Imperium Review: Is it really a scam?
Poster asks whether the firm is a scam after seeing mentions of strict consistency rules and slow payouts. No comments were visible.
r/Daytrading2026-01-31
City Traders Imperium prob firm any good?
Asker trades premarket stocks and wonders if the firm is worth the time. One reply, months later, says spreads and pricing look good on a trial account.

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City Traders Imperium price history and rule changes

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Cheapest $2.5K plan, list price

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City Traders Imperium review: rules, prices and payouts

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