Search for “best crypto prop firm” and you get dozens of lists that rank the same firms by affiliate commission. This guide does it differently: it explains the five things that actually decide whether a crypto evaluation suits you, then compares well-known firms on published facts — each linked to its source.
We are a prop firm ourselves, so read our view with that in mind. Every competitor figure below was checked on 2026-10-29 against the firm’s own pages where possible, and you will find our own numbers next to theirs.
Real perpetuals or crypto CFDs?
The biggest difference between crypto prop firms is what you actually trade. Crypto-native firms price their accounts from exchange perpetual futures — the same BTCUSDT or SOLUSDT contracts you would trade on Binance or Bybit, with funding rates and an order book. Most forex prop firms instead offer crypto as CFDs through MetaTrader, cTrader or Match-Trader, usually with low leverage (often 1:2 to 1:5), wider spreads and weekend gaps in liquidity.
If your strategy depends on exchange order flow, funding, or 24/7 trading, a CFD account will behave differently from what you backtested. QATS evaluations track 17 crypto perpetuals with Binance and Bybit market data, up to 20× on BTC and ETH, 10× on large caps and 5× on other coins.
How the drawdown is measured
A 6% limit can be generous or brutal depending on how it is measured. Static drawdown is fixed from the starting balance. Trailing drawdown follows your highest balance or equity — intraday trailing can move with unrealised profit, so a trade that runs and comes back can breach you. End-of-day (EOD) trailing only moves at the daily close, which is kinder to swing entries.
Always check three things: whether the limit is balance- or equity-based, whether it trails intraday or at end of day, and whether it ever stops trailing.
The full cost, not the headline price
Compare the total cost of getting funded, not only the sticker price: resets, monthly renewals, activation fees and whether the fee is refunded with your first payout. A cheaper challenge with no reset option can cost more after two failed attempts than a subscription that includes a free reset each month.
QATS Crypto evaluations cost $69 a month for the $10K account with free funded activation, or $49 a month with a one-time $149 activation fee charged only after you pass. Prefer to pay once? The same account is $95 one time.
Payout rules you can actually meet
A 90% split means little if the first payout needs 30 days, a consistency score you cannot predict, or a minimum that eats half of a small account’s profit. Look for published eligibility rules: required winning days, the share of profit you can withdraw per request, caps, and how you are paid (USDT, bank transfer, Rise, etc.).
QATS publishes 80% profit split, 5 winning days before a payout request and a $100 minimum request. The first payouts are capped at the account’s loss limit and the cap rises after later payouts.
Are bots, APIs and TradingView allowed?
Algorithmic traders are often surprised by the fine print. Some firms ban bots and EAs outright, some allow them only on specific platforms, and some prohibit “copy trading” or “third-party software” in ways that catch TradingView alerts. If you automate, confirm the policy in writing before you buy.
Crypto prop firms compared
The table summarises published rules for a typical entry account. Figures change often; click through to each comparison page for detail and sources.
| Firm | What you trade | Profit split | Bots / API |
|---|---|---|---|
| QATS | 17 crypto perpetuals (Binance/Bybit data) + TradFi perpetuals | 80% | AllowedAPI, TradingView webhooks, Bot Builder |
| HyroTrader | Simulated accounts on Bybit and BloFin demo data; 700+ USDT perpetuals on Bybit | 80%, up to 90% at the firm’s discretion | Allowedvia API; HFT and copy trading banned |
| Breakout | 60+ crypto perpetual markets, simulatedReported | 80%, or 90% for a higher feeReported | No official policy found |
| Crypto Fund Trader | Crypto CFDs on MT5 and Match-Trader; USDT perpetuals via Bybit; 715+ pairs claimed | 80% base, scaling up to 90% | EAs allowedwith restrictions |
| BitFunded | 100+ crypto pairs and about 20 TradFi markets, fully simulated | 80% | Banned |
| Hola Prime | Crypto CFDs alongside forex, indices and commodities | 80%, up to 95% as a paid option | EAs allowedon evaluations; banned on Direct |
| FTMO | Crypto CFDs alongside forex, indices and commodities | 90% (1-Step) · 80%, up to 90% with scaling (2-Step) | EAs allowedorder limits apply |
| FundedNext | Crypto CFDs alongside forex, indices and commodities | 80%, plus 15% of challenge-phase profit as a reward | EAs allowedextra fee on some accounts |
| The5ers | Crypto CFDs alongside forex, indices and metals | 80%, scaling to 100% (High Stakes) | EAs reportedly allowedno official statement found |
| E8 Markets | CFDs, CME futures, and simulated crypto perpetuals on E8 Terminal priced from Hyperliquid data | 80%, 90% or 100% chosen at checkout (sources differ) | EAs allowedon CFDs and perps; automation banned on futures |
How to choose
- Trade crypto actively on exchange order books? Prefer a firm that prices from real perpetuals.
- Hold through volatility? Prefer end-of-day or static drawdown over intraday trailing.
- Automate? Shortlist only firms that publish an explicit bot/API policy.
- Small account? Check the minimum payout request and the first-payout cap.
- Test before paying: a free sandbox or demo shows how the drawdown really behaves.
Frequently asked questions
01Which crypto prop firm is best for beginners?
Choose a firm with a static or end-of-day drawdown, a free reset or low reset price, and a demo or sandbox to practise on. Smaller accounts are cheaper to learn on.
02Do crypto prop firms give real money?
Most crypto prop firms, QATS included, run evaluations and initial funded accounts in a simulated environment and pay a share of simulated profits as performance payouts. Live capital, where offered, is a separate step.
03Can I trade crypto prop firm accounts on weekends?
Crypto-native firms usually allow 24/7 trading because perpetual futures never close. Forex firms offering crypto CFDs may restrict weekend holding or widen spreads.
Educational content, not investment advice. QATS evaluations and initial funded accounts are simulated; payouts depend on eligibility, verification and the applicable agreement.