City Traders Imperium Review July 2026

City Traders Imperium pays funded traders a monthly salary. Not a profit split. A fixed monthly payment ranging from $12.50 to $500 on evaluation accounts, and up to $1,000-$5,000 at the Gold VIP tier, deposited regardless of whether the trader had a profitable month. CTI was the first online prop trading firm to introduce this concept, and no competitor has replicated it at the same scale. Combined with balance-based drawdown (unrealized losses do not count until positions close), a free institutional-grade trading academy included with every account, scaling to $4 million, and a 7-year operating history since 2018, CTI positions itself as a career destination for funded traders rather than a one-off challenge platform. This review covers all four funding models, the VIP program, the academy, and the rules that matter.

What Is City Traders Imperium?

City Traders Imperium (CTI) is a forex prop firm founded in 2018 by Daniel Martin and Martin Najat. Martin has over 20 years of trading experience across indices, commodities, forex, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Before CTI, he served as a senior mentor at Switzerland's top prop firm, where he met Najat. The two recognized that most prop firms prioritized selling courses over providing genuine funding, and built CTI to fill that gap.

The firm is registered as CTI FZCO in Dubai, UAE, with operational roots in London (Shoreditch). CTI holds a 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating with 1,682 reviews. The firm reports funding up to $4 million per trader through its scaling program and profit splits reaching 100%. CTI trades forex pairs, indices, commodities, metals, and crypto through MetaTrader 5 and Match Trader. Leverage is up to 1:30 for evaluation accounts and 1:10 on Instant Funding.

CTI has survived every major industry disruption since 2018, including the MetaQuotes crackdown, multiple competitor closures, and the 2023-2024 prop firm consolidation wave. That 7-year track record with a flawless payout history (per their claims) is the firm's strongest trust signal. Multiple Trustpilot reviewers specifically cite the longevity as their reason for choosing CTI over newer firms.

The Golden Trader Program: Monthly Salary and Career Progression

This is the feature that sets CTI apart from every other prop firm. The Golden Trader program is a three-tier loyalty system (Bronze, Silver, Gold) that transforms prop trading from a gig into a career structure with escalating benefits at each level.

Bronze Level

Requirements: active CTI funded account, no account failures in 4 months, at least 4 processed rewards, and minimum 4% profit per reward. Benefits: profit share increases to 90%, payouts move from monthly to weekly, VIP access to support, certificate of achievement, and a free 1-on-1 performance coaching session.

Silver Level

Requirements: Bronze for an additional period with 4 more payouts at 3%+ profit. Benefits: on-demand payouts (anytime withdrawal, no waiting for cycles), free CTI merchandise, and in-person coaching sessions.

Gold Level

Requirements: Silver for 4 months plus 4 additional payouts. Benefits: a one-year monthly salary (reported at $1,000-$5,000 depending on account size and performance), institutional-level trading conditions, and personalized funding terms. The Gold monthly salary is paid on top of the profit split. This means a Gold trader earns both a salary and up to 100% of trading profits. Fewer than 2-3% of funded traders reach Gold based on community reports. For strategies on building the consistency needed for this progression, see our guide on how to pass a prop firm evaluation.

CTI also offers a monthly salary ($12.50-$500) on 1-Step and 2-Step evaluation accounts from the funded stage. This is separate from the Gold VIP salary and applies automatically. The concept of a prop firm paying a fixed monthly amount to funded traders was pioneered by CTI and remains unique in the industry.

Balance-Based Drawdown: The Hidden Mathematical Advantage

CTI's 2-Step and Instant accounts use balance-based drawdown rather than equity-based drawdown. This distinction is the most underappreciated feature in the CTI lineup. With equity-based drawdown (used by most competitors), unrealized losses from open positions count toward the drawdown limit. If a swing trader holds a position that dips $3,000 before recovering and closing in profit, that $3,000 unrealized loss counts against the equity-based drawdown at the moment it occurs.

With CTI's balance-based model, unrealized losses do not affect the drawdown calculation until the position is actually closed. The drawdown is measured against the account balance (closed trades only), not equity (which includes floating P&L). This means a trader holding a position through a temporary $3,000 dip is not penalized if the trade recovers and closes profitably. For swing traders and position traders who hold through intraday volatility, this is a structural advantage that directly increases the probability of staying funded. For a comparison of how different drawdown types affect risk, see our guide to trailing drawdown vs. EOD drawdown.

The 1-Step account uses a 5% trailing drawdown (relative), which does track equity. This is the tighter option. Traders who want the balance-based advantage should select the 2-Step or Instant models.

Four Funding Models

CTI offers four distinct paths to funding: 1-Step Challenge, 2-Step Challenge, Instant Funding, and Instant Funding Pro. Each targets a different trader profile. For traders comparing across the industry, see our forex prop firm challenges page.

1-Step Challenge

Single-phase evaluation. 8% profit target. 5% trailing drawdown (relative, equity-based). No daily drawdown limit. No time limit. Account sizes from $2,500 to $100,000. Pricing from $29 ($2.5K) to $469 ($100K). Profit split starts at 80%, scaling to 100%. Fee refunded with first payout. Scaling cap at $200K per account.

The trailing drawdown on the 1-Step is the rule most commonly cited in negative reviews. As profits grow, the drawdown floor moves upward, which means a pullback after a winning streak can breach the account. This is tighter than the balance-based drawdown on 2-Step and Instant accounts.

2-Step Challenge

Two-phase evaluation. Phase 1: 10% profit target. Phase 2: 5% target. 10% max drawdown (balance-based). 5% daily drawdown (trailing, resets at midnight GMT+2). Minimum 5 trading days per phase. No time limit. Account sizes from $2,500 to $100,000. Pricing from $48 ($5K) to $482 ($100K, with 30% discount). Fee refunded with first payout. Scaling via 50% balance increase per milestone.

The 2-Step offers the widest drawdown buffer (10% balance-based) in the CTI lineup. The balance-based calculation makes it the safest option for swing traders. The daily drawdown resets at midnight and does not increase in amount, only moves to a higher price point when account balance grows.

Instant Funding (Standard and Pro)

No evaluation required. Standard: $10K-$40K accounts, $216-$1,059 pricing, 80% profit split, 6% max loss (balance-based), payouts on demand. Pro: $10K-$80K accounts, $299-$4,799 pricing, starts at Level 2 of scaling, 6% absolute drawdown, scaling to $4 million, leverage 1:10.

Instant Pro is where the $4 million scaling lives. The account doubles at every 10% profit milestone. Profit split starts at 50% and scales to 100% through the levels. The 6% absolute drawdown never increases even as the account grows, which means at $160K the loss buffer is still only $9,600. That tightens significantly at larger sizes.

Funding Model Comparison

CTI Academy: Free Institutional-Grade Education with Every Account

Every funded account purchase includes free access to the full CTI Academy, a structured education platform led by CEO Daniel Martin. This is not a collection of generic YouTube tutorials. The Academy includes Bank Level Trading courses (Smart Money Concepts, Wave Theory, Wyckoff methodology), risk management modules, and a trading psychology course that specifically addresses overtrading, revenge trading, and consistency issues.

Multiple Trustpilot and PropFirmMatch reviewers describe the psychology content as more practical than most industry alternatives. The Academy's design reflects CTI's origin as an education-first firm: Martin and Najat built the education arm before launching the funding programs, and the curriculum reflects institutional trading knowledge from Martin's 20+ years of experience.

Personal mentoring is available as a premium add-on. 1-on-1 coaching sessions are included free at the Bronze VIP level. The education infrastructure positions CTI differently from firms that offer funding without any educational support. Traders who breach their accounts often cite the Academy resources as the reason they repurchase rather than switching firms.

Trading Rules and Restrictions

What Is Allowed

News trading is permitted on all programs with no restrictions. Overnight and weekend position holding is allowed. EAs and automated strategies are permitted (third-party EAs allowed on 1-Step). Copy trading from the trader's own personal account is allowed with proof of matching MT5 statements. Swing trading is fully supported, particularly on balance-based drawdown accounts. Scalping is permitted.

Mandatory Stop Loss

CTI requires a stop loss on every trade. On certain programs, the stop loss risk per position is capped (1.5% per position on Standard evaluation, for example). This rule promotes disciplined risk management but constrains traders who prefer mental stops or wider risk parameters. The mandatory stop loss is one of the most frequently noted rules in trader feedback.

Gambling and Overleveraging Restrictions

CTI explicitly prohibits gambling behavior: risking more than 50% of the daily drawdown in a single trade is flagged. Overleveraging (using entire available margin on a single trade idea, causing margin level to fall to 150% or below) results in enforcement action. These rules are documented in the help center and are enforced during payout review. Some traders report being flagged for "high-risk exposure" at payout time, which has generated disputes in Trustpilot reviews.

Copy Trading Enforcement

CTI uses trade similarity detection to flag potential copy trading violations. If a funded trader's entries coincidentally align with many other CTI traders (e.g., trading the same EUR/USD setup at major support/resistance), the account can be flagged. Some traders report false positives during high-impact events where many traders naturally take similar positions.

Payouts and Scaling

Payout Process

Payouts flow through a Dashboard Wallet. Profits must be moved from the trading account to the Wallet via an Internal Transfer, which is reviewed within two business days by CTI's risk team. Withdrawal methods include bank transfer, cryptocurrency (USDT via TRON network), and other options. Minimum withdrawal is $100. Multiple reviewers report receiving payouts within 4 hours of request. Monthly payouts are the default; weekly payouts unlock at the Bronze VIP level; on-demand payouts unlock at Silver.

Scaling Structure

Challenge accounts scale by 50% per milestone (2-Step) or double at every 10% profit (Instant Pro). The Instant Pro path scales to $4 million, the highest ceiling among best prop firms in the forex space. Challenge accounts cap at $200K per account, which is important to note since the $4M figure is heavily marketed but only applies to Instant Funding Pro.

[VERIFY] The $4M scaling only applies to Instant Funding Pro accounts. Challenge accounts (1-Step, 2-Step) cap at $200K per account. This distinction is not always clear in CTI's marketing.

Platforms, Instruments, and Trading Costs

CTI operates on MetaTrader 5 and Match Trader. MT5 is available as desktop, web trader, and mobile (iOS/Android). The firm reports average spreads of 0.3 pips on EUR/USD, which is competitive. Commissions are $5 per lot on forex and commodities and $0.50 per lot on indices.

Instruments include forex pairs (majors, minors), indices (US30, NAS100, etc.), commodities, metals, and crypto. Exotic currency pairs and stock CFDs are not available. The narrower instrument selection compared to firms offering 500+ assets is a limitation for traders who need diverse market access.

Pricing

All evaluation fees are one-time payments. No monthly subscriptions. 1-Step and 2-Step fees are refundable with the first payout. Instant fees are non-refundable. CTI runs promotional codes regularly. Check our prop firm deals page for active CTI discounts.

[VERIFY] Pricing above reflects approximate figures including common promotional discounts. CTI adjusts pricing frequently with codes like CTI10% and seasonal offers. Verify exact pricing at citytradersimperium.com before purchasing.

How to Get Started with City Traders Imperium

1. Visit citytradersimperium.com and select a funding model (1-Step, 2-Step, Instant, or Instant Pro).

2. Choose an account size ($2,500 to $100,000).

3. Apply any active promotional code.

4. Complete payment via bank card, bank transfer, or crypto.

5. Receive MT5 or Match Trader credentials.

6. Access the CTI Academy (included free with every account).

7. Trade the evaluation (1-Step/2-Step) or begin trading immediately (Instant).

8. Pass and complete KYC verification.

9. Move profits from trading account to Dashboard Wallet via Internal Transfer.

10. Request payout (monthly default, weekly at Bronze VIP, on-demand at Silver).

Who Is City Traders Imperium Best For?

CTI is built for traders who want a long-term career structure with escalating rewards, not just a one-time challenge. The Golden Trader VIP progression (Bronze weekly payouts, Silver on-demand payouts, Gold monthly salary) creates a genuine career path that rewards consistency over months. The balance-based drawdown on 2-Step and Instant accounts provides a mathematical advantage for swing traders who hold through intraday volatility.

The free CTI Academy makes it the strongest choice for traders who want education alongside funding. The 7-year track record provides operational confidence that newer firms lack. The $29 entry on the 1-Step ($2.5K account) offers the lowest possible financial risk for testing the platform. Among forex prop firm challenges, the 2-Step with 10% balance-based drawdown is one of the most forgiving in the industry.

CTI is less suitable for traders who need high leverage (1:10 on Instant Pro limits position sizing), wide instrument selection (no exotics, no stocks, limited crypto), or immediate large payouts ($1,000/month withdrawal limit has been noted in some Trustpilot reviews). The mandatory stop loss constrains traders who prefer discretionary exits. The $4M scaling only applies to Instant Pro (not challenges), which is not always clear in the firm's marketing. Pricing on Instant Pro ($4,799 for $80K) is steep. The copy trading detection has generated false positive disputes.

Is City Traders Imperium Legit?

City Traders Imperium is registered as CTI FZCO in Dubai, UAE. The firm was originally incorporated in the UK on July 13, 2018. Co-founders Daniel Martin and Martin Najat are publicly identified with verifiable professional histories. Martin's 20+ years of trading experience and senior mentorship at a Swiss prop firm are documented across multiple sources. The 7-year track record makes CTI one of the oldest active prop firms in the market.

The firm holds a 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating with 1,682 reviews. Positive reviews consistently highlight fast payouts (4 hours reported by multiple traders), transparent rules, responsive support, and the educational value of the CTI Academy. Negative reviews mention the trailing drawdown on the 1-Step killing accounts during volatile news events, high-risk exposure flags at payout time, and copy trading detection flagging legitimate similar setups.

CTI is not regulated by the FCA, SEC, or any financial authority. This is standard for prop firms, which operate as education/evaluation services rather than regulated financial entities. The firm's 7-year payout history, publicly active CEO (Daniel Martin regularly appears on YouTube, Discord, and community channels), the institutional-grade academy, and the Golden Trader VIP program all position CTI as one of the more established and trustworthy operators. The balance-based drawdown model and mandatory stop loss requirements demonstrate a risk-first philosophy that aligns the firm's interests with trader longevity rather than evaluation churn