Crypto Fund Trader Review August 2026

Is Crypto Fund Trader Legit?

Crypto Fund Trader operates under SWISS RLCRATES AG, registered in Switzerland, with Spanish operations through RLCRATES S.L. The Swiss registration provides a European legal framework that offshore-registered competitors lack. The firm has operated continuously since November 2022 through multiple volatile crypto market cycles, including significant bear markets and drawdowns.

The Bybit partnership is independently verifiable through Bybit's own partner listings and press coverage in Business Insider, Benzinga, and MarketWatch. The C.A. Osasuna sponsorship (a LaLiga club) adds brand visibility and reputational investment that fly-by-night operations do not pursue. The firm also publishes a "Proof of Scholarship" page on its website and has completed a KYC audit through CoinScope.

The primary risk factor is the firm's age. Operating since 2022 means approximately three years of track record. The crypto prop firm space has seen multiple closures. Starting with smaller accounts ($5K-$10K) to verify payout reliability remains prudent before committing to $100K+ evaluations.

This review covers all three challenge models, every rule, the Bybit integration, platform options, and pricing. Keep on reading and discover if this firm could be your next investment.

What Is Crypto Fund Trader? An Overview

Crypto Fund Trader is a prop firm registered in Switzerland under SWISS RLCRATES AG. European operations run through RLCRATES S.L. in Spain. The firm was founded in November 2022 by Alan Sanchez. CFT focuses on crypto-first prop trading but also covers forex, indices, commodities, and stocks across its platform options.

The firm reports 50,000+ traders educated, $18.7M+ paid to funded traders, and a team of 50+ professionals based across three countries. Crypto Fund Trader has been featured in Investing.com, Business Insider, Benzinga, and MarketWatch.

In May 2025, CFT signed a sponsorship deal with C.A. Osasuna, a LaLiga EA Sports club, to appear on the back of the first team's match shorts for the 2025-2026 season. The founder's connection to the club is personal: Alan Sanchez grew up in Navarra dreaming of playing for Osasuna, but a medical diagnosis ended that path. He founded CFT at age 19 and built it into a platform that now sponsors the club he once aspired to play for.

The Bybit Integration: What It Changes

Crypto Fund Trader (CFT) holds a strategic partnership with Bybit, one of the world's top three crypto exchanges by volume. That partnership gives funded traders direct access to Bybit's order books, exchange-level liquidity, and 715+ cryptocurrency trading pairs. No other major prop trading firm offers exchange-integrated crypto execution at this scale.

Most prop firms that offer crypto trading do so through CFD-based pricing derived from liquidity providers. Crypto Fund Trader's Bybit partnership works differently. When traders select the Bybit platform option, their orders route through Bybit's matching engine, the same infrastructure processing billions in daily volume for 60+ million users globally. Spreads come from real exchange order books, not synthetic feeds.

The practical result: exchange-level liquidity, tight spreads on both major coins and altcoins, and access to 715+ cryptocurrency pairs. That includes established assets like BTC and ETH, DeFi tokens, mid-cap altcoins, and newly listed coins that are unavailable on CFD platforms. Leverage goes up to 1:100 on Bybit accounts. Weekend trading is fully supported with no forced position closures.

Traders who prefer traditional platforms can choose MetaTrader 5 or MatchTrader instead. MatchTrader is the platform available for US-based traders. All three platform options are selectable at checkout for every challenge type.

The Education Donation Model

This is a detail that no competitor review covers. For the 2-Phase (Ascend) evaluation, CFT donates a portion of the evaluation income to strengthen education in low-income countries. The specific uses listed on the website include rebuilding classrooms after disasters, supporting new school construction, and covering essentials like fees, uniforms, and transport for children. The site displays a progress tracker (currently at 92% of a target) showing accumulated donations.

CFT uses the term "scholarship" rather than "payout" in parts of its platform. The Instant challenge model is formally called the "Instant Scholarship Award." This terminology reflects the firm's framing of itself as an educational services provider under Swiss law, which is consistent with the legal structure used by SWISS RLCRATES AG.

Challenge Models and Rules

CFT offers three evaluation models: 1-Phase (Accelerated), 2-Phase (Standard and Ascend), and Instant (no evaluation). All feature no time limits, up to 1:100 leverage, and news trading is allowed.

✔️ For traders comparing across the industry, see our forex prop firm challenges page.

1-Phase Challenge (Accelerated)

Let's discover the parameters of this account:

• The 1-Phase requires a 10% profit target in a single evaluation.
• Daily drawdown is 4%.
• Maximum trailing loss is 6%.
• Minimum 5 trading days.
• No maximum time limit.
• Leverage up to 1:100.
• Upon passing, you receive an 80% profit split on the funded account with the same drawdown rules.

The trailing 6% max loss means the drawdown floor moves upward as profits grow. This is less forgiving than the static drawdown used on the 2-Phase model. Traders who build early profits must manage the tightening floor or risk breach on a pullback.

2-Phase Challenge (Standard and Ascend)

All the details about the 2-Phase challenge are summarized below:

• The 2-Phase has a profit arget of 8% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2.
• Daily drawdown is 5%.
• Maximum overall loss is 10% static.
• The Standard model requires 5 minimum trading days per phase.
• The Ascend model requires 0 minimum days.
• Both have no time limit.
• Leverage up to 1:100.
• The static 10% max loss provides a fixed floor that never moves regardless of profits.

✔️ For a detailed comparison of how static and trailing drawdown differ, see our guide to trailing drawdown vs. EOD drawdown.

The Ascend model carries a higher fee than the Standard model at the same account size. The trade-off is eliminating the 5-day minimum requirement, allowing traders to pass in fewer sessions.

Instant Challenge

The Instant model skips the evaluation entirely. You receive immediate access to a funded account with a 10-level scaling plan. Starting sizes are $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000. The account doubles at each level upon hitting a 10% target, scaling all the way to $1,280,000.

• Daily drawdown is 4%.
• Maximum overall loss is 6%.
• The profit split starts at 50% and increases with each scaling level: 50% (Level 1), 60% (Level 2), 70% (Level 3), 80% (Level 4), then 90% from Level 5 onward.
• The low starting split is the trade-off for skipping the evaluation.
• Traders who scale to Level 5+ achieve 90%, which is competitive with the best splits in the industry.

How Do Crypto Fund Trader Challenges Compare Against One Another? 

Crypto Fund Trader Instruments, Platforms, and Leverage

CFT provides access to 900+ instruments across five asset classes:

1. 715+ cryptocurrency pairs (the largest selection of any prop firm),
2. 40+ forex pairs, indices (US30, NAS100, etc.),
3. Commodities, and stocks,
4. The crypto selection spans majors, altcoins, DeFi tokens, and micro-cap listings.

Three platforms are available: MetaTrader 5, MatchTrader (available for US traders), and Bybit. Leverage is up to 1:100 on Advanced accounts (Match-Trader and MT5) across all asset classes. Student accounts use lower limits (1:30 forex/commodities, 1:20 indices, 1:5 crypto/stocks). Remember that Bybit account leverage follows Bybit's own instrument-specific rules, up to 1:100.

Trading costs include raw-style spreads starting from 0 pips. The firm does not charge platform fees, and Bybit accounts carry exchange-standard trading fees, which are slightly higher than CFD-based platforms but come with exchange-grade execution in return.

Trading Rules: All You Need to Read Before Investing

✅ News Trading and Weekend Holding

News trading is fully allowed with no restrictions during high-volatility events. Weekend and overnight holding are permitted on all account types. There are no forced position closures at market close or on Fridays. This makes CFT one of the most permissive prop firms for crypto swing traders who hold positions across weekends.

✅ Permitted Strategies

Scalping and hedging are both allowed. The firm is lenient on trading styles. Additionally, there is no consistency rule and EAs and automated strategies are permitted on MT5.

❌ Prohibited Activity

Specific prohibited strategies include latency arbitrage, high-frequency trading designed to exploit platform inefficiencies, and cross-account hedging.

⚠️ About Inactivity

Accounts with extended periods of no trading activity can face a closure. The firm does not publish a specific day count but reserves the right to close dormant accounts.

Funded Accounts: Payouts and Growth

Profit Split

The 1-Phase and 2-Phase challenges provide an 80% profit split on the funded account. If you want to increase the split to 90%, you can buy add-ons available.

The Instant challenge starts at 50% and scales to 90% across 10 levels. Once you are at 90%, the split is fixed.

Payout Speed and Methods of Payment

CFT processes payouts within 8-48 hours. We checked some traders reviews and they report funds arriving in minutes after approval. This places CFT among the fastest-paying prop firms in any asset class.

The payouts are processed via cryptocurrency (USDT, USDC). Some withdrawals include a brief payout interview as a risk management step. For strategies on managing the funded stage, see our guide on how to pass a prop firm evaluation.

Scaling

Standard evaluation accounts can scale to $300,000 in maximum funded allocation. You can hold multiple funded accounts simultaneously (e.g., $200K + $100K) as long as the total does not exceed $300K. The Instant challenge track scales independently through its 10-level system up to $1,280,000 with no max allocation cap.

Account Prices annd Payment Methods at a Glance

All fees are one-time payments, you won't have to pay monthly subscriptions. CFT occasionally runs promotional campaigns. Check our prop firm deals page for active discount codes.

The payment methods available are the following:

• credit/debit cards
• cryptocurrency via Confirmo.

The Ascend model costs more than the Standard at equivalent sizes due to the 0 minimum trading days feature.

Quick Steps to Start Trading with Crypto Fund Trader

1. Visit cryptofundtrader.com through the blue button to your right and select a challenge model (Instant, 1-Phase, or 2-Phase).

2. Choose an account size and select a platform: MetaTrader 5, MatchTrader (US traders), or Bybit.

4. Complete payment via card or crypto to later receive your account credentials.

5. Log into your chosen platform, and start trading the evaluation: hit the profit target within drawdown rules.

6. Pass and complete KYC verification.

7. Access the funded account and begin trading toward payouts.

8. Request payouts via the dashboard (processed in 8-48 hours via crypto).

Who Is Crypto Fund Trader Best For? A Final Verdict

CFT is the strongest option if your primary focus is cryptocurrency. The 715+ crypto pairs through the Bybit integration give access to an asset universe that no CFD-based prop firm matches. Altcoin specialists, DeFi traders, and those who trade newly listed tokens need this breadth. The firm ranks as the leading crypto-focused option among best prop firms in the space.

The 2-Phase Standard model is the best starting point with a 10% static max drawdown, 5% daily loss, and no time limit create a forgiving evaluation. The $58 entry price for a $5,000 account is accessible if you are testing the platform before committing to larger sizes. CFT is also available on the forex prop firms side, though its forex/indices selection is secondary to its crypto focus.

The Instant challenge path suits traders who want to skip evaluation entirely and scale from $2,500 to $1.28M through performance. The 50% starting split is the trade-off. Traders who can sustain consistent 10% growth across multiple levels will reach 90% at Level 5+, but most will not get there quickly.

CFT is less suitable if you need the tightest possible forex spreads (crypto-focused firms typically have wider forex execution than forex-first firms), want MT4 (only MT5 is available), or require regulated brokerage-backed infrastructure (CFT uses exchange integration rather than a regulated broker model).