Scalping
Both firms allow scalping, but the conditions significantly change the experience for a high-frequency trader.
- Rules and Risk: City Traders Imperium requires a mandatory stop loss on every trade; failing to set one results in the system closing the trade after 1 minute (soft breach). This can be disruptive for very fast scalpers. Crypto Fund Trader does not mandate a stop loss, allowing for more flexibility, but prohibits "tick scalping" and latency exploitation.
- Platforms and Cost: Both offer MT5 and MatchTrader, which are standard for execution speed. However, Crypto Fund Trader’s commissions are varied ($5 per lot on Forex, but percentage-based on others), while City Traders Imperium charges a flat $5 per lot on Forex and Metals.
- Leverage: Scalpers will find more "buying power" at Crypto Fund Trader with 100:1 leverage on Advance accounts, compared to the much more conservative 30:1 at City Traders Imperium.
Swing Trading
This style is well-supported by both firms as they both allow holding positions over the weekend and overnight.
- Rules and Risk: City Traders Imperium uses trailing drawdown for its 1-Step accounts, which can "choke" a swing trade as profit is realized. Its 2-Step and Instant accounts use static drawdown, which is much safer for long-term holds. Crypto Fund Trader also uses static drawdown for 2-Phase and Instant accounts, but its 1-Phase uses trailing drawdown.
- Payouts and Consistency: City Traders Imperium requires a "Consistency Score" only if you plan to scale Instant accounts; otherwise, it’s very swing-friendly. Crypto Fund Trader has a 40% consistency rule only for its "Break" accounts during the payout phase.
- Costs: City Traders Imperium offers "Swap-Free" accounts, which is a massive advantage for swing traders who hold positions for weeks, avoiding the erosion of profits through overnight interest. Crypto Fund Trader does not offer swap-free options.
Automated Trading (EA)
The use of Expert Advisors is permitted in both firms, but with different philosophies regarding third-party software.
- Rules: City Traders Imperium is stricter: it prohibits 3rd-party EAs in all challenges except the 1-Step. This means you should ideally use your own code. Crypto Fund Trader allows EAs for "normal trading" but strictly forbids HFT, arbitrage, or exploitation EAs.
- Interactions: In City Traders Imperium, the combination of allowing EAs but requiring a stop loss means your code must include an SL function to avoid the 1-minute auto-close rule.
- Platforms: MT5 is the primary choice for automation in both firms.
News Trading
Traders who look for volatility during economic releases can operate in both firms, though one has specific risk caps.
- Rules: City Traders Imperium allows news trading without specific restrictions on the execution time. Crypto Fund Trader also allows it generally, but for "Ascend" accounts, it prohibits opening new positions 2 minutes before and after high-impact news if the theoretical risk exceeds 2% of the initial balance.
- Risk: The high leverage at Crypto Fund Trader (100:1) makes news trading extremely dangerous due to slippage, whereas City Traders Imperium’s 30:1 leverage provides a natural buffer against over-leveraging during news events.
Copy Trading
There is a clear divide here: one firm treats it as a prohibited strategy while the other allows it under specific conditions.
- Rules: City Traders Imperium lists "Copy Trading" as a prohibited strategy. You cannot copy trades from other traders or external signals.
- Alternative at CFT: Crypto Fund Trader allows copy trading but with limitations: you can only copy between your own accounts. Copying from third parties or coordinated trading between different users is strictly forbidden. In the "Break Final Stage," copy trading is entirely prohibited.
If you trade like this
- If you are a disciplined Forex swing trader: City Traders Imperium is the better choice due to its Swap-Free accounts, the possibility of reaching a 100% profit split, and the refund of your registration fee.
- If you are a high-leverage Crypto enthusiast: Crypto Fund Trader is superior, especially with its native Bybit integration and 100:1 leverage on crypto futures.
- If you hate mandatory Stop Losses: Crypto Fund Trader is your only option here, as City Traders Imperium will close your trades automatically if you don't set one.
- If you want to manage multiple accounts of your own via copying: Crypto Fund Trader allows this internal management, whereas City Traders Imperium prohibits the practice entirely.
Frequently asked questions
Which firm is cheaper to start a $50,000 challenge, City Traders Imperium or Crypto Fund Trader?
City Traders Imperium is cheaper for this specific size. Its $50,000 1-Step challenge costs $299, while the $50,000 1-Phase challenge at Crypto Fund Trader costs $369. Additionally, City Traders Imperium offers a 100% refund of this fee when you reach your first 10% profit target on a funded account, a benefit Crypto Fund Trader does not provide.
Does City Traders Imperium or Crypto Fund Trader have a stricter stop-loss policy?
City Traders Imperium is significantly stricter. It requires a mandatory stop loss on every trade; if not set, the system automatically closes the position after 1 minute (a soft breach). Crypto Fund Trader does not require a mandatory stop loss for trading, although it encourages its use by offering account resets and "profit breach" rewards only to those who used stop losses on every trade.
Which firm offers better conditions for trading Crypto, City Traders Imperium or Crypto Fund Trader?
Crypto Fund Trader offers superior conditions for crypto. It provides leverage up to 100:1 and allows a direct connection to Bybit for trading crypto futures 24/7. In contrast, City Traders Imperium offers a very limited leverage of 2:1 for cryptocurrencies and a smaller range of crypto assets compared to the specialized focus of Crypto Fund Trader.
Between City Traders Imperium and Crypto Fund Trader, which one pays out faster?
City Traders Imperium has the potential for faster payouts through its VIP program. While its standard payout is monthly or bi-weekly, "Bronze" level traders get weekly payouts and "Silver" level traders can withdraw at any time. Crypto Fund Trader generally requires 15 traded days or 30 calendar days, which can be reduced to 7 traded days only if you purchase a specific "Weekly Payout" add-on for an extra 20% cost.






















