Funded Elite

General Company Information

Funded Elite, operating under the name Quantum SRLS, is headquartered in Latina, Italy. Unlike some other prop firms that may be based in jurisdictions with less stringent financial regulations, the location in Italy could influence traders’ perception regarding the company’s transparency and regulatory compliance.

The company’s founders are Christian Habibi (CEO) and Artur S. Deshko (COO). Identifying the company’s leaders can contribute to building greater trust among potential users.

Funded Elite’s business model focuses on providing virtual capital to traders. This means the company does not act as a traditional broker accepting customer deposits, but rather offers demo accounts funded with virtual capital for traders to operate under simulated market conditions and, if successful, obtain a share of the simulated profits.

Funding Plan Structure: Models and Costs

Funded Elite stands out for offering a flexible and diversified plan structure that includes low initial cost models, instant funding options, and customizable challenges. Account sizes typically range from $5,000 to $300,000.

Evaluation Models (Challenges)

The firm offers several types of challenges, including standard challenges (1 or 2 phases) with free second chances, low-cost LITE plans (without a second chance), and $5 activation plans.

The “Pay-If-You-Pass” Model ($5 Flash Activation)

The main evaluation model is articulated around the idea of paying the higher fee only if competence is demonstrated. This is the scheme known as the “$5 Account” or “5-to-Elite.”

The key features of this model are:

• Ultra-Low Initial Cost: The trader only pays a minimum initial fee of $5 to start the evaluation.

• Deferred Payment: The full purchase fee for the funded account (the “Activation Fee”) is only required once the trader has successfully passed all evaluation phases. If the trader breaches the challenge at any phase, the financial loss is limited solely to the minimum initial fee paid ($5 or $10, depending on the number of phases).

• Static Drawdown in Evaluation: During the evaluation phases, the firm uses Static Drawdown. This is a favorable point for the trader, as the total loss limit is based on the initial balance and does not move up with profits, offering greater margin for risk management. Note that it converts to trailing drawdown on the funded account.

• Flexibility: The trader has the ability to adjust their maximum loss limit or leverage in the plan settings, customizing the risk that best suits their style.

Standard Plans (with Free Second Chance)

There are also “Standard” plans which, although they have a higher initial cost, include a “second chance” or free restart in case of failure. These plans can be 1 or 2 phases and usually require a minimum of 3 trading days on the funded account.

Instant Funding: Direct Access

For traders who already have a proven track record and wish to avoid the evaluation process, Funded Elite offers an Instant Funding program.

This program allows direct access to a funded account of up to $100K from day one. The main advantages include:

• Zero Evaluation: There are no initial targets or tests to pass.

• Total Operational Flexibility: The program allows holding positions over the weekend and trading during news events without restrictions, providing essential freedom for trading styles that require constant market exposure.

• High Profit Split: The trader can choose a Profit Split that can reach up to 95% of the generated profits. The initial split is 70% or 95% depending on the checkout selection.

• Accelerated Payouts: Withdrawals can be requested in 3, 7, 14, or 21 days, depending on the choice made at checkout.

• Premium Execution Conditions: Trading is performed with ultra-low spreads starting from 0.01.

It is important to note that Instant Funding, by skipping the evaluation and offering a potentially high split (95%), implies that the initial purchase cost will be significantly higher than the deferred activation fee of the Challenges.

Challenge Customization (“Create A Challenge That Fits You”)

Funded Elite offers a level of customization that is a rarity in the sector. The trader can configure their own challenge plan, adjusting fundamental variables:

• Adjustable Variables: Risk Level (defining loss limits), required Profit Targets, desired Leverage, Payout frequency (how quickly withdrawals are desired), and the Profit Split (up to 95%).

Tournaments

In addition to the main funding programs, Funded Elite also organizes tournaments. This adds a competitive dimension and offers an alternative path for traders to demonstrate skill and obtain recognition or prizes, with awards that may include cash and funded accounts (e.g., $1,000 + $150k account).

Flash Activation Challenge (1 Phase)

This challenge is the fast-track option, designed for efficient evaluation with a single objective stage.

Evaluation Phases and Rules (Flash)

• Profit Target (Phase 1): 6%.

• Maximum Daily Loss: 3% (Calculated based on the highest balance or equity from the previous day).

• Maximum Total Loss: 6% (Static Drawdown).

• Minimum Time: A minimum of 3 profitable trading days with at least 0.5% profit is required.

Funded Stage and Critical Rules (Flash)

Once approved and the Activation Fee is paid, the funded account rules are crucial:

• Maximum Daily Loss: 3%.

• Maximum Total Loss: 6%, and it is Trailing Drawdown in the funded stage.

• Profit Split: 80% (base).

• Payout Requirement: 3 profitable trading days are required to qualify for the first withdrawal. Each of these days must close with at least a +0.5% profit (based on the initial balance).

• Consistency Rule: There is no specific consistency rule (like a 30% cap) applied to these accounts.

Standard Activation Challenge (2 Phases)

This plan follows the traditional two-step evaluation format and presents wider risk limits at the cost of higher total profit targets.

Evaluation Phases (2 Phases)

• Initial Cost: $5 for Phase 1, plus an additional $5 upon starting Phase 2.

• Profit Target Phase 1: 8%.

• Profit Target Phase 2: 5%. The total target is 13%.

• Maximum Daily Loss: 4%.

• Maximum Total Loss: 8% (Static Drawdown).

• Funded Payout Cycle: Withdrawals can be requested every 14 days (unless a different frequency was selected).

Note: The complementary document mentions other “Standard” plans with different rules (e.g., 5% daily / 10% total drawdown and 5 minimum days) that include a free restart, indicating a broader variety of products.

Comparison Tables of Rules and Costs (Pay-If-You-Pass Model)

The following table summarizes the key differences in targets and risk limits between the challenges described in 3.1 and 3.2.

Table 1: Comparison of Evaluation Rules (Challenges)

The following table details the real investment the trader must make at the end of the evaluation process, once they have proven fit for funding.

Table 2: Activation Cost Structure (Paid Only Upon Passing)

Comparing costs and rules reveals a strategic trade-off. The 2-Phase Challenge provides a larger risk margin than the Flash Challenge. This greater risk leniency in the 2-Phase plan is offset by a higher total profit target.

Risk Management Rules And Trading Conditions

Clarity on the Drawdown calculation and execution conditions is essential.

Daily Loss Limit Mechanics

The Daily Loss Limit is the maximum amount the account can lose in a single trading day. Funded Elite uses a calculation method that is recalculated daily at the market rollover time.

The loss threshold for the day is set by taking the highest value recorded between the Balance and the Equity at the end of the day (EOD high-watermark). The daily loss limit is subtracted from this reference value. If the Balance or Equity falls below this threshold at any point during the trading day, the account is considered breached.

The Nature of Maximum Drawdown (Trailing vs. Static)

The way Maximum Drawdown is applied changes drastically between stages:

• Evaluation Phase: Maximum Drawdown is Static (6% or 8%). The loss limit remains fixed based on the account’s initial balance.

• Funded Phase (Especially in Flash/Activation Challenge): Drawdown is Trailing on the funded account.

Leverage, Execution, and Instruments

Funded Elite offers execution conditions designed to attract high-volume and high-precision traders.

• Competitive Conditions: The firm provides ultra-low spreads starting from 0.01 on major pairs.

• Commissions: Trading in indices and cryptocurrencies is offered without commissions. In Forex, the commission is $3 per standard lot.

• Slippage: A highly valued feature is the promise of no slippage during news announcements or times of high volatility.

• Leverage: The firm allows for leverage customization, offering up to 30:1 on Forex (up to 100:1 available as an add-on), and 10:1 on metals, energies, and indices.

Tradable Instruments

Funded Elite provides access to a wide range of markets, including:

• Forex: Major pairs, minors, and exotics.

• Stock Indices: US, Europe, and Asia.

• Commodities: Metals (Gold, Silver) and Energies (WTI, Brent).

• Global Stocks: US and European stocks.

• Cryptocurrencies: Majors like BTC, ETH, SOL, and altcoins.

Permitted Strategies and Key Restrictions

Funded Elite promotes broad strategic freedom but implements strict restrictions.

What Is Allowed (Operational Freedom)

The firm maintains a policy of high flexibility:

• News Trading: Permitted.

• Overnight and Weekend Holding: Holding positions over the weekend is permitted. However, opening or closing new positions during the weekend is prohibited without a specific add-on.

• Expert Advisors (EAs): The use of Expert Advisors is not permitted. Only manual trading tools are allowed.

• Hedging and Grid Trading: Grid Trading is allowed, as long as it is not used for overleveraging or manipulative strategies. Hedging is listed as a prohibited strategy in official documentation.

• Internal Copy Trading: Copying trades between the trader’s own accounts is permitted.

• VPN/VPS: Their use is allowed, but the trader must notify the company in advance.

Strictly Prohibited Practices (Critical Restrictions)

The main restrictions focus on trading integrity and trade duration.

Minimum Trade Duration and HFT

There is a rule regarding trade duration for scalpers.

• Purpose: This rule is designed to filter out high-frequency trading (HFT).

• Trade Duration: Trades must last longer than 30 seconds if the scalping add-on was purchased, and more than 3 minutes if it wasn’t.

• Consequences: If a trader incurs trades below these limits without the add-on, it is considered a soft breach.

Abuse and Use of Third Parties

• Demo Account Exploitation: Strategies that exploit simulator flaws (e.g., latency arbitrage) are prohibited.

• External Services: The use of account management services or “pass your challenge” services is strictly prohibited.

• IP Sharing: Strictly prohibited from using shared IP with other traders of the firm.

Other Prohibited Practices

• HFT & Hedging: Expressly prohibited in the rules.

• Account Rolling: The tactic of buying multiple accounts and trading at the limit hoping one works is not accepted.

Restrictions on Funded Accounts

• Risk Limit per Asset: Upon transitioning to the financed account, risking more than 50% of your daily loss limit on a single instrument during the same day is strictly prohibited.

Payments, Scalability, and Operational Logistics

Payout Cycles and Profit Split

• Base Split: The standard split for Activation Challenges is 80% for the trader.

• Maximum Split: Profit potential can increase up to 95% through plan customization or add-ons.

• Payout Frequency: Can be chosen at checkout: 3, 7, 14, or 21 days.

• Fee Refund: The enrollment cost is refundable with the third withdrawal, but only if the trader completes the challenge successfully on the first attempt (without “Second Chance”).

Logistics, Platforms, and Payment Methods

• Trading Platforms: Funded Elite offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and TradeLocker.

• Withdrawal Methods: Payments via RISE (min $500) and Cryptocurrencies (min $30, max $500 per cycle).

• Geographical Restrictions: Does not accept traders from USA, Canada, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, North Korea, Israel, Syria, Palestine.

Support, KYC, and Analytics

• Customer Support: Live chat, email, and Discord.

• KYC (Know Your Customer): Verification is required before migrating to a funded account.

• Dashboard and Analytics: Access to a proprietary control panel with metrics and performance tracking.

Strengths

1. Low Barrier to Entry: The $5 “Pay-If-You-Pass” model eliminates initial financial friction.

2. “Second Chance” Philosophy: Inclusion of free restarts in certain plans (1 Step and 2 Step) demonstrates a fairer evaluation process.

3. Premium Trading Conditions: The promise of zero slippage and the freedom to trade news and hold positions over the weekend.

4. Maximum Profit Potential: The possibility of reaching a 95% Profit Split and fast payouts.

5. Technology and Support: Provision of MT4, MT5, and TradeLocker, along with an integrated analytics dashboard.