Funded Elite: In-depth Review | Conditions, plans, prices

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 $15,000 to $200,000.

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.
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 5 trading days.

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% on the first payout, and then increases to the chosen percentage.
Accelerated Payouts: Withdrawals can be requested in as little as 3 days.
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 number of trading days is not 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%, but it converts to Trailing Drawdown.
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 (30%): In this funded stage, the profit from your best trading day cannot exceed 30% of your total profits.

This 30% consistency rule in the Flash funded account demands stable performance and penalizes traders who rely on volatile or sporadic profits.

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.

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)

Parameter	Flash Activation (1 Phase)	Activation Challenge (2 Phases)
Initial Payment (Evaluation)	$5	$5 (Phase 1) + $5 (Phase 2)
Target Phase 1	6%	8%
Target Phase 2	N/A	5%
Total Target	6%	13%
Max Daily Loss	3%	4%
Max Total Loss	6% Static	8% Static
Minimum Trading Days	No minimum	No minimum

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)

Account Size	Activation Cost Flash Activation (1 Phase)	Activation Cost Activation Challenge (2 Phases)
$25,000	$159	$249
$50,000	$329	$379
$100,000	$499	$699
$200,000	$989	$1,299

Comparing costs and rules reveals a strategic trade-off. The 2-Phase Challenge provides a significantly larger risk margin (8% total DD and 4% daily) than the Flash Challenge (6% and 3%). This greater risk leniency in the 2-Phase plan is offset by a higher total profit target (13% vs. 6%) and a notably higher final activation fee.

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 (typically 21:00 UTC).

The loss threshold for the day is set by taking the highest value recorded between the Balance (closed/realized profits) and the Equity (including unrealized profits or losses from open positions) at the start of the day. The daily loss limit (3% or 4%, depending on the plan) 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 and will be terminated.

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, regardless of how much the account grows.
Funded Phase (Especially in Flash Challenge): Drawdown is Trailing until the account reaches a profit threshold (generally 3% of the initial capital).

This post-funding Trailing Drawdown represents a significant tactical risk. If a trader starts generating profits, the maximum loss limit moves up with the highest Equity reached. To mitigate this constant risk, the firm applies a Lock-In Point: once a predefined profit is achieved (for example, 3%), the Maximum Drawdown is permanently “locked” to the initial account balance.

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 approximately $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 1:100 on Forex, indices, and metals.

Tradable Instruments

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

Forex: Major pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD), minors, and exotics.
Stock Indices: US (S&P500, NASDAQ100), Europe (DAX40, FTSE100), and Asia (Nikkei225).
Commodities: Metals (Gold, Silver) and Energies (WTI Crude Oil, Brent).
Global Stocks: US (Apple, Tesla) and European (SAP, BMW) stocks.
Cryptocurrencies: Majors like BTC/USD, ETH/USD, SOL/USD, and altcoins.
Futures and Derivatives: Futures on indices, commodities, and volatility (VIX).

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 permitted as long as they do not execute prohibited or manipulative strategies, and they operate as support (risk, analysis) and not completely automatically (automatic martingales or public scalpers are not allowed).
Hedging and Grid Trading: Grid Trading is allowed, as long as it is not used for overleveraging, market destabilization, or seeking risk-free profits.
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 (at support@fundedelite.com or similar) to register the IP.

Strictly Prohibited Practices (Critical Restrictions)

The main restrictions focus on trading integrity and trade duration.

Minimum Trade Duration and HFT

There is a fundamental rule of 3 minutes minimum duration for all trades.

Purpose: This rule is designed to filter out very high-frequency trading (HFT) and extreme scalping.
Exception and Cost: High-frequency scalping (trades under 3 minutes, or 30 seconds with an add-on) is only permitted if the trader purchases a specific add-on.
Consequences: If a trader in the funded stage incurs trades under 3 minutes without the add-on, this is considered a soft breach, leading to the account being reset to the funded stage and the retention of pending payouts.

Abuse and Use of Third Parties

The following practices result in immediate account termination and prohibition from the firm’s services:

Demo Account Exploitation: Strategies that exploit simulator flaws or that only generate risk-free profits in a demo environment (e.g., latency arbitrage or liquidity exploitation) are prohibited.
External Services: The use of account management services, copy trading (copying trades from third parties), or “pass your challenge” services is strictly prohibited.
Account Sharing: The sale or exchange of funded accounts between different owners is prohibited.
IP Sharing: Strictly prohibited from using shared IP with other traders of the firm.

Other Prohibited Practices

Inter-Account Hedging: Expressly prohibited from opening opposing positions in different accounts (own or third-party) to guarantee a risk-free profit.
Account Rolling: The tactic of buying multiple accounts and trading at the limit hoping one works is not accepted.
Order Spamming: Strategies that flood the server with thousands of orders in seconds are prohibited.

Restrictions on Funded Accounts

Consistency Rule (Flash Challenge): For the Flash Activation Challenge, the rule that the best day does not exceed 30% of total profits only applies in the funded stage.
Risk Limit per Asset (PDF): Upon transitioning to the financed account, the trader cannot risk more than 50% of their allowed daily drawdown on a single asset on the same day.

Payments, Scalability, and Operational Logistics

Payout Cycles and Profit Split

Funded Elite focuses on offering fast payment cycles and high profit-sharing potential.

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.
Split Progression (Instant Funding): In the Instant Funding program, the initial split starts at 70%, rises to 80% on the second withdrawal, and can reach 95%.
Payout Frequency: Withdrawal speed depends on the program:
- Instant Funding: Payouts are possible as fast as every 3 days.
- Challenges (2 Phases): Withdrawals are available bi-weekly (every 14 days).
Fee Refund: The enrollment cost (fee) is refundable with the third withdrawal, but only if the trader completes the challenge without using the “Second Chance” option (free restart). If the restart is used, there is no refund.

Logistics, Platforms, and Payment Methods

Trading Platforms: Funded Elite offers multiple platforms, including MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, and DXtrade. For cTrader, they indicate working with partner brokers like Purple Trading to ensure low spreads.
Use of External Technology: The use of VPN or VPS (Virtual Private Servers) is allowed, but the trader is obligated to notify the company via support (support@fundedelite.com) before activating its use.
Withdrawal Methods: Flexible payment methods are offered. These include transfers via RISE (without maximum limits) and Cryptocurrencies (such as USDT or USDC, limited to $500 per payment cycle). It is the trader’s responsibility to cover the incurred transfer gateway fees.
Geographical Coverage and Restrictions: The firm claims to offer coverage in more than 100 countries. However, due to legal compliance, it does not accept traders from certain countries, including USA, Canada, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, North Korea, Israel, Syria, Palestine and sanctioned regions.

Support, KYC, and Analytics

Customer Support: Funded Elite offers multi-channel support, including live chat on its website, email, and an active community on Discord.
KYC (Know Your Customer): Every trader must complete a KYC verification process (submitting ID and selfie) to verify their identity before migrating to a funded account.
Dashboard and Analytics: Accounts include free access to a proprietary control panel with charts, performance metrics, and an integrated trading journal, facilitating performance analysis.

Strengths

Low Barrier to Entry: The $5 “Pay-If-You-Pass” model eliminates initial financial friction.
“Second Chance” Philosophy: The 34% passing rate and the inclusion of free restarts in certain plans demonstrate a fairer evaluation process.
Premium Trading Conditions: The promise of zero slippage during news events and the freedom to trade news and hold positions over the weekend are essential for volatility traders.
Maximum Profit Potential: The possibility of reaching a 95% Profit Split and fast payouts (every 3 days in Instant Funding) are highly competitive.
Technology and Support: The provision of multiple platforms (MT4/5, cTrader), an integrated analytics dashboard, and active support on Discord enhance the user experience.

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