City Traders Imperium Review

CTI Challenges and Funded Programs

CTI offers four types of funded trading programs for prop traders – 2-Step Challenge, 1-Step Challenge, and Instant Funding.

1. 2-Step Evaluation Process: Designed for disciplined traders seeking a structured challenge, this program involves two phases. Traders must meet profit targets and adhere to drawdown limits. The lack of time restrictions provides flexibility for those aiming to demonstrate consistency over time.
2. 1-Step Evaluation Process: Ideal for traders looking for a quicker path to funding. This program requires completing just one phase with a 10% profit target, along with minimal rules to simplify the process.
3. Instant Funding: This program offers experienced traders immediate access to capital without any evaluation or challenge phase. It’s suited for those confident in their trading skills and ready to start earning profits straight away.
4. Instant Funding Pro: An upgraded version of the Instant Funding program, this option is tailored for advanced traders who require higher starting balances and premium access to larger funding opportunities.

These programs cater to both new and experienced traders, offering opportunities to access firm capital.

Two Step Challenges

The 2-Step Evaluation Process consists of two phases where traders must meet specific profit targets while adhering to strict drawdown limits.

The first phase evaluates the trader’s ability to generate consistent returns, while the second phase further tests their risk management skills. This is the only CTI challenge that requires a minimum of five active trading days before moving onto the second phase in the two step program.

On the other hand, the lack of a time limit provides flexibility, while the drawdown rules ensure discipline.

One Step Challenges

The 1-Step Evaluation Process allows traders to skip the second evaluation phase and get funded after completing just one step.

This process still requires traders to meet a 10% profit target, but it offers faster access to capital compared to the 2-Step process.

With no minimum trading days, the one step challenge offers flexibility for you to pass the evaluation at your own pace.

Instant Funding Accounts

City Traders Imperium (CTI) offers two distinct instant funding models designed to cater to traders at different levels of experience and capital requirements. Both models provide immediate access to trading capital without any evaluation process, but they vary in their starting balances and fee structures:

Instant Funding is best suited for traders with smaller capital needs, offering lower initial balances and an easy entry point. On the other hand, Instant Funding Pro caters to experienced traders, providing larger starting balances and premium access to higher funding options.

Instant Funding

The Instant Funding program by City Traders Imperium (CTI) provides traders with immediate access to capital without requiring an evaluation or challenge phase. Designed for confident traders who prefer to start trading immediately, this program offers a simple structure with clear drawdown rules to ensure responsible risk management

Instant Funding Pro

The Instant Funding Pro program is an enhanced version of the standard Instant Funding model, offering premium access to trading capital. It is tailored for advanced traders who require larger starting balances and greater funding options. Like the standard program, Instant Funding Pro imposes strict drawdown rules but offers more significant scaling opportunities.

Trading Rules

CTI enforces strict rules to ensure fair and responsible trading. Here are the key CTI trading rules to be aware of:

• No EAs: Use of third-party Expert Advisors (EAs) for which the trader does not own the source code.
• No High-frequency trading (HFT): Including ultra-fast scalping, tick-scalping strategies, and news scalping EAs.
• No Copy Trading: Traders cannot use social tools to copy trades from others unless they are copying from their own personal accounts into a funded account.
• Mandatory Stop Losses: A stop loss must be placed on every trade. If it’s not, the system will automatically close trades without a stop loss within 1 minute.
• News Trading Allowed: You are free to hold positions over weekends and trade during high-impact news events, with no restrictions on overnight or news trading.

Scaling Plans

CTI’s updated scaling plans and rewards provide traders with opportunities to grow their funded accounts, increase profit shares, and earn additional benefits through consistent performance.

1. Profit Share Growth: Traders start with an 80% profit share, which increases by 10% for every 10% profit milestone achieved, up to a maximum of 100%.
2. Account Balance Growth: Funded accounts double in size with each milestone, scaling up to $2,000,000, provided traders maintain a Consistency Score of 20% or higher.

For example, for a $50,000 funded account:

• Achieving a 10% profit milestone ($5,000) increases the account balance to $100,000.
• Profit share grows to 100% upon meeting subsequent scaling milestones.

Golden Trader Loyalty Program

City Traders Imperium (CTI) offers the Golden Trader Loyalty Program to reward traders for consistent performance and long-term commitment. The program features three tiers—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—with escalating benefits and requirements at each level.

Bronze Level

Traders at the Bronze Level enjoy enhanced trading conditions, including weekly payouts, a 90% profit share, and VIP support access. Additional perks include a certificate of achievement, a free one-on-one performance coaching session, and a 30% discount on all future purchases.

To qualify, traders must maintain an active funded account with no account failures for four months, process at least four reward payouts, and achieve a minimum of 4% profit per reward.

Silver Level

Silver Level membership builds upon the benefits of the Bronze tier. In addition to retaining weekly payouts, traders gain the ability to request on-demand payouts and are upgraded to a 100% profit share.

Silver members also receive free CTI merchandise and an in-person performance coaching session. To reach this level, traders must maintain Bronze status for at least four months, process four additional rewards, and achieve at least 3% profit per reward.

Gold Level

The Gold Level offers the most prestigious benefits, including institutional-grade trading conditions, tailored funding options, and the potential for a one-year guaranteed salary.

Gold members also join CTI’s elite trading team and receive a certificate of achievement. To achieve Gold status, traders must remain at the Silver Level for four months, process four additional rewards, and maintain a minimum profit of 2% per reward.

Retry Discounts

City Traders Imperium (CTI) offers retry discounts for traders who have been disqualified from their funding programs. The discount rates are structured as follows:

• 2-Step Challenge: 15% discount on the next purchase.
• 1-Step Challenge: 20% discount on the next purchase.
• Instant Funding: 20% discount on the next purchase.
• Instant Funding Pro: 10% discount on the next purchase.

These discounts provide traders with an affordable opportunity to retry and achieve their funding goals. Discount codes are sent via email upon disqualification and can be redeemed during future sign-ups.

Verdict on Challenges

CTI offers versatile funded programs, including 2-Step, 1-Step, and Instant Funding challenges, suitable for traders of all experience levels. The flexibility of unlimited time limits and high-profit splits makes these challenges appealing for disciplined traders.

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Spreads and Commission Fees

City Traders Imperium (CTI) offers relatively competitive trading conditions, with a 0.3 pip spread on EUR/USD. However, details on minimum spreads for other instruments remain limited, making it harder for traders focused on different asset classes to assess overall costs.

Minimum Forex Spreads

On face value, City Traders Imperium appears to provide relatively competitive spreads, with the spread for EUR/USD averaging around 0.3 pips. However, while CTI promotes low spreads for forex trading, there is limited information available on minimum spreads for other symbols, which may make it less transparent for traders who focus on other asset classes.

CTI is not a brokerage itself and instead uses Broctagon, an institutional prime liquidity provider regulated by CySEC in Cyprus. This partnership ensures high-quality execution and optimal trading conditions for all CTI traders without relying on a traditional broker setup.

Commission Fees

CTI operates with a straightforward commission structure based on the asset class, ensuring transparency across trading activities. For Forex and Commodities, traders incur a $5 roundturn commission fee per lot ($2.50 per side). Indices come with a much lower fee of $0.50 per lot, roundturn, while Crypto traders enjoy zero commission trading.

Verdict on Spreads

CTI’s low forex spreads, clear commission structure, and partnerships with regulated providers make it a competitive choice for forex traders. However, the lack of detailed spread information for other assets may require careful consideration for traders diversifying beyond forex.

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Financial Markets and Leverage

City Traders Imperium (CTI) provides access to 50 trading instruments across its funded programs. These include 28 forex pairs, 3 commodities, 13 indices, and 6 cryptocurrencies.

Leverage varies based on the account type, with 1:30 leverage for forex on the 1-Step and 2-Step accounts, while No Evaluation accounts have a leverage of 1:10 for forex, commodities, and indices. Cryptocurrencies maintain a leverage of 1:2 across all account types. This broad selection offers traders diverse opportunities across multiple asset classes.

Forex Trading

City Traders Imperium offers 28 forex pairs across its funded programs, catering to a range of trading preferences. Leverage is set at 1:30 for the 1-Step and 2-Step accounts, while No Evaluation accounts have a leverage of 1:10. In addition to major pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD, traders can access minor pairs such as AUD/JPY and EUR/GBP, as well as exotic pairs like USD/TRY and EUR/ZAR.

Commodities

For Commodities, CTI offers markets such as gold (XAU/USD), silver (XAG/USD), and crude oil (XTI/USD). The leverage is 1:10 across all account types, allowing traders to manage positions in these volatile markets.

Indices

CTI traders have access to popular global indices, including the US30, UK100, and DE40. Leverage is capped at 1:10 for both the 1-Step, 2-Step, and No Evaluation accounts.

Cryptocurrencies

In the Cryptocurrency market, CTI offers six assets such as Bitcoin (BTC/USD) and Ethereum (ETH/USD), with leverage set at 1:2 across all account types. As mentioned previously, CTI charges no commission for crypto trading for all six digital currencies.

Verdict on Markets

CTI gives you access to 50 markets, including forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. While leverage varies by asset class, the broad selection caters to diverse trading strategies.

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CTI Trading Platforms

City Traders Imperium (CTI) used to only offer the MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platform,  yet as of recently the prop firm has started offering Match Trader as well.

MT5 Trading Tools

While MetaTrader 4 (MT4) remains the most popular trading platform worldwide and is often the first choice for many traders, MetaTrader 5 (MT5) offers numerous improvements and enhanced features. These enhancements make MT5 a more advanced and versatile platform, providing traders with greater flexibility, expanded trading tools, and more comprehensive market analysis options.

MT5 provides an suite of powerful tools designed for online trading, including:

• Pending Order Types: 6 types, including Buy Limit, Buy Stop, Sell Limit, and Sell Stop.
• Technical Indicators: 38 built-in indicators for comprehensive market analysis.
• Timeframes: 21 customizable timeframes to suit different trading strategies.
• Depth of Market (DOM): Included for real-time market liquidity insights.
• Economic Calendar: Integrated to keep traders informed of market-moving events.

MT5 is accessible on multiple platforms, including Mac, Windows, WebTrader, and mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, providing flexibility for traders to manage their accounts from anywhere

Match Trader

Match Trader on CTI

City Traders Imperium (CTI) has recently expanded its platform offerings to include Match Trader alongside MetaTrader 5 (MT5), adding a new level of versatility especially for beginner traders.

Match Trader provides a streamlined, user-friendly experience, tailored for traders looking for a simpler layout without compromising essential trading functionalities.

Match Trader platform tools include:

• Order Types: Supports various order types, including market, limit, and stop orders, enabling users to customise their trades.
• Charting Tools: Offers advanced charting with multi-timeframe views, making it easy to analyse trends and adjust strategies as needed.
• Built-in Trading Tools: Includes fundamental tools for technical analysis, such as drawing tools and basic indicators, to help traders make informed decisions.
• Mobile and Web Access: Match Trader is accessible both on web and mobile platforms, providing flexibility for traders who need to monitor and manage trades on the go.

Match Trader is a more simplified platform compared to MT5, ideal for CTI traders who prefer a straightforward interface while still needing essential tools for analysis and trade management.

Verdict of Trading Platforms

City Traders Imperium now provides two platform choices—MT5 and Match Trader. MT5 remains the go-to for traders seeking advanced tools and extensive market analysis capabilities, while Match Trader appeals to those wanting a simplified trading experience without overwhelming features. This expanded selection is a positive move by CTI, catering to a wider range of trading styles and preferences.

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Payments and Profit Payouts

City Traders Imperium (CTI) offers flexible payment options for audition fees and profit payouts, including bank transfers, cryptocurrencies, and credit/debit cards. However, the minimum withdrawal is relatively high, and the withdrawal methods differ from the options available for paying fees.

Audition Fee Payment

City Traders Imperium (CTI) offers multiple payment methods for the one-time audition fee, including credit cards, debit cards, cryptocurrencies, and bank wire transfers. The fee range depends on the evaluation process and funding level selected, ranging from $39 to $4,799.

The cryptos available for fee payments are:

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Tether (USDT)
• Tron (TRX)

It is worth noting, to pay via bank transfer, you’ll need to contact support and request an invoice, providing details of the funding program and preferred payment method.

Fee Refunds

CTI offers a 100% refund of the evaluation fee for traders who reach their first 10% profit milestone in both the 1-Step (Instant Funding) and 2-Step Evaluation programs. However, for the No Evaluation (Direct Funding) program, the fee is non-refundable. This refund policy incentivizes traders to reach their profit targets while rewarding successful participants with the return of their initial costs.

Profit Payout Process

You’ll face a minimum profit withdrawal of $100, yet CTI makes the profit payouts relatively straight-forward through their centralized Dashboard Wallet. Once you reach your profit targets, you can transfer your earnings from the trading account to your Wallet for withdrawal. Payment methods for withdrawals include bank transfers and cryptocurrency wallets.

• Minimum withdrawal is high at $100.
• To qualify for a profit payout, you must have been trading for 10 days or have a minimum profit of $100 (or 2% net eligible profit, whichever is greater)
• Internal transfers to the Wallet are processed within 2 business days, while withdrawals to bank accounts or crypto wallets are processed within 1 business day.
• Payout requests submitted on weekends or after business hours are processed the next business day.
• CTI does not allow third-party withdrawals, and funds must be withdrawn to a bank account or wallet under the trader’s name.

Funded Trader Salary Payments

Fully funded traders who meet CTI’s salary criteria receive monthly payments based on their account size. These salary payments are separate from profit payouts and are available only to traders who have completed the evaluation phase. Salary payments are deposited directly into the trader’s bank or crypto wallet.

Verdict on Payments and Payouts

Profit payouts are efficient, with straightforward withdrawal processes via bank transfer or cryptocurrency. The addition of funded trader salaries further rewards consistent performance.

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Customer Service and Education

City Traders Imperium focuses on supporting traders through dedicated customer service and comprehensive educational programs. Below we’ll look at the various support options available and the educational resources designed to enhance prop trading skills and knowledge.

Customer Support

City Traders Imperium provides customer support through various channels, including live chat, email, and a comprehensive FAQ section, which is managed by an interactive chat bot. While helpful for basic queries, the chat bot is less advanced compared to AI bots used by prop firms like IC Funded or FundedNext, which may offer more dynamic responses.

Educational Resources

City Traders Imperium offers a wide range of educational resources to help traders at all skill levels:

• Bank Level Trading: This course combines Smart Money Concepts, Wave Theory, and Wyckoff methods to identify high-probability trading opportunities.
• STT Strategy: Focuses on swing trading using triangle patterns to find trades with good risk to reward ratios.
• CS Strategy: Designed for traders who want to capitalize on quick, significant price movements. It teaches how to trade sharp market corrections.
• Forex for Beginners: A mentoring program that helps new traders learn quickly and start trading with confidence.
• Build Your Edge – Trading Psychology: Teaches traders how to manage their emotions and make disciplined trading decisions.

City Traders Imperium complements these resources with ongoing courses and webinars, diving into specific trading strategies and market analyses, equipping traders with the knowledge to succeed in professional trading environments.

Verdict on Support

CTI provides comprehensive support through live chat, email, and an FAQ section. The active Discord community and educational resources enhance the overall trader experience.

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Trust and Community

City Traders Imperium (CTI), established in 2018 and based in Dubai, has quickly built a reputation for creating a solid prop trading community with generally favorable feedback from clients.

While we consider CTI a well-established and trusted prop firm, it is important to note that CTI is not a brokerage service but a proprietary trading firm. They partner with a CySEC regulated broker and liquidity provider, Broctagon, to ensure high-quality trading conditions and regulatory compliance, enhancing the security and reliability of their trading environment.

City Traders Imperium TrustPilot Score

CTI maintains an excellent TrustPilot score of 4.5 out of 5. Customer reviews frequently praise the platform for its comprehensive support and prop trading tools. However, there are occasional critiques regarding server reliability during volatile market conditions, which the company actively addresses in its responses, highlighting their commitment to continuous improvement.

Prop Trading Community

The community engagement at CTI is extensive and active, shown by their 18,800 + Discord members, including over 800 funded traders. CTI’s discord channel provides valuable trading information and client support, as well as announcements around promotions and giveaways.

On social media, CTI has a significant presence with 17.3k followers on Twitter, 3.6k on Facebook, and over 2k on LinkedIn. These platforms are utilized not just for announcements and support but also for sharing success stories and educational content, which helps maintain a connected and informed community.

Verdict on Trust and Community 

CTI’s strong TrustPilot score (4.5/5) and partnerships with CySEC-regulated liquidity providers establish it as a reliable and secure prop trading firm.

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How to Sign Up with CTI

Getting started with City Traders Imperium (CTI) is straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. Register: Sign up via the registration form on the CTI dashboard. While access to the dashboard is free, the account matrix becomes available after making a purchase.
2. Explore Funding Programs: After registering, browse the various funding programs and choose the one that fits your trading needs.
3. Select a Trader Program: Click “See Pricing Plans” to view available options, and select “Get Funded” to proceed with your account setup.
4. Pay the One-Time Fee: Complete your payment with your preferred method to activate your account.
5. Set Up Trading Platform: Download MT5 or log into the WebTrader to start trading (available on desktop, mobile, and web platforms).
6. Develop Your Trading Style: Make use of CTI’s educational resources to refine your trading strategy.
7. Start Trading: Begin trading, using CTI’s risk management tools to stay within drawdown limits.
8. Withdraw Your Profit Share: Once eligible, you can request your first profit share withdrawal.

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Final Verdict

City Traders Imperium (CTI) offers a well-rounded prop trading experience with attractive profit splits of up to 100% and flexible funding options, including Instant Funding, 1-Step, and 2-Step challenges. The firm’s use of MetaTrader 5 provides advanced trading tools, though some may prefer more platform choices.

With affordable fees, monthly trader salaries, and an engaged community, CTI is a strong choice for both beginner and experienced traders looking for scalable capital and long-term growth opportunities.