This article explains the rules of the Direct To Funded (DTF) Plan, from the Elite Sim-Funded stage through to the LIVE ELITE Program.
Watch: How the DTF Plan Works
Prefer reading? The complete plan rules are explained below.
What Is Direct to Funded (DTF)
DTF lets you skip the evaluation entirely and begin trading an Elite Sim-Funded account right away, with EOD or Static drawdown and swing trading allowed. The 10K DTF account is also called the Mini Inferno.
DTF at a Glance
No evaluation phase — start in Elite Sim-Funded immediately.
How it works: The max drawdown trails your highest end-of-day balance.
Safety Net: Once you earn realized profits equal to the account’s max drawdown + $100 (the “safety net”), the EOD drawdown stops trailing. From that point on, your starting balance + $100 becomes your permanent minimum allowable balance (you can not withdraw funds from the safety net).
Example: You start a 50K DTF account with $50,000 and a $5,000 max drawdown (minimum balance $45,000). If you close the day with a $1,000 profit, your minimum balance moves up to $46,000. The drawdown keeps trailing your highest end-of-day balance until you've earned $5,100 in realized profits (max drawdown $5,000 + $100). Once you reach it, the drawdown locks permanently at $50,100.
Static Drawdown & Safety Net
How it works: The max drawdown remains static at the minimum allowed balance and never trails with your account profit.
Safety Net: You must earn realized profits equal to the account max drawdown + $100 to satisfy the safety‑net requirement. This does not change the static nature of the drawdown.
Example: Starting with $100,000 and a $5,000 max loss (minimum balance $95,000), your minimum stays fixed at $95,000 no matter how much profit you make. Once you’ve earned $5,100 in realized profits (max loss $5,000 + $100), you’ve met the safety requirement. If your balance falls to $95,000 at any time, the account fails.
3. ATD Requirements & Minimums (by DTF size)
ATDs don’t need to be consecutive: any qualifying day counts, even with days off in between. DTF accounts have no profit target. Before you can request a Reward, you need the ATDs for your cycle and a balance at or above the safety net (account maximum drawdown + $100).
$10K DTF Account (Mini Inferno)
ATDs per cycle: 5
Drawdown Type: End of Day
Minimum realized profit per ATD: $150
50% Rule: Each ATD must be at least 50% of your best day’s realized profit to count.
Safety Net: $1,600 (max drawdown + $100)
$25K DTF Account (no longer offered, applies to existing 25K DTF accounts)
ATDs per cycle: 10
Drawdown Type: End of Day
Minimum realized profit per ATD: $300
38% Rule: Each ATD must be at least 38% of your best day’s realized profit to count.
Safety Net: $2,600 (max drawdown + $100)
$50K DTF Account
ATDs per cycle: 15
Drawdown Type: End of Day
Minimum realized profit per ATD: $600
62% Rule: Each ATD must be at least 62% of your best day’s realized profit to count.
Safety Net: $5,100 (max drawdown + $100)
$100K DTF Account
ATDs per cycle: 20
Drawdown Type: Static
Minimum realized profit per ATD: $500
50% Rule: Each ATD must be at least 50% of your best day’s realized profit to count.
Safety Net: $5,100 (max drawdown + $100)
4. Reward Caps & Cycles
DTF accounts are subject to a maximum total reward of $25,000, which applies per trader across all of your accounts combined (not per account). Reaching the cap doesn't automatically stop trading on your account. At that point, you're ready for transition to the LIVE ELITE Program. Traders are also considered for transition to LIVE ELITE after 1 Reward, 5 Active Trading Days, or $1,000 in Rewards.
NOTE: Total cap per trader is $25,000.
Account Size (purchased Sep 17, 2025 or later)
ATDs per Cycle
Cycle 1 Max
Cycle 2 Max
Cycle 3 Max
Cycle 4+ Max
Total Reward Cap
10K
5
$1,200
$1,200
$1,200
$1,200
$25,000
25K (existing accounts only)
10
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
$25,000
50K
15
$2,500
$2,500
$5,000
$5,000
$25,000
100K
20
$1,500
$2,500
$3,500
$5,000
$25,000
25K & 50K minimum withdrawal per cycle: $1,000
10K & 100K minimum withdrawal per cycle: $500
Trade performance will be closely assessed, and ETF may transition traders from their Elite Sim-Funded account to a LIVE ELITE Account at any time at our discretion, including but not limited to the time of a reward request, as highlighted in our terms.
5. Holding Overnight & Weekends
Allowed — swing trading is permitted on DTF accounts. Manage risk across sessions and be mindful of gaps.
6. 1:1 Mini–Micro Relationship
In DTF, 1 mini = 1 position and 1 micro = 1 position (not 10 micros = 1 position). Check your specific account’s position limits.
7. Up to 10 resets for DTF accounts.
Direct to Funded accounts can be reset up to ten times.
8. Details on Trading Days
Q: What qualifies as a trading day?
Any day you place a trade qualifies.
Q: Does Sunday count?
No. Sunday evening and Monday are counted as the same trading day.
Q: What contract can I trade?
You must trade the most current contract with the highest volume.
Q: Can I trade on holidays and during news?
Yes, but volatility can be very low or extremely high. Manage risk carefully.
Note: Elite Trader Funding is not responsible for your account during times of very low or extremely high volatility.
Q: What happens when a contract expires?
Prior to contract expiration, traders should close positions in the expiring contract and re-establish them in the most liquid contract.
Weekly trading requirement: at least one trade per week to keep the account active; use the trading-break form if needed. Missing a week will result in account closure and void rewards.
Loss limit after +20% profit: if you subsequently lose more than 35% of total profits, ETF will remove the account from Elite Sim; this overrides the initial max drawdown and disqualifies you from LIVE Elite. This assessment occurs during audits or reward requests, where accounts are checked for stability.
Reward Steps
Meet Requirements: Ensure you’ve met the safety net and ATDs. Once you have, your Request Reward button becomes available.
Request a Reward: Visit your Trader Dashboard and request a reward.
Trade Activity Audited: Your activity will be audited for compliance.
Subscription Active: Keep your subscription active during the reward process.
KYC & Rise Onboarding: Complete KYC and onboard with Rise to receive payments. Residents of restricted countries are not eligible.
Reward Requests Timing
Approval Timeline: Rewards are approved daily, Mon–Fri, from 3 PM Eastern (excluding holidays).
Cut‑Off Time: The cut-off time for approved reward requests to be included in Monday’s batch is Friday at 5 PM EST and the cut-off time for the Wednesday batch is Tuesday at 5 PM EST. Requests after this time will be rolled over to next week.
Elite Sim Rewards: Processed twice weekly, Mondays and Wednesdays.
Live Elite Rewards: Processed daily.
Once you receive email confirmation that your reward is approved, funds are deducted from your account and you may immediately resume trading. Your Trader Dashboard will update with your next trade. You must still meet the weekly trading requirement, or your account may be closed, and rewards will be voided.
Profit Split
Once approved, traders keep up to 100% of simulation profits up to $25,000.
Reward Structure
You are eligible to request a withdrawal once you’ve met the Active Trade Day (ATD) requirement, as well as reached the safety net on your account (account maximum drawdown + $100).
NOTE: You cannot withdraw from the safety net during any reward cycle.
Withdrawals can be as little as $500 (for 10K/100K) or $1,000 (for 25K/50K), up to the Reward Cycle maximum amount.
To advance to the next Reward Cycle, you must satisfy both the ATD requirement and withdraw the maximum amount for the reward cycle. You may withdraw a minimum of $500 or $1,000 until you reach the Reward Cycle maximum.
New reward requests can only be made once the reward has been processed.
The day your reward is approved does not count toward your ATD requirement, but the funds will be added to your account balance.
Example: In Reward Cycle 1, the maximum amount you can withdraw for a 10K account is $1,200. Once you meet the 5 Active Trade Day (ATD) requirement, you can withdraw $500 until you reach $1,200. Then you advance to Reward Cycle 2 and the amount of ATD you need to acquire gets reset. Once you meet the 5 ATD requirement for Reward Cycle 2 and withdraw $1,200, then you advance to Reward Cycle 3.
LIVE ELITE Transition
ETF may transition traders from their Elite Sim-Funded account to a LIVE ELITE account at our discretion — this can happen before, during, or after a reward request.
For full details on eligibility, transition criteria, starting balances, onboarding, withdrawals, risk parameters, market data fees, contract limits, supported platforms, and the 34 CME Rules requirement, see LIVE ELITE Program Information.
DTF Accounts bought before September 17, 2025, will continue under the previous Reward/LIVE ELITE policies.
Account (purchased before Sep 17, 2025)
ATDs per Cycle
Cycle 1 Max
Cycle 2 Max
Cycle 3 Max
Cycle 4+ Max
Total Reward Cap
$25K DTF
10
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
$25,000
$50K DTF
15
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$25,000
NOTE: ETF may transition traders from their Elite Sim-Funded account to a LIVE ELITE account at our discretion—this can happen before, during, or after a reward request.
