The Rock 
Est. 2021 · Based in USThis provider's account model and available instruments depend on the programme and stage you select, and "funded" may refer to a simulated account rather than allocated capital. Rewards remain conditional under the programme agreement. Challenge or subscription fees are real costs and may be lost.
Our verdict on Apex Trader Funding
Best for Manual futures traders who want Micro Bitcoin or Micro Ether exposure inside a simulated prop firm account with strong platform choice.
Not ideal for Spot crypto buyers, altcoin traders, bot users, weekend traders, or anyone wanting crypto wallet withdrawals.
What we checked on Apex Trader Funding
- Contracting entity: Apex Trader Funding Inc., from Apex Trader Funding Terms of Use, fetched 9 October 2026. Source
- Regulatory and reputation screen: 9 October 2026. Methodology
- Third-party ratings captured: 2 November 2026. Ratings
Not checked: opening an account, deposits, withdrawals, live orders and customer support.
Who checked this page: our research process, in which an AI language model works from the sources listed and automated checks compare figures with those sources. No named person has reviewed this page.
Affiliate link. We may receive payment when you click through to a partner site.
Apex Trader Funding pros and cons
Pros
- 100% profit split on approved Performance Account payouts
- Up to weekly profit payouts
- Rithmic setups and futures data feeds
- NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView, WealthCharts and Rithmic supported
Cons
- High evaluation fees, minimum $167
- Only two crypto futures products (MBT and MET)
- Very high $500 minimum withdrawal
- 50% consistency rule applies
- No automated trading, hedging or overnight holding
What kind of prop firm is Apex Trader Funding?
Apex Trader Funding was established in 2021 as a US futures prop firm where you trade through simulated evaluation and trading accounts. So, this is not the same as opening a crypto exchange account or a live CFD trading account with a regulated broker.
For crypto traders, the offer is very narrow with only Micro Bitcoin (MBT) and Micro Ether (MET) futures, both linked to CME futures markets. This gives you Bitcoin and Ether price exposure, but you do not actually own BTC or ETH, and you cannot deposit, hold, or withdraw crypto.
The main reason to consider Apex Trader Funding for crypto is if you want to solely focus on Bitcoin and Ethereum markets, with a really strong futures trading platform setup. You can trade crypto futures products via Tradovate with TradingView, NinjaTrader, WealthCharts and Rithmic-supported setups, but, the prop trading rules are strict.
Apex has 50% consistency rule, drawdown controls, no automated trading allowed, no hedging, and no holding through market close. So, it suits manual futures traders who want to either focus on two crypto markets, or supplement existing trading strategies across other asset classes.
Apex Trader Funding evaluation fees and commissions
Apex Trader Funding's crypto costs are futures prop firm costs, not crypto exchange fees. You are not paying maker fees, taker fees, blockchain fees or wallet withdrawal fees because Apex does not offer spot crypto or crypto wallets.
The main costs are the evaluation fee, any activation fee after passing, futures commissions, and the cost of losing an account through drawdown, expiry or a rule breach. This matters more than normal exchange pricing because a cheap evaluation can still become expensive if you need to buy another account after failing.
The futures commission is charged per side, so a round turn includes both the entry and exit. For crypto, MBT is more expensive to trade than MET across the published Apex commission schedules.
Standard and No Activation Fee evaluations
Apex Trader Funding's challenges involve a futures evaluation process, not CFD prop challenges or spot trading accounts. The main choice is between Standard and No Activation Fee evaluations, then between EOD Drawdown and Intraday Trailing Drawdown.
| Challenge route | Drawdown model | Account sizes | Evaluation fee range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard EOD Trail | End-of-day trailing drawdown with daily loss limit | 25K to 150K | $490 to $2190 | Traders who prefer drawdown measured after the session closes |
| Standard Intraday Trail | Real-time intraday trailing drawdown; no daily loss limit | 25K to 150K | $167 to $1190 | Active intraday futures traders who want real-time drawdown tracking |
| No Activation Fee EOD Trail | End-of-day trailing drawdown with daily loss limit | 25K to 150K | $1090 to $2490 | Traders who want to avoid a separate post-pass activation payment |
| No Activation Fee Intraday Trail | Real-time intraday trailing drawdown; no daily loss limit | 25K to 150K | $690 to $1890 | Active traders who want the activation fee included upfront |
All Apex challenges have 30 calendar days of access and no monthly fees. But, the main downside with futures trading with Apex is that current challenges do not have a reset option, either free or as a paid add-on. If the account expires or you breach a risk requirement, like the drawdown limit, you need to buy a new challenge and work through the evaluation process again.
Crypto futures commission
Micro Bitcoin (MBT) is the more expensive crypto futures product to trade on Apex, which matters if you scalp Bitcoin futures, because every completed trade carries a higher round-turn cost than Micro Ether (MET).
| Futures Platform | Product | Symbol | Exchange | Per-side commission | Round-turn commission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rithmic | Micro Bitcoin | MBT | CME | $2.76 | $5.52 |
| Rithmic | Micro Ether | MET | CME | $0.46 | $0.92 |
| WealthCharts | Micro Bitcoin | MBT | CME | $2.67 | $5.34 |
| WealthCharts | Micro Ether | MET | CME | $0.37 | $0.74 |
| Tradovate | Micro Bitcoin | MBT | CME | $2.67 | $5.34 |
| Tradovate | Micro Ether | MET | CME | $0.37 | $0.74 |
Apex Trader Funding crypto markets
Apex Trader Funding only has two crypto markets: Micro Bitcoin (MBT) and Micro Ether (MET) futures. This is the same crypto count as Topstep, so Apex is only worth looking at for crypto if you want Bitcoin and Ethereum futures exposure, not broad digital asset access.
This is not spot crypto trading. You cannot buy or hold BTC or ETH, and Apex does not offer altcoins, meme coins, AI coins, DeFi tokens, stablecoins, crypto indices, perpetual futures or crypto CFDs. Its crypto list is best understood as CME micro futures access through a prop firm account.
MBT and MET contract specifications
| Crypto Market | Futures Product | Symbol | Exchange | Tick size | Point value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin futures exposure | Micro Bitcoin | MBT | CME | 5 | $0.1 |
| Ether futures exposure | Micro Ether | MET | CME | 0.5 | $0.1 |
Liquidity and execution
Apex Trader Funding offers futures trading only, so execution depends on the selected platform and the listed CME micro futures market. It is not a crypto exchange order book, and it does not provide 24/7 spot crypto liquidity.
Apex Trader Funding trading platforms
Apex Trader Funding supports NinjaTrader, Tradovate, TradingView through Tradovate, WealthCharts and Rithmic-supported setups for futures trading. This range suits traders who already trade futures and want proper charting, order entry, market data and account monitoring.
For crypto traders, the important point is that these are futures platforms, not crypto exchange apps. You can trade Micro Bitcoin (MBT) and Micro Ether (MET) futures, but you do not get crypto wallets, token balances, on-chain transfers or 24/7 spot crypto order books.
- NinjaTrader: suits you if you want a desktop futures platform with charting, order management and custom workspace control. If you use NinjaTrader with Tradovate or Rithmic connections, you may need to enable commission settings manually so your platform reflects trading costs properly
- Tradovate: the main web, desktop and mobile-friendly route. It also supports TradingView connection, which is useful if you prefer TradingView charts but still want to trade under Apex's futures prop firm setup
- TradingView: available through Tradovate. This is useful for chart-based futures trading, but it does not turn Apex into a crypto exchange or spot crypto platform
- WealthCharts: Apex traders get access to WealthCharts, which is a charting and futures tool route built around supported Apex markets
- Rithmic: used for futures data, platform connection and risk monitoring. It should not be described as live direct market access for Apex Evaluation or Performance Accounts, because those accounts are simulated
- Mobile trading: mobile access depends on the platform route. Tradovate is the clearest option to check if mobile trading matters to you
- Automated trading: Apex is not suitable if you rely on bots, algorithmic trading or hands-off execution. Automation restrictions are covered in more detail in the rules section
Tools for trading MBT and MET
Apex gives you futures trading tools rather than crypto exchange tools, so you can use charting, order entry, account dashboards, trade tracking, violation alerts and platform-level risk monitoring, but you do not get a spot crypto wallet, exchange order book, token deposit screen or blockchain withdrawal flow.
Apex Trader Funding regulation and availability
Apex Trader Funding offers simulated futures prop trading accounts, and shouldn't be confused with a futures commission merchant, CFD broker, or crypto exchange where you are buying, holding or withdrawing digital assets.
Apex's Evaluation and Performance Accounts are simulated trading environments for the most part, so no live trading capital is at risk and no live market execution occurs. You may be selected for a live funded account for futures prop trading, but access is by invitation only, not based on a clear public checklist, fixed profit target or guaranteed upgrade path.
| Area | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legal entity | Apex Trader Funding Inc. |
| Listed address | 2028 E. Ben White Blvd Ste 240-9873; Austin; TX 78741 |
| Provider model | Futures prop firm |
| Crypto custody | No crypto custody and no wallet balance or crypto withdrawal route |
| Live account access | Invitation only |
| Regulation | Not a regulated broker or futures commission merchant or deposit-taking entity |
Restricted countries
Apex may allow someone originally from a restricted country to participate if they live, work, hold ID and bank in an approved country, but the following countries are restricted from opening an Apex prop trading account:
What traders say about Apex Trader Funding
Trustpilot and app-store ratings are third-party snapshots captured on the date shown. They are not our assessment.
| Site | Profile | Rating | Count | Captured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | trustpilot.com/review/apextraderfunding.comPaid plan badge | 4.2 of 5 | 21,524 reviews | November 2026 |
Apex Trader Funding payments and payouts
Apex Trader Funding pays eligible profit payouts through cash payment methods, not crypto wallets. US traders receive payouts by ACH direct deposit, while international clients can use Plane and link a local bank account.
For current EOD and Intraday Performance Accounts, Apex offers a 100% profit share on approved payouts. You don't receive a profit split during the evaluation process, which is standard for prop firms, while Apex's invitation-only live funded accounts use a 90/10 split, with 90% to the trader and 10% to Apex.
Paying for an evaluation
Apex challenge fees are paid by debit or credit card, not cryptocurrency. Apex accepts Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit or debit cards, as long as the card is issued in your own name.
Apex evaluation processes now use one-off upfront fees, rather than recurring monthly fees like many futures prop firms do such as Topstep.
If an evaluation expires or breaches the drawdown limit, there is no reset option, so you would need to buy a new evaluation entirely.
Profit split and payout conditions
Current EOD and Intraday Performance Accounts both use a 100% profit split on approved payout amounts, but only after meeting Apex's payout requirements.
Apex's live funded accounts are different, and you receive a 90/10 split, so you receive a 90% profit share and Apex 10%, but live account access is invitation-only and separate from the standard simulated Performance Account route.
For current Performance Accounts, the first payout requires 5 qualifying minimum trading days that meet the min daily profit requirements, and the minimum withdrawal is $500.
Apex also applies a 50% consistency rule at payout stage, so your largest profitable day must stay below 50% of your total profit since your last approved payout, or since account start if you have not received a payout yet.
Apex Trader Funding drawdown and trading rules
Apex Trader Funding crypto trading rules are futures prop firm rules, so Micro Bitcoin and Micro Ether cannot be traded like normal spot Bitcoin or Ethereum. The main restrictions are drawdown controls, market-close rules, no automation, no hedging, payout consistency and mandatory risk management.
This is stricter than using a crypto exchange. If you are used to bots, weekend holding, hedge-style breakout orders or 24/7 spot crypto markets, Apex will feel more restrictive.
How the rules apply to MBT and MET
- Drawdown rules: Apex has Intraday Trailing Drawdown and EOD Drawdown account types. The intraday model tracks account equity in real time, while the EOD model checks the drawdown at the end of the trading day
- High-impact news trading: news trading is allowed only when it is part of a normal strategy, not news-chasing or both-side gambling
- Daily loss rules: Intraday evaluations do not have a daily loss limit, but EOD evaluations do. Performance Accounts use tier-based daily loss limits, so the limit can change as the account balance moves
- Market-close rule: Apex requires open positions to be closed before market close at 4.59PM ET. This is a major difference from spot crypto exchanges, where you can trade Bitcoin and Ether around the clock
- Payout consistency: the 50% consistency rule applies to the funded account stage only, not during the evaluation. A single large MBT or MET trading day can delay payout eligibility
- No automated trading allowed: Apex does not allow automation, algorithmic trading or HFT-style systems. This makes it a poor fit for crypto bot traders
- No hedging: Apex does not allow hedging. Holding long and short positions on the same or correlated instruments can breach the rules
- Stop losses and risk management: Apex requires either pending or mental stop losses and a defined risk-management strategy. You cannot treat the account threshold as your real stop loss
- No account sharing: Apex does not allow account sharing, third-party trading, shared devices, shared IPs, shared payment methods or trade-copying access with other traders
- No VPN and proxy misuse: Apex restricts VPNs, proxy servers, cloud servers and location-masking tools when used to hide identity, device or location
- Max number of Apex accounts: you can have up to 20 active prop accounts simultaneously
Apex Trader Funding FAQs
Can you trade crypto on Apex Trader Funding?
Yes, you can trade crypto on Apex Trader Funding through Micro Bitcoin (MBT) and Micro Ether (MET) futures. These are futures contracts, not spot coins, perpetual swaps, or CFDs. Apex does not support spot Bitcoin, spot Ethereum, Solana (SOL), DOGE, stablecoins, DeFi tokens, meme coins, crypto CFDs or crypto wallet withdrawals. Traders who want exchange-style crypto access will find the market range too narrow.
Is Apex Trader Funding good for crypto trading?
Apex Trader Funding is limited for crypto trading because it only offers Micro Bitcoin and Micro Ether futures. It may suit futures traders who want BTC and ETH price exposure through a prop firm model, but it is not built for spot crypto, altcoins, perpetual futures, crypto CFDs, wallet withdrawals or crypto payouts.
What crypto products does Apex Trader Funding have?
Apex Trader Funding has two crypto products: Micro Bitcoin (MBT) and Micro Ether (MET). Both are CME-listed micro futures contracts. Apex's instrument pages also warn traders not to trade unsupported mini Bitcoin (BT) or mini Ether (ET) products.
Is Apex Trader Funding a broker, exchange or prop firm?
Apex Trader Funding is a futures prop firm. Traders use simulated Evaluation and Performance Accounts under Apex rules. This is different from opening a crypto exchange account, buying coins, holding tokens, depositing stablecoins or withdrawing crypto to a wallet.
Does Apex Trader Funding pay out in crypto?
No, Apex Trader Funding does not pay out in crypto. US users receive payouts through ACH direct deposit, while international users use Plane. Apex payouts are cash-style prop firm rewards, not BTC, ETH, USDT or USDC withdrawals.
Can you use bots or automated trading on Apex?
No, Apex prohibits automation, algorithmic trading, AI trading systems and HFT-style strategies. This makes Apex less suitable for crypto traders who rely on bots, API execution or remote-server automation. Manual futures traders still need to follow drawdown, market-close, stop-loss and payout rules.
Can you hold crypto futures overnight on Apex?
No, Apex prohibits holding open positions through market close at 4.59PM ET daily. This is a major limitation for crypto traders because spot Bitcoin and Ether markets trade around the clock, but Apex accounts follow futures prop firm rules.
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