The Prop Trading market is often criticized for being a "casino" where the odds are stacked against the trader. For nearly a decade, the industry standard—dictated by giants like FTMO—has been a difficulty ratio of 2:1. You must make 10% profit, but you are only allowed to lose 5%. Mathematically, you have to be twice as good as your margin for error allows.
That era might be ending today.
Funding Ticks, a firm that has weathered its share of controversies in 2025, has just launched what we consider to be the most aggressive "Redemption Arc" in the history of the industry. Their new 1-Step Pro+ Course introduces a paradigm shift: The 1:1 Ratio.
But as with any offer that seems "too good to be true," the devil is in the details. And the details here are extensive. We have analyzed the entire Terms & Conditions (Section 2, 2.2.1, 2.4, 9, and beyond) to bring you this White Paper.
1The Mathematical Revolution: Breaking the 2:1 Curse
To understand why this offer is shaking the CFD and Futures market, we need to talk about probability. In a standard Prop Firm challenge (2-Step), you are asked to make 10% while risking a maximum of 5% (daily) or 10% (total). In a 1-Step, it's often 10% Target vs 6% Drawdown.
The New Funding Ticks Equation
On the 100k Pro+ Account, the rules are explicit (Section 2.1):
- Profit Target: 6% ($6,000)
- Max Loss Limit: $3,300 (which is 3.3% of 100k, but effectively acts as the buffer).
Wait, you might ask: "3.3% loss for 6% gain is still a 1:2 ratio?". Not exactly. When you look at the 150k Account, the Target is $9,000 (6%) and the Max Loss is $5,000 (3.3%).
However, the real revolution is on the smaller accounts and the psychological aspect of the "Same Target, Same Loss" marketing that is pushing the industry towards a 1:1 expectancy.
The Probability Shift
For a trader with a 50% win rate and a 1:2 Risk-to-Reward ratio, the probability of passing a challenge increases exponentially as the Profit Target decreases relative to the Drawdown. By lowering the target to 6% (vs the industry standard of 10%), Funding Ticks reduces the "Variance Risk". You need fewer winning trades to pass, meaning fewer opportunities for a losing streak to wipe you out.
2Drawdown Mechanics: EOD vs Live Trailing
This is the most critical technical part of the review. According to the official documentation (Rules 2.2.1 and 2.2.2), Funding Ticks offers TWO types of drawdown mechanisms. Understanding the difference determines your survival.
Option A: EOD Trailing (2.2.1)
"The End-of-Day Trailing Maximum Loss Limit uses a trailing mechanism based on end-of-day balance."
Why it's better:
If you are up $2,000 during the day but the market reverses and you close at $500 profit, your drawdown only rises by $500. It ignores the intraday equity peak. This is essential for Swing Traders or volatile assets like Gold/Nasdaq.
Option B: Live Trailing (2.2.2)
"The Maximum Loss Limit will use a live trailing mechanism based on the highest equity recorded."
The Trap:
If you are up $2,000 (unrealized), your drawdown moves up by $2,000 instantly. If the trade comes back to breakeven, you have lost $2,000 of drawdown buffer. Avoid this if possible.
4Scaling Plan & Contract Limits (The Fine Print)
Unlike FTMO where you trade lots based on leverage, Funding Ticks (being CFD/Futures hybrid in structure) uses a Contract/Lot Limit system that scales with your profit. This is vital to understand for position sizing.
| Account | Starting Contracts | Lvl 1 ($2.5k Profit) | Lvl 2 ($3.3k Profit) | Lvl 3 ($5k Profit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50k ($5k Cap) | 4 Minis / 40 Micros | 8 Minis / 80 Micros | - | - |
| 100k | 3 Minis / 30 Micros | 4 Minis / 40 Micros | 5 Minis / 50 Micros | 8 Minis / 80 Micros |
Analysis: The 100k account starts with fewer contracts allowed (3 Minis) than the 50k account with the high cap (4 Minis). This is counter-intuitive. You are "nerfed" at the beginning of the 100k Master account until you prove profitability.
5The Payout System: Payout Caps & Consistency
This is where the model differs from a "Ponzi" scheme. Funding Ticks controls the outflow of cash strictly.
The Reward Cap Add-On
On the 50K account, you don't just buy "an account". You select your Reward Cap (Maximum withdrawal limit per cycle).
- 🔵$1,000 Cap: Cheapest entry. Good for beginners.
- 🟣$3,000 Cap: Mid-tier.
- 🟠$5,000 Cap: Most expensive, but allows 4 starting contracts.
Payout Rules (Section 6)
- •Cycle: Every 6 trading days.
- •Condition: You must have 6 profitable days above a certain threshold (e.g., $200 profit/day for 50k).
- •Breakeven Rule: You cannot request a payout if your account hasn't recovered the drawdown buffer ($2,500 on 50k). This effectively means you need a safety buffer before getting paid.
- •Split: 80/20 on Master, 90/10 on Live (after transition).
6Strategy Guide: How to Pass This Specific Challenge
Knowing the rules is half the battle. Here is the DealPropFirm recommended strategy to tackle the Funding Ticks Pro+ model.
Phase 1: The "Buffer Builder"
Do NOT aim for the 6% target immediately. Your priority is to get the account to Breakeven + $100. Why? Because the EOD Drawdown stops trailing. Once you lock that in, you have the full static drawdown available.
Phase 2: Respecting Consistency
Rule 2.1 mentions a "50% consistency". This means no single trade should account for more than 50% of your total profit. Do not go "All-In" on one news event. Even if you win, you will likely fail the consistency check or the "1-minute rule" review.
Phase 3: The Payout Cycle
Once funded, aim for the daily minimum profit ($200 on 50k) for 6 days. Do not try to hit home runs. Consistency unlocks the "Live" account status where restrictions (like news trading) are lifted.
7Final Verdict: Redemption or Risk?
Funding Ticks is making a bold bet. By offering a 1:1 Target/Drawdown ratio on the Pro+ account, they are mathematically the easiest firm to pass in 2026.
However, "Easiest to Pass" does not mean "Easiest to keep". The no-swing rule, the 1-minute scalping ban, and the IP police are significant hurdles for freedom-loving traders.
Should you join?
- YES if you are an Intraday Trader seeking a fair evaluation model.
- NO if you are a Scalper (<1 min trades), a Swing Trader, or a Digital Nomad changing IPs constantly.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I hold a trade overnight?
It is a hard breach. Rule 2.3.1 states "Overnight holding... is not allowed". Your account will likely be closed. You must close trades before the market break (approx 5 PM EST depending on asset).
Can I trade News on the Master Account?
No. Rule 2.3.3 restricts high-impact news trading on Master accounts (1 minute before/after). Profits made during this window will be deducted. However, it is allowed during the Evaluation phase.
Does the consistency rule apply to the Master Account?
The rules mention "50% consistency" specifically for the Student Phase (2.1). However, Master accounts are monitored for "toxic flow". It is best to maintain consistent sizing to avoid flagging.
Trading CFDs and futures involves substantial risk of loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Make sure you fully understand the rules of each Prop Firm before committing.