AquaFutures Giveaway Accounts: How They Work and What Rules Apply

Written by Paul

Published on

January 11, 2026

If you've won an AquaFutures giveaway account through a promotion, Discord raffle, or affiliate contest, you might be wondering what the catch is. Giveaway accounts are real funded capital—but they come with specific rules, restrictions, and limitations that differ from accounts you purchase directly.

I'm breaking down how AquaFutures giveaway accounts actually work, what rules apply, how long they last, and whether you can convert them into regular funded accounts. If you've won one or you're thinking about entering a giveaway, here's what you need to know.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Aquafutures and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Aquafutures´s website or their faq page.

What Is an AquaFutures Giveaway Account?

A giveaway account is a free funded account provided by AquaFutures through promotional contests, affiliate partnerships, or community events. You're trading with real capital, and you can withdraw real profits—but the account has special rules that don't apply to purchased accounts.

Giveaway accounts are typically:

Time-limited: They expire after a set period (usually 30-90 days)
Lower capital allocations: Often $25K or $50K instead of $100K-$150K
Stricter withdrawal terms: May require more win days or have lower profit splits
Non-renewable: Once the account expires or breaches, it's gone

The point of giveaway accounts is to let you test AquaFutures with zero upfront cost. If you perform well, you can use your profits to buy a full account. If you breach, you're not out any money—you just lost the free opportunity.

How Do You Get a Giveaway Account?

AquaFutures distributes giveaway accounts through several channels:

Social Media Contests: AquaFutures runs periodic giveaways on Twitter, Instagram, and Discord. Follow their accounts and watch for announcement posts. Entry usually requires liking, sharing, or tagging friends.

Affiliate Promotions: Some AquaFutures affiliates host their own giveaways. If you follow prop trading YouTubers or bloggers who partner with AquaFutures, they occasionally give away accounts to their audience.

Community Events: AquaFutures Discord server sometimes runs trading contests or milestone celebrations with account giveaways as prizes.

Referral Bonuses: In rare cases, AquaFutures may offer giveaway accounts as rewards for referring new traders who purchase accounts.

When you win, AquaFutures contacts you via email or DM with instructions to claim your account. You'll need to verify your identity (KYC) and sign the standard trading agreement before the account is activated.

Giveaway Account Rules and Restrictions

Giveaway accounts follow most of the same trading rules as purchased accounts, but with some key differences:

Time Limits

Most giveaway accounts expire after 30-90 days. After the expiration date, the account is closed regardless of your performance. Any unrealized profits are forfeited.

This means you can't sit on a giveaway account indefinitely. You need to trade actively, hit your win days, and withdraw profits before the clock runs out.

If your giveaway account expires while you're waiting for a payout to process, you'll still receive that withdrawal—but the account closes immediately after.

Capital Allocation

Giveaway accounts are typically $25K or $50K in size. You won't see $100K or $150K giveaway accounts unless it's a major promotion.

The smaller size means lower contract limits (usually 6 contracts max) and smaller profit potential. But it's free capital, so the trade-off is worth it.

Contract Limits

Giveaway accounts usually follow the same position limits as purchased accounts: 6 contracts for $25K-$50K sizes, potentially 9 contracts if you get a larger giveaway.

For a breakdown of how position limits work across all AquaFutures accounts, see the contract limits guide.

Drawdown Rules

Giveaway accounts use the same 5% max drawdown as purchased accounts. The drawdown type (EOD or intraday trailing) depends on which account type the giveaway is modeled after.

Most giveaways use EOD trailing drawdown, which updates at market close instead of in real-time. This is the same structure as Beginner and Instant accounts.

If you breach the 5% drawdown, the giveaway account terminates immediately—just like a purchased account.

Win Day Requirements

Giveaway accounts typically require 7-10 profitable trading days before you can request your first payout. This is stricter than the 5 win days on evaluation-based funded accounts or the 7 days on instant accounts.

AquaFutures enforces higher win day requirements on giveaways to ensure you're actually trading consistently, not just getting lucky on Day 1.

Profit Split

Giveaway accounts usually offer a lower profit split than purchased accounts—often 80% instead of the standard 100% (first $15K) or 90%.

Some giveaway terms cap your total withdrawable profits at a specific dollar amount (e.g., "withdraw up to $5,000 from this giveaway account"). Once you hit the cap, the account closes.

Always check the specific terms when you claim your giveaway—profit split and withdrawal caps vary by promotion.

Consistency Rule

Giveaway accounts enforce the same consistency rule as funded accounts: no single day can contribute more than 20-40% of your total profits (depending on account type).

If your giveaway is modeled after an Instant account, expect the 20% rule. If it's a standard funded account structure, you'll likely get the 40% rule.

Can You Convert a Giveaway Account to a Regular Funded Account?

No—giveaway accounts cannot be upgraded or converted. Once the giveaway period ends, the account closes permanently.

However, you can use your giveaway profits to purchase a regular account. If you make $2,000 on a giveaway account and withdraw it, you can use that money to buy a full Instant account ($239-$291) or fund a few months of an evaluation subscription.

This is the intended path: use the giveaway as a no-risk testing ground, prove your edge, withdraw your profits, and then buy a full account with those profits.

Prohibited Strategies on Giveaway Accounts

Giveaway accounts follow the same compliance rules as all AquaFutures accounts:

No microscalping (trades under 30 seconds)
No coordinated trading across multiple accounts
No full automation (bots/EAs banned)
Copy trading allowed (if the giveaway is a funded account structure)

AquaFutures monitors giveaway accounts closely for violations. Since you didn't pay for the account, they're extra vigilant about ensuring fair use. If you're flagged for a prohibited strategy, the account terminates immediately without recourse.

For the full list of what's banned, see the prohibited strategies guide.

What Happens When a Giveaway Account Expires?

When your giveaway account reaches its expiration date:

The account closes immediately at the end of the trading day.
Any open positions are closed at market prices.
Unrealized profits are forfeited. Only withdrawn profits are kept.
You lose access to the trading platform for that account.

If you have a pending payout request when the account expires, that withdrawal will still process—but the account closes immediately after the funds are sent.

There are no extensions on giveaway accounts. If the terms say "30 days," you have 30 days from activation—no exceptions.

Giveaway Accounts vs Purchased Accounts: Key Differences

Here's the side-by-side comparison:

Feature	Giveaway Account	Purchased Account
Cost	Free	$114-$291
Time Limit	30-90 days	Unlimited
Account Sizes	$25K-$50K	$25K-$150K
Win Days	7-10 days	5-7 days
Profit Split	80% (varies)	100%/90%
Renewable	No	Yes
Reset If Breached	No	Yes (with fee)

Giveaway accounts are free but temporary. Purchased accounts cost money but last indefinitely (as long as you don't breach).

How to Maximize a Giveaway Account

If you've won a giveaway account, here's how to make the most of it:

Start trading immediately. Don't waste days figuring out the platform. If you have 30 days, every day counts. Get your credentials, connect your platform, and start trading Day 1.

Focus on consistency over home runs. With 7-10 win days required and a consistency rule in place, you can't afford to go for one big win. Trade your normal strategy and aim for steady daily gains.

Withdraw early and often. Don't wait until Day 29 to request your first payout. As soon as you hit the win day requirement, withdraw. If the account expires mid-payout, you'll still get the money.

Track your expiration date. Set a reminder 5 days before expiration so you're not caught off guard. Close any open positions before the deadline to lock in profits.

Use the giveaway to test the platform. Giveaway accounts are a no-risk way to see if AquaFutures fits your trading style. Test the platform, understand the rules, and decide if you want to buy a full account.

Should You Buy an Account After a Giveaway?

If you perform well on a giveaway account, it's a strong signal that you should consider buying a full account. Here's the logic:

You proved you can trade within AquaFutures' rules
You understand the platform and the payout process
You made money with zero upfront risk
You now have capital (from your giveaway profits) to fund a purchased account

Use your giveaway profits to buy an Instant account ($239-$291) or fund 2-3 months of a Beginner evaluation ($114/month).

If you breached the giveaway account, don't rush to buy an account yet. Figure out what went wrong—position sizing, stop discipline, consistency—and fix it before you risk real money.

For a complete overview of AquaFutures account types and which one fits your trading style, check out the full AquaFutures review.

Are Giveaway Accounts Legit or a Marketing Gimmick?

Giveaway accounts are 100% legitimate. You're trading real capital, and you can withdraw real profits. AquaFutures honors all payouts from giveaway accounts the same way they honor payouts from purchased accounts.

The catch is the time limit and stricter terms. AquaFutures isn't giving away free money forever—they're giving you a limited window to prove yourself. If you perform well, you'll likely buy a full account afterward, which is the intended outcome.

Giveaway accounts are marketing tools, but they're also genuine opportunities. If you win one, take it seriously. Trade it like you would a purchased account, follow the rules, and withdraw your profits.

Final Thoughts: Are Giveaway Accounts Worth Entering?

If you're on the fence about trying AquaFutures, entering a giveaway is a no-risk way to test the platform. You're not out any money if you breach, and if you succeed, you walk away with real profits and proof that the firm pays out.

The time limits are the main constraint. 30-90 days isn't a lot of time to hit 7-10 win days and withdraw multiple times. You need to trade actively and consistently from Day 1.

If you win a giveaway, treat it like a paid account. Don't get sloppy just because it's free. Follow the rules, manage your risk, and aim for consistent daily gains. If you breach, you lose nothing but the opportunity. If you succeed, you've validated your edge and earned capital to fund a full account.

And if you're already profitable, don't wait for a giveaway. Just buy an account and start earning immediately. The time you spend waiting for a giveaway contest is time you could be making money on a purchased account.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do AquaFutures giveaway accounts last?

Most giveaway accounts last 30-90 days depending on the specific promotion. The expiration date is set when the account is activated, and it cannot be extended. Once the time limit is reached, the account closes permanently.

Can I reset a giveaway account if I breach it?

No. Giveaway accounts cannot be reset. If you breach the 5% max drawdown, the account terminates immediately and you lose access. Since you didn't pay for the account, there's no reset option available.

Do giveaway accounts have the same payout process as purchased accounts?

Yes, but with potentially stricter terms. Payouts from giveaway accounts are processed the same way (crypto or bank transfer within 48 hours), but you may need more win days (7-10 instead of 5-7) and the profit split may be lower (80% instead of 90-100%).

What happens if I don't trade the giveaway account?

If you don't trade at all, the account expires on the set date and you lose access. There's no penalty for inactivity other than losing the opportunity. AquaFutures doesn't require minimum trading activity on giveaway accounts.

Can I have a giveaway account and a purchased account at the same time?

Yes. Giveaway accounts don't count against your 3-funded-account limit. You can have a giveaway account active while also trading evaluation accounts or other funded accounts. However, you cannot coordinate trades between them—each account must be traded independently.

How do I claim a giveaway account after winning?

AquaFutures will contact you via email or DM with instructions. You'll need to complete KYC verification (ID and proof of address), sign the trading agreement, and provide payout information. Once approved, your account is activated and the clock starts on your time limit.

Can I extend a giveaway account if I'm close to hitting my win days?

No. Giveaway account time limits are firm. There are no extensions, even if you're one win day away from your first payout when the account expires. This is why it's critical to start trading immediately and withdraw early.

Are profits from giveaway accounts taxable?

Yes. Any money you withdraw from a giveaway account is taxable income in your jurisdiction. AquaFutures may require you to fill out tax forms (like W-9 in the US) before processing large payouts. Consult a tax professional for guidance on reporting prop firm profits.