Best Multi-Asset Prop Firms 2026: E8 Markets

E8 Markets ranks #2 among multi-asset prop firms for 2026, offering forex, futures, and crypto access with flexible evaluation structures and EOD drawdown—second only to The Trading Pit's more aggressive scaling plans.

Most prop firms specialize in one asset class (Apex and TopStep are futures-only, FTMO is forex-focused). The few firms offering true multi-asset access face different tradeoffs: some have great forex programs but weak futures platforms, others offer all three assets but with restrictive rules that kill flexibility.

After testing six multi-asset firms across 18 months, E8's combination of platform quality, rule flexibility, and payout reliability puts it at the top for traders who actually want to diversify across markets. If you're trading futures exclusively, specialized firms like Apex outperform multi-asset options. But if you want the freedom to trade ES one day and EUR/USD the next, E8 is one of only three firms worth considering.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with E8 Markets 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 E8 Markets´s website or their help center.

What Makes a Prop Firm "Multi-Asset"

True multi-asset firms offer evaluations and funded accounts across three major categories: forex, futures, and crypto. Not just "we technically support crypto" with five pairs and terrible spreads—actual viable trading conditions across all three.

Here's what separates real multi-asset firms from firms that just claim to be:

Forex: 30+ major, minor, and exotic currency pairs with reasonable spreads (1-3 pips majors, 3-8 pips minors). Platform must support standard forex strategies (scalping, swing trading, position trading).

Futures: ES, NQ, and other major contracts with direct market access or quality execution. Intraday and swing trading both supported (some firms force intraday-only, which limits strategy).

Crypto: BTC, ETH, and major altcoins with 1:2 to 1:10 leverage. Spreads under 15 pips for BTC/ETH. 24/7 trading availability. Not just CFDs with 50-pip spreads that make crypto untra deable.

Most firms fail on at least one category. FTMO offers excellent forex but no futures or crypto. Apex has top-tier futures but zero forex/crypto. FundedNext offers forex and some crypto but terrible futures execution. Real multi-asset firms are rare.

Complete Multi-Asset Firm Rankings

I've tested six firms that offer some version of multi-asset trading. Here's how they rank across forex quality, futures quality, crypto quality, overall flexibility, and payout speed:

Key insight: The Trading Pit ranks #1 due to aggressive scaling and solid performance across all three asset classes. E8 ranks #2 with stronger futures execution and better account flexibility. FundedNext is #3—great forex, acceptable crypto, but futures are weak.

E8 Markets: Deep Dive on Multi-Asset Execution

E8 offers dedicated account types for each asset class: E8 Signature Forex, E8 Signature Futures, and E8 Signature Crypto. You can't trade all three on one account—you choose your asset class when you purchase the evaluation. But you can run multiple accounts simultaneously (one forex, one futures, one crypto) if you want full diversification.

Forex on E8 Markets

E8 forex runs on TradeLocker (web-based platform) with access to 40+ currency pairs. Spreads are competitive—EUR/USD 0.8-1.2 pips, GBP/USD 1.5-2.0 pips, USD/JPY 0.9-1.3 pips during active sessions.

What works: EOD drawdown is huge for swing traders. Your drawdown is checked at 5 PM EST daily close, not intraday. That means you can be down 6-8% intraday without breaching, as long as you close above the EOD threshold. Most firms use intraday drawdown, which kills swing strategies.

What's limited: TradeLocker doesn't support custom indicators or EAs. If you're heavily dependent on MT5 automation, E8 forex won't work (especially for US traders who can't access MT5 at E8). For manual traders using price action or basic indicators, TradeLocker is fine.

My take: E8 forex is 8/10. EOD drawdown and competitive spreads make it viable for swing and position trading. Platform limitations knock it down from 9/10. If you need MT5, look at FTMO (forex-only but better platform options).

Futures on E8 Markets

E8 futures run on E8's proprietary platform with direct access to ES, NQ, YM, RTY, CL, and GC. Execution is fast—I've tested on ES and NQ across multiple accounts, and fills are clean during regular hours. Slippage during major news (NFP, FOMC) is comparable to other platforms.

What works: The E8 Futures platform is purpose-built for futures day trading. DOM (depth of market) display, ladder-style order entry, and quick position sizing make execution smooth. No monthly fees on new Signature accounts (legacy Model 1 accounts still have fees, but E8 is phasing those out).

What's limited: Intraday-only trading with forced close at 3:10 PM CT. You can't hold overnight positions on futures accounts. If your strategy depends on multi-day holds or trading overnight sessions, E8 futures won't work.

My take: E8 futures is 9/10. Best futures execution among multi-asset firms, but the intraday-only rule limits some strategies. If you need overnight holds, Blue Guardian or TopStep (futures-only) allow it.

Crypto on E8 Markets

E8 Signature Crypto offers 40+ pairs (BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, ADA, and more) on TradeLocker with 1:2 to 1:5 leverage depending on the pair. Spreads are 11-12 pips on BTC/USD and ETH/USD, 15-25 pips on altcoins.

What works: 24/7 trading with EOD drawdown. You can trade crypto around the clock without forced closes (unlike futures). Commission is 0.035% in and out, which is reasonable for leveraged crypto access.

What's limited: Spreads are wider than forex majors. 11-12 pips on BTC means you need bigger moves to profit. Altcoin liquidity is thin—spreads widen fast during volatility. Leverage is capped at 1:2 for majors, which limits position size flexibility.

My take: E8 crypto is 7/10. It's viable for BTC and ETH swing trading, but spreads and leverage limits make it less attractive than forex or futures. If you're primarily a crypto trader, BrightFunded offers better conditions (tighter spreads, higher leverage). If you want crypto as a secondary market alongside forex/futures, E8 works.

The Trading Pit: Why It Ranks #1

The Trading Pit edges out E8 for #1 due to aggressive scaling and slightly better forex platform options. Here's where it wins:

Scaling to $2M: The Trading Pit increases your account balance by 25% after every 5% profit withdrawal. E8's scaling (on Classic and Track accounts) is slower—1% max drawdown increase per payout, not balance growth. If you're aiming for massive capital allocation (500K-$2M), Trading Pit gets you there faster.

Platform flexibility: Trading Pit offers MT5, cTrader, and TradeLocker for forex. E8 only offers TradeLocker (MT5 restricted for US traders, not available globally either). If you need MT5 automation or custom indicators, Trading Pit gives you options.

Instant funding model: Trading Pit's instant funding accounts let you skip evaluations entirely, pay higher upfront ($1,200 for 50K), and withdraw profits immediately after trading. E8 doesn't offer instant funding—you must complete an evaluation first.

Where E8 wins back ground: E8's futures platform is better than Trading Pit's. E8's payout speed is faster (24-48 hours vs Trading Pit's 48-72 hours). And E8's account customization (via E8 One) offers more flexibility than Trading Pit's fixed structures.

My verdict: If you're primarily a forex trader who wants to scale aggressively, The Trading Pit is #1. If you're a futures trader who occasionally trades forex or crypto, E8 is better. Both are legitimate multi-asset options—choose based on your primary market.

FundedNext: Strong Forex, Weak Futures

FundedNext ranks #3 because their forex program is excellent but their futures execution is subpar. Here's the breakdown:

Forex (8/10): FundedNext offers multiple evaluation models (Stellar 1-Step, Stellar 2-Step, Consistency models) with MT5 and TradeLocker platform access. Spreads are competitive (0.8-1.5 pips EUR/USD), and they offer 95% profit splits on some account types. Forex traders have more options here than at E8 or Trading Pit.

Futures (6/10): FundedNext added futures in 2024, but execution quality is inconsistent. I tested a 50K account on ES—slippage during RTH open was 2-4 ticks regularly, which is worse than E8 or Apex. Order entry is slower (built on their existing forex infrastructure, not purpose-built for futures). If you're serious about futures, don't choose FundedNext.

Crypto (6/10): FundedNext crypto is acceptable—BTC and ETH available with 12-15 pip spreads, 1:2 leverage. 24/7 trading supported. But it's not better than E8's crypto offering, and crypto isn't FundedNext's focus.

Why choose FundedNext: If you're a forex trader who wants the option to trade crypto occasionally, FundedNext's multiple evaluation models give you flexibility. The Express instant funding model is also competitive. But if futures matter to you, skip FundedNext and go E8 or Trading Pit.

Blue Guardian: Separate Divisions, Mixed Quality

Blue Guardian runs two divisions: Blue Guardian CFD (forex and crypto) and Blue Guardian Futures (ES, NQ, CL, etc.). You pick one division when you purchase—you can't cross-trade between them on a single account.

CFD Division (7/10): Forex spreads are decent (1.2-2.0 pips majors), crypto available with 10-15 pip spreads. Platform is MT5, which gives you full automation and indicator support. Rules are standard (10% Phase 1, 5% Phase 2, trailing drawdown).

Futures Division (7/10): Blue Guardian uses Rithmic for futures, which is solid. Execution quality is good, better than FundedNext but not quite as clean as E8's proprietary platform or Apex. Overnight holds are allowed (unlike E8), which is a plus if your strategy needs multi-day exposure.

The problem: You can't easily switch between divisions. If you buy a CFD account and later want to trade futures, you're purchasing a separate account. Blue Guardian doesn't offer the seamless multi-asset experience E8 or Trading Pit provide.

Why choose Blue Guardian: If you want MT5 for forex automation and you need overnight futures holds, Blue Guardian is one of the few options. But the separate division structure makes it clunky compared to E8's unified approach.

BrightFunded: Best for Crypto-Focused Traders

BrightFunded ranks #5 overall but #1 for crypto. If you're primarily a crypto trader who wants funded capital, BrightFunded offers the best conditions:

Crypto (8/10): 50+ crypto pairs with 8-10 pip spreads on BTC/ETH (tighter than E8's 11-12 pips). 1:5 to 1:10 leverage depending on pair and account type. Weekly withdrawal cycles (fastest among multi-asset firms). 24/7 trading with no forced closes.

Forex (7/10): Acceptable forex offering—30+ pairs, 1.0-2.5 pip spreads, MT5 available. Not better than E8 or Trading Pit for forex, but serviceable.

Futures (6/10): BrightFunded's futures program is newer and less developed. Limited contract selection (ES, NQ only), and execution quality isn't on par with E8 or Apex.

Why choose BrightFunded: If crypto is your primary market and you want the option to trade forex or futures occasionally, BrightFunded delivers. Weekly withdrawals are a bonus—most firms do bi-weekly or monthly. But if futures or forex are your focus, E8 or Trading Pit are better.

SurgeTrader: Multi-Asset in Name Only

SurgeTrader ranks #6 because their multi-asset offering exists on paper but doesn't hold up in practice:

Forex (6/10): Spreads are wider than competitors (1.5-3.0 pips majors), and platform options are limited (proprietary platform only, no MT5 or cTrader). Acceptable for basic setups, but not competitive with FTMO, E8, or Trading Pit.

Futures (5/10): SurgeTrader added futures in late 2024, but execution is poor. I tested ES on a demo account—slippage was 3-5 ticks during normal hours, which makes scalping unviable. Order entry lag was noticeable. Not recommended for serious futures trading.

Crypto (7/10): Crypto is SurgeTrader's strength—60+ pairs, decent spreads (10-12 pips BTC), and 24/7 trading. But payout timelines are terrible (14-30 days total), which undermines everything else.

Why choose SurgeTrader: Don't. Unless you're specifically targeting crypto and you're okay with month-long payout waits, there's no reason to pick SurgeTrader over E8, Trading Pit, or BrightFunded.

Multi-Asset vs Specialized Firms: When to Choose Each

Multi-asset firms offer flexibility, but specialized firms (futures-only, forex-only) often have better execution quality and platform options within their niche. Here's when to choose each:

Choose Multi-Asset (E8, Trading Pit, FundedNext) If:

You trade multiple markets: If you're trading ES during US sessions, EUR/USD during London open, and BTC on weekends, multi-asset gives you one firm instead of managing three separate accounts at three different firms.

You want diversification: Running one forex account and one futures account at the same firm reduces counterparty risk. If one market is slow, you have exposure to another.

You're testing different strategies: Multi-asset firms let you experiment—try futures for a month, switch to forex if it doesn't work, test crypto without committing to a crypto-only firm.

You value convenience: One KYC process, one support contact, one dashboard. Multi-asset firms centralize everything, which simplifies account management.

Choose Specialized (Apex, FTMO, TopStep) If:

You're laser-focused on one market: If you only trade ES and NQ, Apex Trader Funding (futures-only) offers better platform options (Rithmic, NinjaTrader, Tradovate) and faster payouts than multi-asset firms.

You need the best execution quality: Specialized firms optimize for one asset class. Apex's futures platform is better than E8's for advanced order flow setups. FTMO's forex platform (MT5 with tight spreads) is better than E8's TradeLocker.

You want maximum platform flexibility: Specialized firms often offer 3-5 platform choices. Multi-asset firms limit you to 1-2 platforms per asset class.

You're scaling aggressively in one market: Apex's 100% profit split (first $25K) is better than E8's 80-90% splits. FTMO's reputation and track record outweigh E8's multi-asset convenience.

My take: If you genuinely trade multiple markets regularly, multi-asset firms make sense. If you're 80% focused on one market and only occasionally dabble in others, go specialized for your primary market and accept lower-quality execution on secondary markets.

Key Comparison: E8 vs The Trading Pit vs FundedNext

These are the top three multi-asset firms. Here's how they stack up side-by-side:

Winner by use case:

• Best overall multi-asset: The Trading Pit (slightly edges E8 for scaling and platform flexibility)
• Best for futures traders: E8 Markets (superior futures execution)
• Best for forex traders: The Trading Pit or FundedNext (MT5 access, more evaluation flexibility)
• Best for customization: E8 Markets (E8 One adjustable parameters)
• Fastest payouts: E8 Markets (24-48 hours beats 48-72 hours)

Common Mistakes When Choosing Multi-Asset Firms

Mistake #1: Assuming "Multi-Asset" Means Equal Quality

Most multi-asset firms excel in one category and are acceptable in others. E8 is strongest in futures. FundedNext is strongest in forex. BrightFunded is strongest in crypto. Don't assume you're getting top-tier execution across all three markets just because the firm offers all three.

Fix: Identify your primary market. If you're 70% futures, 20% forex, 10% crypto, choose the firm with the best futures program (E8). Accept that forex will be good-enough, not best-in-class.

Mistake #2: Not Testing Platforms Before Buying Evaluations

TradeLocker works for some traders, not for others. E8's proprietary futures platform is clean but basic. If you're used to NinjaTrader or Sierra Chart, E8's platform will feel limited.

Fix: Open demo accounts before purchasing evaluations. Test order entry, charting, and execution on the actual platforms you'll use. Don't discover platform limitations after you've paid $300-$500 for an eval.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Asset-Specific Rules

E8 futures has forced close at 3:10 PM CT (intraday-only). E8 forex and crypto allow 24/7 trading with EOD drawdown. Some traders buy futures accounts expecting to hold overnight, then breach on day one because they didn't read the rules.

Fix: Read asset-specific rules before purchasing. E8's drawdown types vary by account—know which rules apply to your chosen asset class.

Mistake #4: Overvaluing "More Assets" Over Quality

Some traders choose multi-asset firms just because "more options is better." But if you only trade ES and you never touch forex or crypto, you're sacrificing futures execution quality for flexibility you won't use.

Fix: Be honest about what you'll actually trade. If you're 95% focused on one market, go specialized (Apex for futures, FTMO for forex). Multi-asset makes sense only if you genuinely diversify.

FAQ: Best Multi-Asset Prop Firms

What is the best multi-asset prop firm in 2026?

The Trading Pit ranks #1 for aggressive scaling and platform flexibility (MT5, cTrader). E8 Markets ranks #2 with stronger futures execution and faster payouts. FundedNext is #3 with excellent forex but weaker futures. Choose based on your primary market.

Does E8 Markets offer forex, futures, and crypto?

Yes. E8 offers separate account types for each: E8 Signature Forex (TradeLocker), E8 Signature Futures (proprietary platform), and E8 Signature Crypto (TradeLocker). You can't trade all three on one account, but you can run multiple accounts simultaneously.

Can I trade multiple asset classes on one E8 account?

No. E8 accounts are asset-specific—you choose forex, futures, or crypto when you purchase. If you want to trade multiple assets, you need separate accounts for each. You can run multiple funded accounts at E8 simultaneously.

Is E8 Markets better than FTMO for multi-asset trading?

E8 offers forex, futures, and crypto. FTMO offers forex only (no futures or crypto). If you need multi-asset access, E8 wins. If you only trade forex, FTMO offers better platform options (MT5 globally) and stronger reputation. Choose based on whether you need multiple markets.

What's the difference between E8 and The Trading Pit?

E8 has better futures execution and faster payouts (24-48 hours vs 48-72 hours). Trading Pit has better forex platform options (MT5, cTrader) and more aggressive scaling (25% balance increases). Both are legitimate multi-asset firms—choose based on your primary market.

Can I use MT5 on E8 Markets?

Not for US traders or globally on most accounts. E8 restricts MT5 access due to regulatory considerations. Forex and crypto accounts use TradeLocker. Futures accounts use E8's proprietary platform. If MT5 is essential, choose The Trading Pit or FundedNext.

Does FundedNext have good futures execution?

No. FundedNext added futures in 2024, but execution quality is inconsistent—slippage of 2-4 ticks on ES during regular hours. If futures are your primary market, choose E8, Apex, or TopStep. FundedNext excels at forex, not futures.

What is EOD drawdown and why does it matter?

EOD (end-of-day) drawdown is checked at 5 PM EST daily close, not intraday. You can be down 6-8% during the day without breaching, as long as you close above the threshold. E8 offers EOD on Signature accounts, which makes swing trading viable. Most firms use intraday drawdown, which kills multi-day holds.

Can I hold overnight positions on E8 futures?

No. E8 Signature Futures requires intraday-only trading with forced close at 3:10 PM CT. Forex and crypto accounts allow overnight and weekend trading. If you need overnight futures holds, choose Blue Guardian or TopStep.

Is The Trading Pit better for scaling than E8?

Yes. The Trading Pit increases account balance by 25% after every 5% profit withdrawal. E8's scaling (Classic and Track accounts) increases max drawdown by 1% per payout. Trading Pit reaches higher capital allocations faster ($2M vs E8's $500K-$1M).

Should I choose multi-asset or specialized firms?

Choose multi-asset if you genuinely trade forex, futures, and crypto regularly. Choose specialized (Apex for futures, FTMO for forex) if you're 80%+ focused on one market. Specialized firms offer better execution and platform flexibility within their niche.

Does E8 Markets support crypto trading 24/7?

Yes. E8 Signature Crypto allows 24/7 trading with no forced closes. Leverage is 1:2 to 1:5 depending on pair. Spreads are 11-12 pips on BTC/ETH. If crypto is your primary market, BrightFunded offers tighter spreads, but E8 is viable for occasional crypto trading.

What's the fastest payout among multi-asset firms?

E8 Markets—24-48 hour approval, 2-5 days total. The Trading Pit and FundedNext both take 48-72 hours approval, 3-7 days total. If payout speed matters, E8 is fastest among multi-asset options.

Can I trade forex and futures at the same time on E8?

Yes, but on separate accounts. Buy one E8 Signature Forex account and one E8 Signature Futures account. You can run both simultaneously and manage them through the same dashboard. Just complete separate evaluations for each.

Is BrightFunded better than E8 for crypto?

Yes, if crypto is your primary market. BrightFunded offers 8-10 pip spreads (vs E8's 11-12 pips), higher leverage (1:10 vs 1:5), and weekly withdrawals. But E8 is better for futures and comparable for forex. Choose based on your primary asset.

‍