Table of contents
Experience boundary: I have traded FTMO for about four years across multiple $50K and $100K Standard accounts with recurring payouts. That operator history predates the current 1-Step product, so current product rules are sourced from FTMO and are not presented as four years of 1-Step testing.
Use the FTMO rules guide for the adjacent decision, then read my complete FTMO review. PTV may earn a commission through the tracked FTMO website. FTMO has no verified public PTV code, so verify changing terms in the official FTMO documentation.
FTMO payout timing is simple only after product differences are separated. Both routes use a day-14 request window, but split, fee reimbursement and profit-handling rules differ.
A Reward is money paid for eligible performance in a simulated FTMO Account. It is not a withdrawal of deposited trading capital.
What are the current FTMO payout rules?
| Item | 1-Step | 2-Step |
|---|---|---|
| First request | Day 14 after first trade | Day 14 after first trade |
| Reward share | 90% | 80%, up to 90% |
| Fee refund | No | With first Reward |
| Best Day for Reward | 50% | None |
| Open positions | Must be closed | Must be closed |
The claim date is an eligibility date, not a guaranteed arrival date. Account review, invoice confirmation, payout-provider checks and bank settlement happen after the request.
When can you request an FTMO Reward?
The Claim Reward button becomes available from the 14th day after the first trade. The account must show closed profit, and all open positions and pending orders must be closed.
Example: if the first trade is placed on the first day of a month, FTMO illustrates the request becoming available on the fifteenth. Account MetriX shows the remaining time.
How long does FTMO processing take?
FTMO publishes one to two business days for its account review and another one to two business days after invoice confirmation for processing. That internal sequence does not guarantee a bank or provider will settle on the same day.
A clean account with complete identity and payout details is easier to process. Incorrect recipient information, regional provider restrictions or an unresolved rule review can extend the practical timeline.
How do the Reward shares differ?
1-Step begins at a 90% Reward share. The trade-off is the non-refundable entry fee and the 50% Best Day test on Reward eligibility.
2-Step starts at 80%. FTMO says Scaling Plan or Premium Programme qualification can raise the share to 90%. A higher headline split does not help if the account is not yet request-eligible.
When is the FTMO fee refunded?
Only the 2-Step fee is reimbursed with the first Reward. That reimbursement is part of the successful 2-Step economics, not an immediate refund after passing Verification.
The 1-Step fee is non-refundable. Comparing base prices without this distinction makes 1-Step look cheaper even for a trader who expects to reach a first Reward.
Which FTMO payout methods are available?
FTMO publishes bank wire, Visa Direct or Mastercard Send up to $20,000, Skrill up to $3,000 and cryptocurrency. Availability can depend on jurisdiction, currency and provider onboarding.
FTMO says it does not add a payout commission, but minimum closed-profit thresholds cover transaction costs: $20 for bank and $50 for crypto. External banks or conversion providers may still apply their own charges.
How does Best Day affect 1-Step Rewards?
The largest profitable day must represent 50% or less of Positive Days Profit. A trader can be net profitable and past day 14 but still be ineligible because one day dominates the positive-day total.
If Best Day is $2,000, Positive Days Profit needs to reach at least $4,000. A later loss does not help this ratio. The safe plan is to distribute profit before the request window rather than trade reactively after it opens.
Can profit remain on an FTMO Account?
FTMO allows 2-Step traders to leave eligible Reward in the account under published conditions, which can increase the balance cushion. The firm's FAQ states that the retained amount still interacts with the profit split.
For 1-Step, FTMO says Reward is not left on the account in the same way. Because product-cycle details can change, the current Account MetriX option should control the actual request.
What should you verify before requesting?
Confirm that all orders are closed, the account is above its loss floors, Best Day is compliant where applicable, identity details match the payout method and the invoice instructions are correct.
Save the Account MetriX state and the request confirmation. A simple record of dates, balance and provider reference makes support conversations much easier if payment timing differs from the published flow.
How should you plan the first FTMO Reward cycle?
Start the cycle by noting the first trade date, because it controls the day-14 clock. For 1-Step, add a second clock: the Best Day ratio. A trader who reaches profit quickly may still need more positive-day profit before the Claim Reward button represents a compliant request.
Keep identity and payout details ready before the request date. The fastest internal review cannot overcome a name mismatch, unsupported provider or incomplete invoice. A small operational checklist is more useful than assuming every approved request arrives in eight hours.
What changes after an FTMO Reward?
A Reward changes the economic state of the account. On 1-Step, FTMO documents a new cycle with its product-specific maximum-loss treatment. On 2-Step, leaving part of eligible profit can build balance cushion, but the profit split still applies according to the current account flow.
After every completed request, record the new balance, daily-loss calculation, maximum-loss floor and Reference Period date before trading again. Never carry the previous cycle spreadsheet forward without reconciling it to Account MetriX.
How can payout expectations stay realistic?
Separate four dates in the payout plan: first trade, earliest claim, internal review completion and external settlement. Only the first two are known before the request. FTMO publishes target processing windows for the next steps, while banks and payout providers remain separate systems.
Do not size a personal bill or a new challenge purchase around a Reward that has not settled. A compliant account can still need identity clarification, invoice correction or provider review. Trading profit is variable, and payment infrastructure adds another layer of timing risk.
The first Reward should be treated as a full workflow test. Confirm the account metrics, request interface, invoice, recipient details and provider arrival. Later cycles become easier to plan only after the same route has worked with the trader's own country and account details.
My recurring FTMO payouts support confidence in the operator, but they do not create a universal processing guarantee. This guide therefore uses FTMO's published sequence rather than a personal fastest-payout anecdote.
The bottom line
FTMO has a credible and clearly documented Reward process, but 1-Step and 2-Step economics are different. Plan around day-14 eligibility, not instant payment; treat 1-Step Best Day as a payout rule; and include the 2-Step fee reimbursement when comparing total cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can FTMO pay a Reward?
FTMO allows a Reward claim from the 14th day after the first trade when the account is profitable and all positions and pending orders are closed.
How long does an FTMO payout take?
FTMO publishes one to two business days for account review and one to two business days after invoice confirmation for processing. Bank and provider settlement can add time.
What is the FTMO profit split?
FTMO 1-Step pays a 90% Reward share. FTMO 2-Step starts at 80% and can reach 90% through the Scaling Plan or Premium Programme.
Is the FTMO fee refunded?
The 2-Step fee is reimbursed with the first Reward. The 1-Step fee is non-refundable.
What payout methods does FTMO offer?
FTMO publishes bank wire, Visa Direct or Mastercard Send, Skrill and cryptocurrency options, subject to regional and provider availability.
What is the minimum FTMO payout?
FTMO states a minimum closed profit of $20 for bank wire and $50 for cryptocurrency to cover transaction costs.
Do FTMO positions need to be closed for payout?
Yes. The account must be in profit with no open positions or pending orders when the Reward is requested.
Does Best Day affect FTMO payouts?
Yes on a 1-Step FTMO Account. The largest profitable day must be 50% or less of Positive Days Profit before the Reward is eligible.
Can FTMO 1-Step profit stay in the account?
FTMO states that the 1-Step Reward is withdrawn rather than left on the account. Traders should verify the exact cycle behavior in Account MetriX.
Can FTMO 2-Step profit stay in the account?
FTMO permits eligible 2-Step traders to leave part of a Reward on the account, subject to the published minimum and account-cycle rules.
How does FTMO scaling work?
FTMO publishes a 25% account-balance increase after a qualifying four-month cycle, up to its stated ceiling. Requirements must be checked against the current Scaling Plan page.