Hong Kong
Credit/Debit Card
Crypto
Riseworks
cTraderThe Upside Funding is a prop firm founded by two former Citibank Managing Directors, and that institutional background is one of the first things that sets it apart from the crowd. With over 60 combined years of professional trading experience across London, Sydney, and Hong Kong, the founders have built a firm that leans heavily on mentorship alongside the standard funded account model.
Challenge Structure
Upside Funding offers both a 2-Step and a 1-Step evaluation. Account sizes start at $2,000 and go up to $100,000, with entry prices from $34 to $589 — putting it firmly among the cheapest prop firm challenge accounts in the market right now. Neither path has a time limit, which removes one of the more common stress points traders face. There's no minimum trading day requirement during evaluation beyond three profitable days at +0.5% of starting balance.
Profit targets on the 2-Step are 8% in Phase 1 and 5% in Phase 2. The 1-Step requires a single 10% target with a 30% daily consistency rule.
Funded Account Rules
The drawdown structure differs between paths. The 2-Step uses static drawdown — 4% daily and 8% max calculated from your initial balance, which never moves. The 1-Step uses a trailing 4% max drawdown with no daily limit, a tighter structure suited to traders who size up carefully. Both are straightforward and predictable.
Weekend holding and news trading are both permitted, though news trading cannot be your core strategy and red folder events carry profit caps. EAs and bots are allowed as long as they avoid HFT, latency arbitrage, or martingale-style strategies. The platform is MetaTrader 5 (Platform 5), which keeps things familiar for the majority of forex and CFD traders.
Profit splits reach up to 95% and payouts are guaranteed within 24 hours — the firm will add a $1,000 penalty to any payout that misses that window. Challenge fees are refunded in full on your third payout.
Scaling
The scaling path goes up to $1.5 million in simulated capital, making it one of the more serious options if you're looking at prop firms with high capital accounts. Traders who scale to the top tier can qualify for a remote proprietary trader role with a salary of up to $350,000 per year — a genuine differentiator you rarely see in the retail prop space.
What Traders Are Saying
Reviews on Trustpilot are generally positive, with traders highlighting fast payouts, responsive support, and a community-driven environment. The firm launched in early 2025 and rebranded in January 2026, so it's still building its track record, but early signals are encouraging.
Upside Funding Coupon Code
Use code FT35 at checkout for a discount on any challenge account. Start your Upside Funding challenge here.
Verdict
Upside Funding is a well-structured firm with credible founders, transparent rules, and a clear path beyond just a funded account. The 24-hour payout guarantee, fee refund policy, and institutional mentorship angle make it worth serious consideration — particularly for traders who want to choose a prop firm based on long-term career potential, not just the cheapest challenge fee.