City Traders Imperium
Trust: MediumSpecifications
| Profit split | 70%–100% (varies by program) |
|---|---|
| Max funding | Up to $4,000,000 (after scaling) |
| Challenge fee | $29–$3,200 (depends on account size, as of 2026-07-30) |
| Payout track record | Published cumulative payouts |
| Payout cycle | Monthly to on-demand |
| Platforms | MT4 · MT5 · cTrader |
| Evaluation | Multiple |
| Drawdown model | Mixed |
| Daily loss limit | 5% |
| Max drawdown | 10% |
| Sources | [1][2][3][4][5] |
| Website | https://citytradersimperium.com/ |
Trustpilot: 4.2 (1,627 reviews) — third-party, as of 2026-09-22
Strengths
- Among the longer-running prop firms (since 2018)
- Self-funded and Instant Funding options
- Swing-trading-friendly rule set
Watch-outs
- Mid-to-high evaluation fees
- Many programs to compare
- Some plans start at lower profit split (70%)
Payout claim vs verification
| Verification | No figure publishedPublishing no figure is not an accusation. It means there is nothing here for an outside party to check. |
|---|---|
| Claimed | No figure publishedNo payout amount published. The firm advertises duration instead — "The Prop Firm That’s Paid Out Traders For 8 Years" and a stat reading "8 YEARS PAYING OUT". |
| Independently checkable | Nothing checkable |
| Rail | Not establishedA dedicated /cti-payout-proof/ page carries individual case studies and the line that with "1000+ Trustpilot reviews averaging 4.4 stars, our payouts are proof of verifiable results" — review volume, not payout evidence. Other headline numbers are the maximum account size ($4M scaling) and the profit share, neither of which is money paid. Not among the firms Payout Junction tracks. Publishing nothing is not an accusation; it means there is nothing to check. |
| Source | City Traders Imperium — payout proof page (case studies, no aggregate figure)Checked: 2026-08-05 |
What City Traders Imperium is
City Traders Imperium, often abbreviated CTI, is a London-based proprietary trading firm that has been running since 2018. By prop-firm standards, that puts it firmly past the three-year baseline most analysts use to separate established operators from speculative newcomers. CTI is part of a small group of UK-based incumbents alongside Audacity Capital and Funded Trading Plus.
Where CTI differentiates is on trading style. The rule set is explicitly swing-trading-friendly — overnight and weekend holds are permitted, and the firm publishes clear positioning rules for multi-day trades. That makes it one of the few mainstream prop firms that genuinely suits position traders rather than just scalpers.
How the programs work
CTI offers a wider menu of programs than most competitors:
- Standard Evaluation: a two-phase challenge with a defined profit target and drawdown (the maximum allowed equity decline).
- Direct Funded: skip the evaluation in exchange for a lower starting profit split and stricter rules.
- Self-Funded Account: trader contributes capital alongside the firm.
- Swing accounts: optimised rules for positions held across sessions and weekends.
Evaluation fees range from around $99 for the smallest account to roughly $3,200 for the largest sizes. The scaling ceiling reaches $4,000,000 of simulated capital after sustained performance across multiple cycles. Payouts move from monthly to on-demand once traders clear the early scaling stages.
Who CTI fits
CTI is a strong fit for:
- Swing and position traders who hold trades for days or weeks.
- Traders comfortable with overnight and weekend exposure on indices, FX, or commodities.
- Anyone who wants a UK-based operator with a multi-year track record rather than a 2022-or-later entrant.
If you primarily trade end-of-day setups on majors or indices, CTI’s ruleset is genuinely easier to live with than most competitors.
Who CTI does not fit
If you are a pure intraday scalper who flattens by the close, the swing-friendly ruleset is wasted on you, and you may find cheaper firms with similar economics. The Direct Funded variant also starts at a 70% profit split, which is below the 80% norm — verify which program you are actually buying.
International traders should also factor in the program complexity. The number of options is a feature for sophisticated buyers but a hurdle for first-timers.
What to watch
- Program selection: CTI’s menu is genuinely larger than most. Read the spec sheets side by side before purchasing.
- Initial profit split on Direct Funded: starts at 70%, scales up with performance. Confirm the exact tier you are entering.
- Swing rule fine print: overnight and weekend holds are permitted, but specific instruments may have separate rules. Verify on the official site.
How CTI compares
Against FTMO, CTI is more flexible on swing-style trading but a step behind on operating record (2018 vs. 2015) and brand recognition. Against The5%ers, the comparison is closer — both run multiple program types, both target a longer-horizon trader, and both date from 2016–2018. The5%ers is arguably stronger on Instant Funding economics, CTI on swing rules.
Our take
The combination of a 2018 founding, London base, and swing-trading-friendly ruleset makes CTI one of the more trustworthy UK options. The program complexity is the main barrier — first-time evaluation buyers will spend real time comparing tiers. For traders who already know what they want, however, CTI is one of the cleaner picks in the segment.
Partnered firms you can weigh against City Traders Imperium
We have no affiliate relationship with City Traders Imperium. These are firms in the same category that we do partner with. Our assessment of City Traders Imperium is everything above on this page — the presence or absence of a commercial relationship does not change it.
FTMO
Running continuously since 2015, the longest record in its class, and rated High trust by this site. FX and CFD; the 2-Step evaluation fee is refunded in full with your first reward.
FTMO 公式で詳細を見るCity Traders Imperium vs FTMO — Compare the terms side by side →
We earn affiliate commission from the firms above. Commission does not affect our ratings.