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 (1,632 reviews) — third-party, as of 2026-07-31
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.