Apex Trader Funding Clarifies New Live Program Conditions

Apex Trader Funding has officially launched its new Live program, allowing traders to transition from simulated (SIM) accounts to trading with real capital. Founder Daryl Martin and Chief Strategy Officer Dan Cook provided the full details, clarifying earlier confusion sparked by partial social media summaries.

The program introduces three key changes. First, SIM profits are not lost but transferred to a "Bonus Vault," which adds a 20% bonus to each Live withdrawal (40% during the first month of a new Live account). Second, the number of Live accounts is initially limited to one, with a regulatory maximum of five per trader, while the 20 accounts remain available during the SIM phase. Third, the risk structure shifts: at Level 1, an End-of-Day drawdown of $3,000 applies, with the maximum loss automatically adjusting to $100 once the trader reaches $3,100 in profit. Daily limits at higher levels close the session to protect the account rather than triggering a blow-up.

Scaling and Conditions

The Live program features four scaling levels. Level 1 ($0–$10,000 balance) allows up to 10 mini contracts with a $3,000 End-of-Day drawdown and no daily limit. Level 2 ($10,000–$25,000) increases to 25 minis with a $5,000 daily limit. Level 3 ($25,000–$50,000) offers 30 minis and a $10,000 daily limit. Level 4 (above $50,000) provides a custom portfolio with a tailored risk manager. A new Live account unlocks for every $4,500 in cumulative Live profit, up to five accounts.

Traders operate as 1099 contractors with power of attorney over a sub-account of Apex’s corporate account. Withdrawals can be requested daily with a minimum of $500 and no maximum, and there are no consistency rules or minimum trading days. Access to the Live program requires prior evaluation by Apex’s risk department; most traders accumulate several payouts (around $40,000 total) before transitioning.

The Bonus Vault offsets the lower number of Live accounts compared to SIM, converting SIM profits into an additional percentage on each withdrawal. Apex emphasized that the progressive scaling protects both the firm’s capital and the trader’s record, noting that 99% of traders who jump to multiple Live accounts with copiers from day one blow the balance within 48 hours.