City Traders Imperium Review

This City Traders Imperium review examines one of the few prop firms that was already operating before the 2020 funded-trader rush. CTI began in 2018 with an education-first identity, later moved its base from the UK to Dubai, and has spent 2026 cutting prices while publicly arguing that many cheaper rivals will not survive. Here is how its products hold up.

A Firm Built Around Education

CTI was co-founded by Daniel Martin and Martin Najat and now operates as CTI FZCO from Dubai Silicon Oasis, with its trading entity registered in the Comoros. Like nearly every challenge provider, it is not authorised by a financial regulator. In a June 2026 interview with Finance Magnates, Najat said the firm holds enough cash to run for a year with zero sales, a claim that cannot be independently audited but is unusual for the sector. The firm built its early audience through coaching content, and that emphasis on trader development still shapes its marketing.

Account Types and 2027 Prices

On 1 June 2026 CTI announced permanent price reductions. Current list prices show:

• 1-Step: 8% target, 5% trailing overall drawdown, no daily limit. $29 for $2,500, $79 for $10K, $299 for $50K and $449 for $100K.
• 2-Step: 10% then 5% targets, 5% daily and 10% static overall drawdown. $39 for $2,500, $99 for $10K, $329 for $50K and $549 for $100K.
• Instant: a 5% target to unlock payouts, a 3% maximum loss and no daily limit, from $79 for $2,500 up to $1,599 for $80K.
• Direct Funding: a pricier route with a 6% drawdown, from $229 for $5K to $3,999 for $80K.

Challenge accounts require three profitable days rather than a simple count of trading days, and there is no time limit. Third-party sites show slightly different numbers depending on when they were captured, so the checkout page is the final word.

Trailing Versus Static

The choice between the two evaluation types mostly comes down to drawdown. The 2-Step’s static 10% buffer is generous and predictable. The 1-Step removes the daily cap but uses a 5% trailing limit, which follows your equity peak and can end an account after a modest pullback from a profitable run.

Platforms and Costs

Trading runs on MetaTrader 5, under a licence CTI controls itself, and on Match-Trader. That is narrower than firms offering cTrader or DXtrade. According to the company, commissions on forex and commodities are about $5 per lot, slightly under the typical industry range. Expert advisors are allowed, but reviewers note CTI may ask to inspect the source code of proprietary algorithms before approving a payout.

Payout Structure and VIP Tiers

The base split is 80%. The Bronze VIP tier raises it to 90% and unlocks weekly withdrawals; Silver VIP lifts it to 100% with payouts on request. First payouts become available after seven days on challenge accounts and five days on instant and direct-funded accounts, paid by crypto, PayPal or bank wire.

Reputation Check

CTI holds a 4.3 TrustScore from around 1,600 Trustpilot reviews, with only about 6% one-star ratings, which is a cleaner profile than many larger competitors. We found no widespread reports of withheld payouts. The disputes that do appear concern breaches triggered when stops were hit in fast markets and requests for EA source code, both of which CTI says are covered in its published FAQs.

Is CTI a Good Fit?

City Traders Imperium suits traders who prefer an established, smaller firm with a steady reputation and who are comfortable on MT5 or Match-Trader. Swing traders will likely prefer the static 2-Step, while intraday traders who dislike daily limits may find the 1-Step appealing despite its trailing floor. Those chasing a full 100% split should budget for the VIP route.

Bear in mind that most evaluation fees are never recovered, and leveraged trading can produce rapid losses.

City Traders Imperium FAQ

Risk warning: Trading forex and CFDs on margin carries a high level of risk. Bonus terms are set by each broker and may change; always check the broker's official terms before claiming.