Crypto Fund Trader vs E8 Markets: Elite Prop Firms Comparison
Introduction
Crypto Fund Trader (CFT) is a prop trading firm founded in 2022 and incorporated as SWISS RLCRATES AG (CHE-162.567.204) in Zug, Switzerland. Three challenge formats are offered — 2-Phase Challenge, 1-Phase Challenge, and Instant Evaluation — with accounts from $2,500 to $200,000 (Instant accounts scale to $1.28M). Platforms are MT5, Match-Trader, and Bybit, covering 720+ instruments across crypto, forex, indices, commodities, and stocks. Profit split is 80% with weekly payouts within 48 hours. A 14-day money-back guarantee applies to challenge fees.
E8 Markets is a single-phase prop firm founded in 2021 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Two evaluation formats are offered — E8 Signature ($25K–$150K) and E8 One ($5K–$200K) — both with a 6% profit target, 80% profit split, no minimum trading days, and no time limits. Platforms are TradeLocker, cTrader, and Match-Trader. Trustpilot rating is 4.3/5 from 3,277 reviews (June 2026).
Quick Comparison
|
| Feature |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| Founded |
2021 (Zug, Switzerland) |
2021 |
| Trustpilot Rating |
Rating not currently published on Trustpilot (June 2026) |
4.3/5 (3,277 reviews, June 2026) |
| Primary Focus |
Crypto-first prop trading with 720+ instruments (crypto, forex, indices, commodities, stocks) |
Forex and futures prop trading with select crypto markets |
| Programs |
2-Phase Challenge, 1-Phase Challenge, Instant Evaluation |
E8 Signature, E8 One |
| Account Sizes |
$5K–$200K (Challenge programs); from $2,500 (Instant, scaling to $1.28M) |
E8 Signature $25K-$150K; E8 One $5K-$200K |
| Platforms |
MT5, Match-Trader, Bybit |
TradeLocker, cTrader, Match-Trader |
| Review |
Read full review |
Read full review |
Program Types – Which experience fits your goals?
|
| Program |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| 2-Phase Challenge |
$5K–$200K. Phase 1: 8% profit target. Phase 2: 5% profit target. 5% daily loss limit. 10% fixed max drawdown. 5 minimum trading days. No time limit. 80% profit split. |
N/A |
| 1-Phase Challenge |
$5K–$200K. 8% profit target. 5% daily loss limit. 6% trailing drawdown. 5 minimum trading days. No time limit. 80% profit split. |
N/A |
| Instant Evaluation |
From $2,500; scales to $1.28M. Immediate funded access after evaluation. 80% profit split. |
N/A |
| E8 Signature |
N/A |
$25K–$150K. 6% profit target. 4% end-of-day drawdown limit. No minimum trading days. No time limit. 80% split. |
| E8 One |
N/A |
$5K–$200K. 6% profit target. 3% end-of-day drawdown limit. No minimum trading days. No time limit. 80% split. |
Assessment Criteria – How can you pass the test?
|
| Criteria |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| Phase 1 Profit Target |
8% |
6% |
| Phase 2 Profit Target |
5% (2-Phase only) |
N/A (single-phase) |
| Daily Loss Limit |
5% of account balance |
No per-day rule; EOD drawdown limit applies |
| Max Drawdown |
10% fixed (2-Phase); 6% trailing (1-Phase) |
4% EOD (E8 Signature); 3% EOD (E8 One) |
| Minimum Trading Days |
5 days |
None |
| Time Limit |
None |
None |
| EA / Algo Trading |
Permitted. HFT, arbitrage, and news-scalping EAs prohibited. |
Permitted. No single trading day may account for more than 40% of total profits. |
Fees and Pricing – How much will you pay?
|
| Fee |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| Challenge Fee |
One-time fee; varies by account size. Refunded on first payout. |
One-time fee; varies by account size. Refunded on first payout. |
| Profit Split |
80% |
80% (upgradeable to 100%) |
| Payout Schedule |
Weekly; processed within 48 hours |
On-demand after minimum hold period |
| Inactivity Fee |
None stated |
None |
| Money-Back Guarantee |
14-day refund on challenge fee |
Not publicly stated |
| Scaling Plan |
Instant accounts scale to $1.28M |
25% account size increase after 10% profit; maximum $1M |
| Review |
Read full review |
Read full review |
Platforms & Tools – What can you use?
|
| Tool |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| Web Platform |
Match-Trader (web) |
TradeLocker, cTrader, Match-Trader (web) |
| Mobile App |
MT5 mobile, Match-Trader mobile |
TradeLocker mobile, cTrader mobile, Match-Trader mobile |
| Desktop Client |
MT5 desktop, Match-Trader desktop |
TradeLocker desktop, cTrader desktop, Match-Trader desktop |
| API Access |
MT5 API, Match-Trader API |
TradeLocker API, cTrader API |
| Charting Tools |
Full charting via MT5 and Match-Trader |
Full charting via TradeLocker and cTrader |
| Backtesting |
MT5 Strategy Tester |
cTrader backtesting; TradeLocker backtesting |
| Copy / Social Trading |
Not available |
Not available |
Available Options / Products
|
| Option |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| Cryptocurrencies |
556 crypto pairs |
Select crypto pairs |
| Forex |
106 forex pairs |
Full forex suite |
| Indices |
15 indices |
Not available |
| Commodities |
22 commodities |
Not available |
| Stocks |
25 stocks |
Not available |
| Total Instruments |
720+ instruments |
Forex, futures, select crypto |
Technical Capabilities / Performance
|
| Feature |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| Execution |
MT5, Match-Trader, and Bybit execution engines |
TradeLocker, cTrader, and Match-Trader execution engines |
| Order Types |
Market, limit, stop, trailing stop |
Market, limit, stop, trailing stop |
| EA / Automated Trading |
MT5 EAs supported; HFT, arbitrage, and news-scalping EAs prohibited |
EAs supported across all platforms; consistency rule applies (no single day exceeds 40% of total profits) |
| News Trading |
Allowed (HFT and news-scalping EAs during news events are prohibited) |
Allowed within consistency rule limits |
| Risk Management Tools |
Platform-level tools via MT5 and Match-Trader |
Platform-level tools via TradeLocker and cTrader |
Security Features
|
| Feature |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| Company Entity |
SWISS RLCRATES AG (CHE-162.567.204), Zug, Switzerland |
E8 Markets LLC, Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Year Founded |
2022 |
2021 |
| Authentication |
Standard 2FA available |
Standard 2FA available |
| Fund Safety |
No client trading capital at risk; only challenge fee is paid |
No client trading capital at risk; only challenge fee is paid |
| Insurance |
N/A (prop firm model) |
N/A (prop firm model) |
| Regulatory Status |
Unregulated prop firm |
Unregulated prop firm |
| Trustpilot |
Rating not currently published on Trustpilot (June 2026) |
4.3/5 (3,277 reviews (June 2026)) |
| Total Trader Payouts |
Approx. $19.2M paid to traders |
Not publicly disclosed |
| Money-Back Policy |
14-day refund guarantee on challenge fee |
Not publicly stated |
Customer Support
|
| Feature |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| Live Chat |
Available |
Available |
| Email Support |
Available |
Available |
| Discord Community |
Available |
Available |
| Languages |
Multiple |
Multiple |
| Help Center / FAQ |
Yes |
Yes |
| Account Manager |
Not standard |
Not standard |
Conclusion and Final Recommendation
|
| Key Element |
Crypto Fund Trader |
E8 Markets |
| Best For |
Crypto-focused traders wanting broad instrument access (720+ instruments) and flexible program formats |
Forex and futures traders wanting a clean single-phase challenge with no minimum trading days |
| Programs |
2-Phase Challenge, 1-Phase Challenge, Instant Evaluation |
E8 Signature, E8 One |
| Profit Split |
80% |
80% (upgradeable to 100%) |
| Payout |
Weekly within 48 hours |
On-demand |
| Platforms |
MT5, Match-Trader, Bybit |
TradeLocker, cTrader, Match-Trader |
| Verdict |
CFT offers the widest instrument range among prop firms, with 556 crypto pairs and three flexible program formats. Ideal for crypto traders and multi-asset prop trading. |
E8 Markets offers a clean single-phase challenge with no minimum trading days. Ideal for forex and futures traders who prefer TradeLocker or cTrader. |
FAQ
What evaluation programs does Crypto Fund Trader offer?
Crypto Fund Trader offers three evaluation formats: the 2-Phase Challenge ($5K–$200K), the 1-Phase Challenge ($5K–$200K), and the Instant Evaluation (from $2,500, scaling to $1.28M). All programs carry an 80% profit split with weekly payouts. The 2-Phase has Phase 1 (8% target) and Phase 2 (5% target) with a 10% fixed max drawdown. The 1-Phase has an 8% target with a 6% trailing drawdown. Instant Evaluation provides immediate funded access after a single evaluation phase.
What programs does E8 Markets offer?
E8 Markets offers two single-phase evaluation programs: E8 Signature ($25K–$150K, 4% end-of-day drawdown) and E8 One ($5K–$200K, 3% end-of-day drawdown). Both require a 6% profit target, have no minimum trading days, no time limits, and offer an 80% profit split. Accounts can scale up to $1M after achieving 10% profit.
Which firm is better for crypto traders?
Crypto Fund Trader is the stronger choice for crypto traders. CFT offers 556 crypto pairs out of 720+ total instruments, with trading available on Bybit — a leading crypto exchange. E8 Markets supports only a limited selection of crypto pairs and is primarily designed for forex and futures trading. Crypto traders seeking deep liquidity and diverse crypto coverage should choose CFT.
Can I use EAs or automated trading strategies on both platforms?
Yes, both platforms permit EA and automated trading with restrictions. CFT allows EAs on MT5 and Match-Trader but prohibits HFT, arbitrage, and news-scalping EAs. E8 Markets allows EAs across all its platforms but enforces a consistency rule: no single trading day may account for more than 40% of total profits. Both firms are EA-friendly for standard automated strategies.
How was this 2 companies Comparison Created
1. We Collect
Our team gathered comprehensive data directly from Crypto Fund Trader and E8 Markets’ official platforms, including their evaluation programs, fee structures, trading rules, platform specifications, and payout records. We supplemented this with information from verified user reviews on Trustpilot and active prop trader community forums. We also consulted with traders who have direct evaluation experience with both firms to gain deeper insight into practical trading conditions and funded account performance.
2. We Examine
Each piece of information was verified by cross-referencing multiple sources to ensure accuracy. Our team of prop trading experts then analysed the real-world implications of each firm’s evaluation rules, examining how profit targets, drawdown limits, and payout terms would impact traders at different experience levels. We paid particular attention to rule transparency, drawdown structure, and platform reliability under live trading conditions.
3. We Score
Our scoring methodology evaluates prop firms across key categories: program structure, evaluation rules, fee transparency, platform quality, instrument availability, payout reliability, and trader support. Each firm receives scores based on objective data and verified trader feedback, enabling fair comparison across different firm models and evaluation structures.
4. You Choose
This comparison is designed to help you identify which prop firm aligns best with your specific trading style, instrument preferences, and risk tolerance. Whether you are a crypto specialist, a forex trader, or a multi-asset trader, the data above will help you make an informed decision. Consider your priorities regarding evaluation structure, instrument access, platform preference, and support quality when making your choice.
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