Trading Tips

A Refined Trading Setup for the US Market

The trading world demands precision, adaptability, and discipline. At FTMO, we continuously evolve to meet these expectations, introducing an environment designed to deliver a more authentic and professional experience.

Our latest approach brings several enhancements that make simulated trading even more aligned with real market conditions.

Whether you're exploring FTMO US offering for the first time or already understand how modern prop trading works, here's what makes this solution different, and why it's built with serious traders in mind.

A Technical Foundation Designed for Realism

This trading setup replicates key aspects of real-market execution within a simulated environment. It uses volume-based logic and pricing dynamics to offer a transparent, rules-driven experience, helping serious traders cultivate discipline, consistency, and execution awareness. 

Execution that simulates the real markets

All executions occur in a simulated trading environment and follow Fill-or-Kill (FOK) logic. Orders are filled only if the full requested size can be matched at a single price level. If sufficient volume is not available at that price, the order is rejected entirely - no partial fills are allowed. 

The Depth of Market (DOM) panel on MT5 displays live available volumes at each price level, allowing traders to see the liquidity landscape before, during, and after placing an order. Execution prices are shown as the exact level where the full volume could be matched, there is no averaging across price levels

Fully Simulated, Yet Structurally Realistic Instruments

All assets in the FTMO product are simulated, but their behavior, pricing logic, and structure follow real market principles. Instruments carry the .sim suffix (e.g. EURUSD.sim, US100_current.sim) for clear differentiation and clarity.

You can trade:

  • 42 Simulated Forex pairs, categorised by Majors, Minors, and Exotics
  • 6 Simulated Assets covering 3 US indices, Gold, Crude Oil and Bitcoin with expiry cycles modelled on real futures
  • All instruments are available exclusively on MetaTrader 5 (MT5)

Market-Standard Account Setup

This setup is built to help you trade with structure and clarity — using a configuration that reflects the kind of rules found in many live brokerage environments.

You’ll trade in netting mode, meaning only one position per symbol is allowed. If you place multiple trades on the same pair, they’ll be automatically merged into a single averaged position — helping you stay focused on your overall exposure, not just individual entries.

MT5 also applies FIFO (First In, First Out) logic by default in netting mode, so your oldest trades are reduced first when you close or adjust a position — a simple but powerful mechanism that encourages cleaner execution strategies. 

Swaps and commissions follow a market-aligned logic:

  • Swaps: Charged daily as a percentage of the position’s notional value
  • Simulated Forex: $5 per lot, round-trip
  • Simulated Indices, Commodities, Precious Metals: Commissions are charged at a fixed rate of 0.0025% per side of the notional value. This equates to approximately $5 per $100,000 of notional value, round-trip.

There are no differences in margin requirements for trades left open during the day or night. Positions may be kept open overnight as daily closure is not required unless the instrument has a defined expiry. This setup ensures the trading experience is not just transparent, but also closely aligned with real-market behaviour and trader expectations.

The Core FTMO Experience Remains

Even with these upgrades, the foundation remains the same:

  • The Evaluation Process still begins with the FTMO Challenge, followed by the Verification phase.
  • Users who meet the requirements are granted access to an FTMO Rewards Account with our partner OANDA Prop US Corporation — a simulated account where strong performance can lead to real Rewards, with users eligible to receive up to 90% of their simulated profits, paid out in actual funds.
  • FTMO’s trader development tools — including Account MetriX, Trading Journal, and others — remain available to help sharpen your edge.

We continue to focus on helping traders build consistent habits, execute responsibly, and grow with clear rules and feedback.

Why These Changes Matter

This upgraded configuration is more than a technical update — it’s a commitment to realism, professionalism, and trader development.

  • The execution model aims to reflect real market conditions
  • Margin and leverage settings promote responsible risk-taking
  • No hedging and FIFO enforcement mirror common US region market rules
  • You develop your trading in a system that simulates the structure and flow of a professional environment — without the risks of live capital

Explore the Platform for Yourself

Curious how this new setup feels in practice?

Start a Free Trial and test the FTMO US platform risk-free. You'll gain access to our suite of tools and experience the improved execution and structure firsthand.

Designed for Trader Growth

At FTMO US, we design simulated trading environments to resemble real market conditions, helping you build habits that support consistency in live trading situations. We reflect the environment not just in price movements but also in structure, discipline, and execution.

The FTMO US configuration represents a new standard in simulated trading. Whether you're refining your edge or working toward your next FTMO Rewards Account, you'll find a platform designed to challenge, support, and reward your growth as a trader.

To gain a better understanding of how it works, we recommend reviewing the contract specifications and trying it firsthand through a Free Trial. You’ll gain real insight into how our execution performs and how our suite of Simulated Assets is structured to mirror real-world trading, all without risking your own capital.

About FTMO

FTMO has developed a two-step evaluation process to find trading talents. Upon successful completion, you may be eligible for an FTMO Rewards Account with a balance of up to $200,000 in simulated funds. How does it work?