The Funded Trader Review: Is TFT Worth It in 2026?

Is TFT worth it in 2026? Not as a place to buy a new challenge.

The Funded Trader was one of the best-known names in prop trading, but traders were still waiting on payouts more than a year after the firm paused them. Its founder said in August 2026 that he is retiring from prop firms, and third-party reviewers report that its websites have been offline since early September.

This review separates what is confirmed from what is only reported and what we could not verify. Every claim is attributed to its source, and the status was last checked on 5 November 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Verdict: Do not buy a TFT challenge while the firm's status is unconfirmed.
• Payout history: TFT paused payouts and operations in March 2024, and 1,272 traders were still waiting a year later.
• Current status: The company has made no public statement on closure. Third-party reviewers report its sites as offline since early September 2026.
• Founder: Angelo Ciaramello closed his futures firm Rev One Trading in August 2026 and said he is leaving prop firms. His announcement did not address TFT.
• Trustpilot: 2.9 out of 5 from about 21,900 reviews, split between 65% five-star and 24% one-star.
• If you hold an account: Keep every record of your account, payout requests, and correspondence.

The Funded Trader Review: Company Overview

The Funded Trader, usually shortened to TFT, was founded and led by Angelo Ciaramello. Like other prop firms, it sold evaluation accounts that let traders prove themselves on simulated capital and, if they passed, earn a share of the profits. Finance Magnates reported TFT’s challenge prices from about $50 to more than $1,000, and traders have described accounts on platforms including DXtrade and cTrader.

What Happened to The Funded Trader?

The trouble began in March 2024, when TFT suspended payouts and then operations, which it described as an internal audit. BrokersView reported the closure on 29 March 2024, after traders had already complained about the payout suspension. Finance Magnates later reported that trading resumed in August 2024 after a five-month break.

The Funded Trader Payout Record

The pause left a queue. TFT's own update put 1,272 traders on the waiting list in March 2025, up from 900 at the end of November 2024, and Finance Magnates reported that the firm had missed its own January 2025 deadline for a repayment schedule. TFT's March update accepted the blame, saying “the responsibility falls on me.”

Some settlements followed. By late March 2025, agreements worth $250,000 had been reached with some traders, who accepted between 10% and 30% of what they were owed. In the same month, TFT said it had paid more than $386,000 in new payouts, which its CEO called its highest month since resuming. Both figures come from TFT's own statements as reported by Finance Magnates.

Is The Funded Trader Still in Business?

There is no confirmed answer. A 2025 lawsuit by technology provider FPFX Technologies alleged more than $184,000 in unpaid fees and a breach of an exclusivity clause; these are allegations only. Then, on 21 August 2026, Finance Magnates reported that Ciaramello had shut Rev One Trading, his futures prop firm, and was retiring from prop firms to work on prediction markets. His announcement did not mention TFT, outstanding payouts, or refunds.

Review site Best Prop Firms then reported that TFT's websites have been offline since early September, with a hosting-provider notice saying the deployment is paused and no closure statement from the company. It notes that the notice alone does not prove the business has closed.

Our own check points to the same thing. When we tried to open thefundedtrader.com, the page failed to load.

The Funded Trader Trustpilot Reviews

TFT's Trustpilot page showed 2.9 out of 5 from about 21,900 reviews on 5 November 2026. The spread is wide: 65% of reviews are five-star, and 24% are one-star, with little in between. Recent complaints, dated April to September 2026, describe pending or refused withdrawals, accounts that became inaccessible after a platform migration, and support that did not reply. Some recent reviews promote other firms, so weigh them with care, and the company has not answered the negative ones.

Do Not Confuse TFT With Similar Names

Searches for the firm also bring up Goat Funded Trader, Funded Trader Markets, and Funding Traders. Goat Funded Trader is a separate company; Finance Magnates covered its payout dashboard in October 2026 and describes it as operating normally, though its figures are self-reported. Check the legal entity and the web address before you pay any firm with a similar name.

If You Hold a TFT Account or Are Owed a Payout

• Keep records: Save screenshots of your account, payout requests, identity checks, and every email or chat with support.
• Don’t pay anyone to release funds: Refuse to send money to anyone claiming to represent TFT.
• Ask your payment provider early: Card issuers and payment services have their own dispute time limits. So, take action soon.
• Rely on verified channels: Take statements or claims as genuine only when they come from the firm's confirmed website or accounts.

Where to Look Instead

If you want a prop firm with an operating record, our FTMO review and Funding Pips review cover rules, fees, and payouts. Our guide to prop firm rules and our walkthrough on how to pass a prop firm challenge apply to any firm you consider.

The Funded Trader Review: The Bottom Line

TFT built a large following and said it paid more than $386,000 in a single month in 2025. The record since March 2024, though, is one of unpaid traders, partial settlements, and now silence. Until the firm confirms it is operating and publishes how owed traders will be paid, we would not buy a challenge.

We will update this review if that status changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Funded Trader legit?

It operated for years and paid some traders, but its payout record since 2024 and its current silence make it a poor choice now. We did not find a regulatory ruling against it in the sources we reviewed.

Is The Funded Trader still in business?

Not confirmed. Third-party reviewers report its websites as offline since early September 2026, and the company has issued no closure statement.

Is The Funded Trader payout reliable?

Not on its record. 1,272 traders were waiting in March 2025, and settlements with some of them were for 10% to 30% of what they were owed.

Who owns The Funded Trader?

Angelo Ciaramello was the founder and leading head of The Funded Trader. Several lawsuits name Easton Consulting Technologies as its operator.

Is The Funded Trader the same as Goat Funded Trader?

No. Goat Funded Trader is a separate company.