Bitfunded runs four funding paths. The 2-Step suits traders who want room to prove consistency across two phases. The 1-Step and 1-Step Express suit traders who already trade with tight risk control and want funding faster, at the cost of stricter drawdown limits. Instant accounts skip evaluation entirely, trading a lower profit share for immediate access to capital.
Every crypto trader chasing a funded account eventually loses money on the wrong challenge format, not from bad trading, but from picking rules that do not match how they actually trade. Bitfunded runs four distinct paths to funding, and each one rewards a different style. This guide breaks down the profit targets, drawdown limits, and costs of each option so the decision rests on facts, not the lowest price tag. Traders comparing the best prop trading firms crypto markets currently offer should understand these four formats before spending a dollar.
What Is a Prop Trading Challenge
A prop trading challenge is an evaluation on a simulated account that proves skill and discipline before a trader gets access to funded capital. Bitfunded structures its evaluations around profit targets, daily loss limits, and maximum loss limits. Meet the targets without breaking the limits, and the account moves toward the Bitfunded Trader Stage. Break a limit, and the challenge ends immediately, regardless of overall profit. Most best prop trading firms use some version of this structure, though targets and drawdown numbers vary widely.
Bitfunded Challenge Formats at a Glance
|
Format |
Stages | Profit Target | Daily Drawdown | Max Drawdown | Profit Share |
Starting Price ($5K account) |
|
2-Step |
2 | 8% then 5% | 5% | 10% (Stage 1) / 8% (Stage 2) | 80/20 |
$79 |
|
1-Step |
1 | 10% | 4% | 6% | 80/20 | $99 |
| 1-Step Express | 1 | 3% | 3% | 3% | 80/20 |
$39 |
| Instant | None | Unlimited | 3% | 6% | 60% |
$249 |
2-Step Challenge
This is the standard route, suited to traders who prefer breathing room over speed. There is no minimum number of trading days on either stage, the trading period is unlimited, and leverage runs up to 1:5 with news trading and weekend holding both allowed.
The two-phase structure confirms that early results were not a coincidence. A trader who clears Stage 1 on a lucky streak often struggles to repeat it under Stage 2’s tighter 8% max loss limit. This format fits traders who trade a few setups a week and prefer not to rush a working strategy.
1-Step Challenge
The 1-Step format removes the second phase entirely, funding traders after one evaluation stage. Removing a phase means tighter drawdown limits to compensate: a 6% max loss against the 2-Step’s 10%. A trader with a proven strategy gets funded faster, but the margin for error shrinks. This format suits traders who already know their edge and do not need a second round to prove it.
1-Step Express Challenge
The Express challenge is Bitfunded’s fastest and cheapest route, built for traders willing to accept strict rules for a low entry cost. A 3% target sounds easy next to 8% or 10%, but a 3% drawdown ceiling leaves almost no room for a bad trade. One oversized position can end the challenge before the target is close. Express suits disciplined traders who size positions carefully and want a low-cost test of a strategy.
Instant Funding Accounts
Instant accounts skip the evaluation stage entirely. There is no profit target and no minimum trading days, and the trade-off for immediate access shows up in the payout: Instant accounts run on a 60% profit share, lower than the 80/20 split on evaluation-based challenges. Bitfunded calculates drawdown on Instant accounts using a static method, so limits are set against the starting balance rather than a rising peak. That stays more predictable than a trailing drawdown, since the ceiling never moves. Instant accounts fit traders with a track record who want funded-style capital now and are comfortable giving up a larger share of profit for it.
Matching the Challenge to Your Trading Style
Before paying for any format, look at actual trading history rather than the entry price alone. A trader who wins consistently across many small trades fits the 2-Step model, since the extra phase rewards patience. A trader with tight risk control and a need for speed should look at 1-Step or Express instead. Anyone comparing the best prop trading firms should also weigh payout structure, not just the entry fee. On evaluation-based challenges, Bitfunded’s default split is 80/20, and its Incentive Scaling Program raises that to 90/10 for traders who post 10% net profit across four consecutive months and process at least two withdrawals in that span. That kind of scaling, more than a low entry price, is what actually separates the highest paying prop trading firms from ones that only look competitive on a pricing page.
Ready to Trade With Real Structure? Start Your Bitfunded Challenge Today
Comparing formats only helps if it leads to action. Bitfunded offers a clear path for every crypto trader, from the patient 2-Step evaluator to the fast-moving Express trader chasing funding at the lowest cost. Every format shares transparent rules, and evaluation-based accounts scale up to a 90/10 split for consistent traders. Review your trading history, match it against the table above, and pick the format built for that pattern rather than the cheapest listing. Start your Bitfunded challenge across account sizes from $2,500 to $150,000, and check the full FAQ before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which challenge format is best for beginners?
The 2-Step challenge suits beginners, since two phases and wider drawdown limits allow room to learn without immediate disqualification risk.
2. Can I switch challenge types after purchase?
No, each challenge is tied to the format purchased. Choose carefully before payment, since switching requires buying a new challenge.
3. Do all challenge types offer the same profit split?
No, evaluation-based challenges start at 80/20 and can scale to 90/10, while Instant accounts use a fixed 60% share instead.
4. Why does the Express challenge cost less than other formats?
Express costs less because its tighter 3% drawdown limit shifts more risk to the trader, balancing the lower price and target.
5. Is the Instant account riskier than evaluation challenges?
Instant accounts carry stricter static drawdown limits and a lower 60% profit share, trading evaluation time for immediate funded-style access.
6. How is drawdown calculated across Bitfunded challenges?
Bitfunded uses static drawdown, calculated from the starting account balance rather than the peak balance, keeping the loss ceiling fixed throughout.