Targets & Drawdowns
Profit Target Step 1
6.0%
Profit Target Step 2
6.0%
Profit Target Step 3
6.0%
Daily Drawdown
4.0%
Max Drawdown
8.0%
Drawdown Type
Static
Rules
Time Limit
Unlimited
Profit Split
100%
Payout Frequency
Bi-weekly
Additional Rules
Three-phase evaluation: Traders must reach a 6% profit target in Phase 1 and a combined 6% profit target across Phases 2 and 3, all with no time limit. On a $25,000 account, this means generating $1,500 in Phase 1 and a further $1,500 across Phases 2 and 3 in closed profits while respecting all drawdown rules.
No minimum profitable days: Unlike the 1-Step and 2-Step models, the 3-Step challenge does not impose any minimum number of profitable trading days. Traders can complete each phase in as few sessions as needed, as long as the profit target and drawdown rules are respected.
Daily loss limit: A fixed 4% daily loss limit applies across all three challenge phases and the funded stage. On a $25,000 account, this means a maximum daily loss of $1,000.
Maximum drawdown: The total loss limit is set at 8% of the initial account balance. On a $25,000 account, the maximum allowable equity loss at any point is $2,000.
Static drawdown model: Both the daily and maximum loss limits are calculated from the initial account balance and do not move as profits grow.
Leverage: Up to 1:100 for Forex during all three challenge phases, reduced to 1:50 in the funded stage. Indices and Commodities are capped at 1:20 in challenge and 1:10 in funded. Crypto is capped at 1:2 across all stages.
Profit split: 100% of profits are paid to the trader from the funded stage.
Payout frequency: Payouts are available on a bi-weekly basis in the funded stage.
News trading: Permitted during all three evaluation phases. In the funded stage, trades within 5 minutes before or after high-impact red folder news events are restricted, with profits from those windows removed rather than a breach triggered.
EAs and trade copiers allowed: Permitted under standard AquaFunded rules. Hidden EAs, arbitrage, tick scalping, and high-frequency trading are strictly prohibited.
Weekend and overnight holding: Permitted with no restrictions across all phases and the funded stage.
Hedging within the same account: Permitted. Cross-account hedging is not allowed.
Inactivity rule: At least one trade must be placed within any 30-day period from the first trade. Failure results in account breach.
Three-phase commitment: With three separate evaluation phases to complete, the total time investment before reaching the funded stage is significantly longer than 1-Step or 2-Step models. A breach at any point requires starting over from Phase 1.
Tighter daily limit than other models: The 4% daily loss cap is lower than the 5% applied to 2-Step models, meaning a single adverse session consumes the daily allowance faster relative to total drawdown.
1:1 PT:DD ratio across phases: With a 6% profit target per stage and an 8% maximum drawdown, two consecutive days hitting the 4% daily limit would consume the entire drawdown allowance.
No minimum days advantage and risk: While the absence of minimum profitable days speeds up completion, it can also lead to over-trading in a single session to hit targets quickly, increasing risk in individual sessions.
News trading restriction in funded stage: Profits made within the 5-minute news window are removed rather than causing a breach, creating an invisible drag for traders who rely on news volatility.
Leverage reduction in funded stage: The drop from 1:100 to 1:50 on Forex requires position sizing adjustments after passing all three phases.
Aqua Elite qualification requires $20,000 in withdrawals: On a $25,000 funded account, this represents an 80% return requirement before any Elite benefits are unlocked.
No minimum profitable days: Unlike the 1-Step and 2-Step models, the 3-Step challenge does not impose any minimum number of profitable trading days. Traders can complete each phase in as few sessions as needed, as long as the profit target and drawdown rules are respected.
Daily loss limit: A fixed 4% daily loss limit applies across all three challenge phases and the funded stage. On a $25,000 account, this means a maximum daily loss of $1,000.
Maximum drawdown: The total loss limit is set at 8% of the initial account balance. On a $25,000 account, the maximum allowable equity loss at any point is $2,000.
Static drawdown model: Both the daily and maximum loss limits are calculated from the initial account balance and do not move as profits grow.
Leverage: Up to 1:100 for Forex during all three challenge phases, reduced to 1:50 in the funded stage. Indices and Commodities are capped at 1:20 in challenge and 1:10 in funded. Crypto is capped at 1:2 across all stages.
Profit split: 100% of profits are paid to the trader from the funded stage.
Payout frequency: Payouts are available on a bi-weekly basis in the funded stage.
News trading: Permitted during all three evaluation phases. In the funded stage, trades within 5 minutes before or after high-impact red folder news events are restricted, with profits from those windows removed rather than a breach triggered.
EAs and trade copiers allowed: Permitted under standard AquaFunded rules. Hidden EAs, arbitrage, tick scalping, and high-frequency trading are strictly prohibited.
Weekend and overnight holding: Permitted with no restrictions across all phases and the funded stage.
Hedging within the same account: Permitted. Cross-account hedging is not allowed.
Inactivity rule: At least one trade must be placed within any 30-day period from the first trade. Failure results in account breach.
Three-phase commitment: With three separate evaluation phases to complete, the total time investment before reaching the funded stage is significantly longer than 1-Step or 2-Step models. A breach at any point requires starting over from Phase 1.
Tighter daily limit than other models: The 4% daily loss cap is lower than the 5% applied to 2-Step models, meaning a single adverse session consumes the daily allowance faster relative to total drawdown.
1:1 PT:DD ratio across phases: With a 6% profit target per stage and an 8% maximum drawdown, two consecutive days hitting the 4% daily limit would consume the entire drawdown allowance.
No minimum days advantage and risk: While the absence of minimum profitable days speeds up completion, it can also lead to over-trading in a single session to hit targets quickly, increasing risk in individual sessions.
News trading restriction in funded stage: Profits made within the 5-minute news window are removed rather than causing a breach, creating an invisible drag for traders who rely on news volatility.
Leverage reduction in funded stage: The drop from 1:100 to 1:50 on Forex requires position sizing adjustments after passing all three phases.
Aqua Elite qualification requires $20,000 in withdrawals: On a $25,000 funded account, this represents an 80% return requirement before any Elite benefits are unlocked.
Scaling Plan
Performance-based balance increase: Every time a trader generates 12% profit within a 3-month period on the funded account, the account balance increases by 25% of the starting balance, allowing traders to manage progressively larger capital.
Maximum capital ceiling: Through the Aqua Scaling Plan, traders can grow their funded account all the way up to $4,000,000, making it one of the highest capital ceilings in the prop firm industry.
Repeatable growth cycles: The 12% in 3 months requirement resets after each scale-up, meaning the process can be repeated indefinitely until the $4,000,000 ceiling is reached.
Aqua Elite progression: Alongside account scaling, traders can advance through the Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers of the Aqua Elite program, unlocking additional perks such as monthly salaries, mentoring sessions, priority support, and higher maximum allocations as their performance proves consistent over time.
Consistent rules throughout scaling: The daily loss limit, maximum drawdown limit, and all trading rules remain unchanged as the account scales. Only the dollar amounts increase proportionally with the new balance.
Elite tier benefits stack on top of scaling: The Aqua Elite program does not replace the scaling plan but adds career-level benefits on top of it, including a $1,000 monthly salary at Silver tier and $3,000 monthly salary at Gold tier, creating a dual-growth pathway unique to AquaFunded.
Maximum capital ceiling: Through the Aqua Scaling Plan, traders can grow their funded account all the way up to $4,000,000, making it one of the highest capital ceilings in the prop firm industry.
Repeatable growth cycles: The 12% in 3 months requirement resets after each scale-up, meaning the process can be repeated indefinitely until the $4,000,000 ceiling is reached.
Aqua Elite progression: Alongside account scaling, traders can advance through the Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers of the Aqua Elite program, unlocking additional perks such as monthly salaries, mentoring sessions, priority support, and higher maximum allocations as their performance proves consistent over time.
Consistent rules throughout scaling: The daily loss limit, maximum drawdown limit, and all trading rules remain unchanged as the account scales. Only the dollar amounts increase proportionally with the new balance.
Elite tier benefits stack on top of scaling: The Aqua Elite program does not replace the scaling plan but adds career-level benefits on top of it, including a $1,000 monthly salary at Silver tier and $3,000 monthly salary at Gold tier, creating a dual-growth pathway unique to AquaFunded.
