Aqua Funded (AquaFunded) is a fast-growing, budget-friendly prop firm that has attracted a large trader base with low entry prices and a static drawdown. It is newer than the established names, which is both its appeal (aggressive pricing) and the thing to check (a shorter track record). This review covers what Aqua Funded actually offers in 2026, how its 1-Step and 2-Step challenges work, and how it compares for traders weighing a cheap forex-first firm against a crypto-native one.
Quick answer: Aqua Funded is a low-cost, forex-first multi-asset prop firm with 1-Step and 2-Step challenges, account sizes up to $200,000, a static maximum drawdown on its Standard models, and up to a 90% profit split (100% as a paid upgrade). Payouts run every 14 days. Its strengths are aggressive pricing and a static drawdown; the things to weigh are a daily drawdown limit and a shorter track record than the established firms.
Highlights of this article
- Aqua Funded is a low-cost, forex-first multi-asset prop firm with a large and fast-growing trader base
- It offers 1-Step (9% target) and 2-Step (8% then 5%) challenges, with account sizes up to $200,000
- Its Standard models use a static maximum drawdown fixed from the initial balance (some 1-Step and Pro variants use a trailing drawdown), plus a daily drawdown limit
- The profit split is up to 90%, with 100% available as a paid upgrade, and payouts run every 14 days
- As a newer firm, its main trade-off versus established names is a shorter payout track record, worth verifying before you buy
What Is Aqua Funded
Aqua Funded, branded AquaFunded, is a proprietary trading firm that funds forex-first traders across currencies, metals, indices, and crypto, with futures also available. It has grown quickly, reporting a large trader base and strong review-site ratings, and it competes primarily on price, with entry challenges starting around $99 for a $10,000 account and frequent promotions. It is newer than the decade-old firms, so its main structural difference is a shorter operating history rather than a difference in rules.
How the Challenges Work
Aqua Funded offers two evaluation routes. The 1-Step challenge asks for a single 9% profit target while respecting the drawdown limits, a faster path for confident traders. The 2-Step challenge splits the requirement across two phases: an 8% target in Phase 1 and a 5% target in Phase 2, which confirms the first phase was not a one-off. Account sizes reach $200,000, with small starter sizes among the cheapest in the market, which is Aqua's main draw.
Drawdown, Rules, and Scaling
Aqua Funded's Standard models use a static maximum drawdown calculated from your initial balance, so the loss floor does not trail your equity upward as you profit, which is more predictable than a trailing model. Note that some other models, including certain 1-Step and Pro variants, use a trailing drawdown instead, so check which applies to the plan you buy. Alongside the overall floor sits a daily drawdown limit (around 3 to 5% depending on the model, reset at 00:00 UTC), so a single heavy session can still end a day even while the overall floor stays fixed. For scaling, hitting roughly 12% profit over a three-month window increases the account by 25%, up to a $4 million ceiling for consistent traders. For the mechanics of why a static floor is more forgiving than a trailing one, see static maximum drawdown explained.
Profit Split and Payouts
The standard profit split is up to 90%, with an optional upgrade to 100% for an additional fee at checkout. Payouts run on a 14-day cycle and process quickly. The pricing and split are competitive, but as with any newer firm, the most important thing to confirm is the payout track record: check independent reviews and payout proof before committing, because a low entry price only matters if the firm reliably pays.
Who Aqua Funded Suits
Aqua Funded suits price-conscious forex-first traders who want a low-cost entry, a static maximum drawdown, and a high split, and who are comfortable with a daily drawdown limit and a firm that is still building its long-term track record. It is a weaker fit for traders who want crypto-native, 24/7 markets, no daily loss limit, or the reassurance of a multi-year payout history.
The Alternative: Crypto-Native, No Daily Limit
On its Standard models, Aqua Funded uses a static maximum drawdown like Velotrade, so the main differences are elsewhere. First, Velotrade has no daily loss limit at all, where Aqua applies a daily drawdown alongside the static floor. Second, Velotrade is crypto-native and 24/7, built around crypto and multi-asset markets that never close, with no consistency rule on funded accounts and no maximum risk per trade. Both are relatively young firms competing on trader-friendly terms rather than decade-long track records.
Neither is strictly better: Aqua competes hard on price and a forex-first multi-asset lineup, while Velotrade offers a crypto-native, no-daily-limit structure. Compare the field in top prop firms in 2026 and the best crypto prop firms, and check your odds of passing first with the challenge pass calculator.
What does passing actually pay you?
Plug in your account size and see your profit target, max drawdown, and first payout - before you commit to a challenge.
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About the author
Vittorio De Angelis
Executive Chairman
Former equity-derivatives trader at JP Morgan, Dresdner Kleinwort and Bank of America in London. Later Head of Brokerage at a global broker in Hong Kong.
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