HyroTrader is a crypto-only prop trading firm offering funded accounts from $5,000 to $200,000 across 1-step and 2-step evaluation formats. It runs real exchange execution via Bybit and Binance, a proprietary platform called CLEO with no country restrictions, and a time-based profit split that scales from 70% to 90% over 16 months.
This review covers challenge structure, drawdown model, trading rules, platform, payout mechanics, and where HyroTrader is and isn't the right fit. The goal is an accurate assessment based on published rules, not a promotional summary.
If you are new to the funded trading model and want to understand how it works first, read what crypto prop trading is.
Highlights of this article
- HyroTrader is crypto-only with real exchange execution on Bybit and Binance via the CLEO platform
- 2-step challenge: 10% + 5% profit targets, 5% daily and 10% max drawdown
- Drawdown is tick-by-tick trailing by default — a swing upgrade converts it to static daily drawdown for a fee
- Profit split starts at 70% and scales automatically to 90% over 16 months
- A 40% consistency rule applies during evaluations — no single day can account for more than 40% of total eval profit
- Challenge fee is fully refunded on the first funded payout
About HyroTrader
HyroTrader is a crypto-only prop firm that connects traders to live Bybit and Binance order books via its proprietary CLEO platform. Unlike generalist prop firms that added crypto instruments onto forex-built infrastructure, HyroTrader's rule set was designed around 24/7 crypto market behavior.
The firm has a documented payout history and is reviewed on major prop firm comparison sites with verified trader feedback. As with any operator in this category, verifying current terms before paying a challenge fee is essential. For a framework on evaluating prop firm credibility, see are crypto prop firms legit.
Challenge Structure
HyroTrader offers 2 evaluation formats.
2-Step Challenge
The standard evaluation path. Phase 1 targets 10% profit; Phase 2 targets 5%.
| Parameter | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Funded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit target | 10% | 5% | — |
| Max daily loss | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Max overall loss | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Min trading days | 10 days | 10 days | — |
| Trading period | Unlimited | Unlimited | Indefinite |
| Profit split | — | — | 70%–90% |
1-Step Challenge
A single evaluation phase with tighter drawdown rules in exchange for a faster path to funding.
| Parameter | Phase 1 | Funded |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | 10% | — |
| Max daily loss | 4% | 5% |
| Max overall loss | 6% | 10% |
| Min trading days | 10 days | — |
| Trading period | Unlimited | Indefinite |
| Profit split | — | 70%–90% |
The 1-step drawdown is materially tighter: 4% daily and 6% overall vs 5% and 10% in the 2-step. That is a significant reduction in room for error. The trade-off is a simpler evaluation for traders confident in consistency.
Pricing
Challenge fees are one-time with no monthly subscription. The fee is fully refunded on your first funded payout.
| Account Size | 2-Step Fee | 1-Step Fee |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $89 | $119 |
| $10,000 | $149 | $199 |
| $25,000 | $249 | $329 |
| $50,000 | $349 | $499 |
| $100,000 | $599 | $849 |
| $200,000 | $999 | $1,399 |
Payment is accepted in crypto (BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT, and others) or credit card. The fee refund on the first payout changes the net cost calculation meaningfully if you pass.
Drawdown Model
The default drawdown at HyroTrader is tick-by-tick trailing. This is the most aggressive drawdown model in common use and understanding it before entering an evaluation is essential.
With tick-by-tick trailing, the drawdown floor updates in real time based on your highest equity point during the session. Every time your account equity reaches a new intraday high, including from floating unrealized profit on open positions, the floor moves up immediately. If equity then retraces through normal market movement, your usable drawdown room is permanently reduced.
The practical consequence: a temporary spike to a new intraday high while a position is open can tighten your floor before the trade closes. If the trade then reverses to a modest loss, you can breach the drawdown limit even though the position itself was within a reasonable risk parameter.
The Swing Upgrade
HyroTrader offers a paid optional upgrade that converts the drawdown from tick-by-tick trailing to static daily drawdown.
With static daily drawdown, the floor is fixed at the start-of-day balance for the entire session. Open position profits do not raise the floor intraday. The floor only recalculates at the start of the next trading day.
This is materially less aggressive than tick-by-tick trailing and removes the intraday-spike risk. Traders running intraday strategies with volatile positions should evaluate the cost of this upgrade against the risk it eliminates.
For a detailed technical comparison of every drawdown model type in use across crypto prop firms, see EOD trailing vs tick-by-tick trailing drawdown explained.
How many losing trades before you breach?
See your drawdown floor, daily loss budget, and losing trade capacity for any account size — before you place a single trade.
Trading Rules
Mandatory Stop-Loss Requirement
Every position must have a stop-loss set within 5 minutes of trade entry. The stop-loss must cap risk at a maximum of 3% of initial account balance per position.
This rule is enforced live. A first breach triggers a one-time warning with one hour to correct it. A second breach fails the account immediately.
For algo traders: your EA must include stop-loss placement logic in every order. A trading system that manages risk through drawdown limits alone, without individual trade stop-losses, is non-compliant.
Minimum Trading Days
Both phases require 10 minimum trading days, defined as any day where at least one position is opened. Hitting the profit target in fewer than 10 days does not end the evaluation early — additional trading is required until the minimum day count is reached.
Consistency Rule
A 40% consistency rule applies during evaluations. No single trading day can account for more than 40% of total evaluation profit.
On a $50,000 account targeting 10% ($5,000 total), no single day can contribute more than $2,000. This constrains traders who concentrate their edge around high-conviction events. If you trade news, macro setups, or large single-session positions, verify this rule does not conflict with your natural approach before paying a challenge fee.
The consistency rule does not apply on funded accounts — only during evaluation phases.
What Is Allowed
- News trading: Permitted. You may hold positions through scheduled and unscheduled events.
- Weekend holding: Permitted. HyroTrader recognizes 24/7 crypto market structure.
- Overnight holding: Permitted.
- EAs and algorithmic trading: Permitted on both platforms with full API integration. Each automated trade must comply with the stop-loss rule.
- VPN and VPS: Permitted for legitimate execution purposes.
What Is Not Allowed
- Pure news scalping (entering solely to exploit an event spike and exiting immediately)
- Latency arbitrage and tick scalping exploiting platform data feeds
- Coordinated multi-account manipulation
For a full breakdown of prop firm rules and how they affect evaluation outcomes, see crypto prop firm rules and drawdowns explained.
Platform
HyroTrader operates through 2 platforms.
Bybit: The primary platform with real exchange execution against live Bybit order books. Bybit restricts access for US and Canadian residents.
CLEO: HyroTrader's proprietary platform powered by Binance market data and liquidity. No country restrictions. Fully accessible to US and Canadian traders and anyone in a Bybit-restricted jurisdiction. Supports full API integration for algorithmic trading.
Traders already operating on Bybit or Binance will find the environment familiar. For traders coming from MT4/MT5 or DXtrade-based firms, there is an adjustment period. Execution on both platforms is against live exchange order books with real fills, not simulated.
Payouts and Profit Split
Profit Split
The profit split starts at 70% and scales automatically over time. No performance milestones are required — the increase is time-based.
| Time on Funded Account | Profit Split |
|---|---|
| Month 0–4 | 70% |
| Month 4–8 | 75% |
| Month 8–12 | 80% |
| Month 12–16 | 85% |
| Month 16+ | 90% |
The 70% starting point is below the 80–90% range now standard among 2026 crypto prop firms. The split reaches competitive range after 8–12 months and the maximum after 16 months. For traders focused on short-term income from the funded account, the early-months split is a relevant constraint.
Payout Mechanics
- Minimum payout: $100 in realized profit (trader's share)
- Earliest access: 1 calendar day after the first funded trade
- Default frequency: Bi-weekly; on-demand requests available after the 1-day lockout
- Processing time: 12–24 hours after confirmation
- Payout currency: USDT or USDC only (no fiat option)
Scaling Plan
Funded accounts scale by 25% every 4 months, with a maximum funded account ceiling of $1,000,000. To trigger a scale-up, the account must meet all of the following:
- Overall in profit
- At least 2 of the last 4 months were profitable
- 2 approved payouts completed
- 20% net profit on original balance over the 4-month period
The profit split also scales alongside the account size increase.
Pros and Cons
What Works
- Real exchange execution: Trades go to live Bybit or Binance order books — no simulated fill environment.
- Fee refund on first payout: The challenge cost is recovered at the funded stage, reducing net barrier to entry.
- Swing upgrade option: Static daily drawdown is available as a paid add-on, providing a materially safer model for traders who need it.
- 1-day payout access: Among the fastest funded-to-payout timelines available.
- No country restrictions via CLEO: US and Canadian traders can access the full product without workarounds.
- Scaling to $1,000,000: Higher funded account ceiling than many peers.
- No time limit on evaluations: Unlimited time to hit profit targets in both phases.
What to Weigh
- Tick-by-tick trailing drawdown by default: The most aggressive common drawdown model. Intraday equity spikes permanently tighten the floor. The swing upgrade removes this risk but costs extra.
- 40% consistency rule during evaluations: Directly constrains news traders and high-conviction single-session strategies.
- Mandatory stop-loss within 5 minutes, max 3% per trade: Hard operational constraint. EAs must include compliant SL logic in every order entry.
- 10 minimum trading days per phase: 20 days minimum across the 2-step evaluation. Hitting targets early does not skip the remaining required days.
- Profit split starts at 70%: Below the 80–90% market standard for the first 4–8 months.
- Stablecoin-only payouts: No fiat option.
Who Is HyroTrader For?
HyroTrader suits traders who:
- Trade systematically across many sessions and naturally spread profits (so the 40% cap rarely triggers)
- Are already familiar with Bybit or Binance and prefer native exchange execution
- Want a refundable challenge fee to reduce upfront net cost
- Plan to stay funded long-term and are content with the profit split scaling over 12–16 months
- Run EAs and can build compliant stop-loss logic into every order entry
- Need full access from the US or Canada via CLEO
It is less suited to:
- News traders or event-driven traders who concentrate profit into specific sessions (the 40% cap directly interferes)
- Traders who need maximum position sizing freedom without a per-trade risk cap
- Traders prioritizing maximum profit split from the first payout (70% starting split is below market standard)
- Manual traders who find the 5-minute stop-loss placement rule an additional workflow burden
For a direct side-by-side comparison of HyroTrader and Velotrade across every rule that affects evaluation outcome, see HyroTrader vs Velotrade. For the full Velotrade review including challenge pricing and rule detail, see Velotrade review 2026.
Verdict
HyroTrader is a legitimate crypto prop firm with real exchange execution, a documented payout history, and a rule set used by funded traders at scale.
The tick-by-tick trailing drawdown by default is the most significant structural risk for traders who have not traded under this model before. The swing upgrade resolves it but adds cost. The consistency rule and mandatory stop-loss requirement are the other 2 constraints that differentiate HyroTrader from more flexible operators.
If none of those constraints conflict with your trading style, HyroTrader is a credible option with a fee refund structure, a $1M scaling ceiling, and a 1-day payout unlock. If they do conflict — particularly the consistency rule for event-driven traders or the stop-loss requirement for certain EA architectures — the evaluation mechanics will work against you regardless of strategy quality.
For a broader view of the crypto prop firm landscape, see best crypto prop firms in 2026. For the full evaluation guide on how to screen any firm before paying, see how to evaluate a crypto prop firm.
Ready to get funded? View Velotrade challenge options →
If you're still deciding whether prop trading is the right path, how to become a funded crypto trader covers what the process looks like from challenge to first payout.
This review is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. HyroTrader's rules, fees, and structures are subject to change. Always verify current terms at HyroTrader.com before purchasing a challenge. Information reflects publicly available data as of April 2026.
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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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