Considering The5ers? See how Velotrade compares
ExploreThe5ers is one of the oldest and most trusted prop firms in the industry, funding traders since 2016, a decade of track record that very few firms in this space can claim. It is forex-first, program-heavy, and built around long-term scaling rather than quick payouts. This review covers what The5ers actually offers in 2026, how its evaluation programs differ, and how it compares for traders deciding between a legacy forex firm and a crypto-native one.
Quick answer: The5ers is an established forex-first prop firm (founded 2016) with several evaluation programs, Hyper Growth, High Stakes, and Bootcamp being the main ones, account sizes up to $250,000, and scaling toward $4 million. Profit splits run from 50% or 80% up to 100% depending on the program, with bi-weekly payouts. Its main strengths are longevity and trust; its trade-off is a forex-first, multi-program structure where the rules vary by program.
The5ers at a glance (verified October 2026)
| Official site | the5ers.com |
| Price from | $19 (High Stakes $2.5K); Bootcamp from $22 |
| Profit split | From 50% or 80% up to 100%, depending on the program |
| Drawdown | Static max loss per program (10% on High Stakes) |
| Payouts | Bi-weekly (every 14 days), $150 minimum |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 from 39,745 reviews (as of Oct 12, 2026) |
| Platforms | MT5 |
| Markets | Forex, metals, indices (CFDs), plus a new Futures product |
Highlights of this article
- The5ers is a forex-first prop firm founded in 2016, one of the longest-running and most trusted in the industry
- Its main evaluation programs are Hyper Growth (one step), High Stakes (two steps), and Bootcamp (three steps), plus scaling programs
- Account sizes reach $250,000, with a scaling path toward $4 million for consistent traders
- Profit splits run from 50% or 80% up to 100% depending on the program, with bi-weekly payouts
- Each program has its own daily loss and max-loss parameters, so the rules vary depending on which one you pick
What Is The5ers
The5ers is a proprietary trading firm founded in 2016 and one of the longest-operating firms in the industry, a genuine differentiator in a space where most competitors are only a few years old. It funds forex-first traders across currencies, metals, and indices (CFDs on MT5), has recently added a separate Futures product, positions itself around long-term funded careers and scaling, and has a strong reputation and independent ratings built over its decade of operation. That track record is its single biggest strength: a firm that has paid traders reliably for years carries a trust signal newer firms cannot match.
The Programs, Compared
The5ers runs its evaluations as distinct programs rather than one challenge, so the rules depend on which you pick. The main ones in 2026 are:
| Program | Steps | Profit target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyper Growth | One step | 10% (on the $25k plan) | Tighter daily and max-loss limits; fast route to funded |
| High Stakes | Two steps | 10% then 5% | 10% maximum loss; standard two-phase structure |
| Bootcamp | Three steps | 6% | The most survivable per attempt: a low target spread across three steps |
| Pro Growth / scaling | Varies | Varies | Long-term scaling path toward larger capital |
Confirm the exact targets, daily limits, and drawdowns for the specific program and account size on the firm's site, as The5ers revises these periodically. The through-line is that most of its programs use daily loss limits, and the more forgiving programs like Bootcamp trade a longer evaluation for more survivability.
Account Sizes and Pricing
Because The5ers runs separate programs rather than one challenge, pricing depends on which program and account size you pick rather than a single flat fee. The table below shows representative entry figures and the core rules for each main program. Prices below are list prices from the5ers.com in September 2026, before promotions; confirm current terms before buying.
| Program (typical sizes) | Entry price (approx.) | Profit target | Daily loss / max loss | Key note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bootcamp (three steps, then a funded Pro Trader account) | $22 entry, $50 more on success | 6% per step | 5% max loss per step; funded: 3% daily pause, 4% max loss | Lowest cost and most survivable per attempt; 1:30 leverage |
| High Stakes ($2.5k to $100k) | $19 ($2.5k), $35 ($5k), $69 ($10k), $176 ($25k), $249 ($50k), $405 ($100k) | 10% then 5% | 5% daily loss, 10% overall max loss | Two steps, 1:100 leverage, 80% to 100% split, fee refunded when funded |
| Hyper Growth ($5k to $50k, up to $40k combined) | $52 ($5k), $98 ($10k), $189 ($20k), $329 ($50k) | 10%, one step | 3% daily loss, 6% stop-out | Fastest route to funded; account doubles on each 10% milestone; split reportedly starts at 50% |
Across all three, evaluations have no calendar deadline (only a 30-day activity requirement), overnight holds are allowed, and stop-losses are required. Profit splits scale with account growth, and funded traders withdraw on a bi-weekly cycle (every 14 days, $150 minimum). Figures here are drawn from The5ers' published program pages; treat the prices as approximate and verify the live tier you want.
Rules, Drawdown, and Scaling
The5ers' programs generally combine a daily loss limit with an overall maximum loss, and the parameters vary by program. Hyper Growth, for example, pairs a 10% target with tighter daily and max-loss rules for a fast route to funding, while Bootcamp spreads a lower 6% target across three steps, which makes it more survivable per attempt. Account sizes reach $250,000, and consistent traders can scale toward $4 million over time, which is one of the firm's core selling points for career-minded traders.
Profit Splits and Payouts
Profit splits start from 50% (Hyper Growth, reportedly) or 80% (High Stakes), rising toward 100% as the account scales. Once funded, traders can request payouts on a bi-weekly cycle (every 14 days) with a $150 minimum. The combination of a decade-long payout history, industry recognition, and a clear scaling path is what has kept The5ers near the top of trust-based rankings for years, and it is the main reason to choose it over a newer firm.
The5ers pros and cons
Every prop firm involves trade-offs. Here is a balanced view of where The5ers is strong and where it may not fit.
Pros
- A decade-long track record since 2016, one of the longest in the industry and a rare trust signal
- 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 39,745 reviews (as of Oct 12, 2026)
- Multiple programs, so you can match cost, number of steps, and rules to your style
- No calendar deadline on evaluations, only a light 30-day activity requirement
- A clear scaling path toward larger capital for consistent traders
- Profit splits that climb toward 100% as accounts grow, with bi-weekly payouts
Cons
- Forex-first scope; not crypto-native and not built for 24/7 markets
- Daily loss and max-loss parameters differ by program, so you have a different rule set to track per program
- Stop-losses are mandatory on every position, which not all styles prefer
- A multi-program structure is less uniform than one simple rule set
- Some reviews report payout processing that runs longer than the headline bi-weekly window
- Platform choice is limited to MT5, fewer options than some firms offer
Is The5ers legit or a scam?
The5ers is a legitimate, established prop firm, not a scam. It has funded traders since 2016, one of the longest track records in an industry where most competitors are only a few years old, and that longevity is the clearest trust signal here. On Trustpilot it carries 4.7 out of 5 from 39,745 reviews (as of Oct 12, 2026), an "Excellent" rating that few firms in this space sustain at that volume.
The recurring praise is consistent: reliable, on-time payouts, clear rules, and responsive support. The recurring complaints are worth knowing too, with some traders reporting platform connection issues and payout processing that runs longer than the advertised window. Neither pattern points to withheld funds, and the balance of evidence, a paid, well-rated, decade-old firm, supports treating The5ers as trustworthy. As always, confirm current program rules and payout terms on the5ers.com before buying.
Who The5ers Suits
The5ers suits forex-first traders who value a long, proven track record above all else, want a structured scaling path toward large capital, and are comfortable choosing among several programs with different rules. It is a weaker fit for traders who want crypto-native, 24/7 markets, or one consistent rule framework (static drawdown, no consistency rule) across every plan. If you are still comparing forex-first firms, see the best forex prop firms and, for UK residents, the best prop firms in the UK.
The Alternative: Crypto-Native, Static Drawdown, No Consistency Rule
If the forex-first scope is the sticking point, a crypto-native firm takes a different approach. Velotrade funds crypto (24/7), forex, stocks, indices, and commodities, with a static maximum drawdown fixed from your starting balance on every plan and no consistency rule. That is a simpler, more predictable structure than a menu of programs each with its own daily rules, though it comes without The5ers' decade-long track record.
Neither is strictly better: The5ers offers proven longevity and forex-first scaling, while Velotrade offers crypto-native 24/7 markets and one consistent rule framework across every plan. For a full side-by-side, see The5ers vs Velotrade. Compare the field in top prop firms in 2026 and the best crypto prop firms, and estimate your odds of passing first with the challenge pass calculator.
How The5ers compares
This review is published by Velotrade, so here is where the two differ, including where The5ers is stronger.
| Rule | The5ers | Velotrade |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Forex, metals, indices (CFDs), plus futures | Crypto, forex, commodities, index ETFs, stocks |
| Rule structure | Daily and max loss vary by program | Static drawdown on every plan, no consistency rule |
| Profit split | From 50% or 80% up to 100%, by program | 80%, or 90% with a paid add-on |
| Payouts | Bi-weekly, $150 minimum | First after 14 days, then weekly |
Where The5ers is stronger
- Funding traders since 2016, a decade-long track record
- Accounts up to $250K with a scaling path toward $4M
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Velotrade was founded in Hong Kong in 2016 by a team from JP Morgan, Dresdner Kleinwort and Bank of America, has paid out over $2.5 billion to its trade-finance clients, and has been featured in Bloomberg, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and on Nasdaq. Its prop trading evaluations are simulated and educational.
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