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ExploreThe5ers and Velotrade sit at opposite ends of the prop trading spectrum. The5ers is a forex-first firm with a decade of history, several evaluation programs, and a scaling path toward large capital. Velotrade is a crypto-native, multi-asset firm built around a static maximum drawdown on every plan. On paper they barely overlap, and that is exactly what makes the choice clear once you know how you trade.
The deciding factors are track record versus rule structure. The5ers brings longevity and trust that few firms can claim, along with a menu of programs each with its own daily loss limits. Velotrade brings 24/7 crypto markets, a static floor that never trails, and no consistency rule. This comparison puts them side by side so you can pick the one that fits.
Quick answer: The5ers wins on track record and structured scaling: founded in 2016, a decade of payout history, multiple programs, and a path toward $4 million. Velotrade wins on 24/7 fit and simplicity: crypto-native multi-asset markets, a static maximum drawdown on every plan, and no consistency rule. Neither is strictly better. If you trade forex and value proven longevity, The5ers leads. If you trade crypto and want an always-on market with a floor that never moves, Velotrade leads.
Highlights of this article
- The5ers is a forex-first firm founded in 2016 with a decade-long track record; Velotrade is a crypto-native multi-asset firm
- The5ers runs multiple programs (Hyper Growth, High Stakes, Bootcamp), each with its own limits; Velotrade offers three challenge types, all with a static drawdown
- Both firms use a daily loss limit plus a maximum loss; Velotrade's maximum loss is static on every plan, with no consistency rule
- The5ers profit splits run 75% to 100% depending on the program, with bi-weekly payouts; Velotrade pays up to 90% from day one, weekly after the first 14 days
- The5ers scales toward $4 million over time and is cheaper to enter (High Stakes $5K for $35); Velotrade offers 24/7 crypto markets
- The5ers' decade of longevity is a genuine trust signal; Velotrade launched its crypto prop product in 2026
Quick Comparison: The5ers vs Velotrade
| The5ers | Velotrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Forex-first; currencies, metals, indices, some crypto | Crypto-first; forex, stocks, indices, commodities |
| Drawdown model | Daily loss limit plus per-program max loss | Daily loss limit plus static maximum drawdown |
| Daily loss limit | 3 to 5% by program | 3 to 5% by plan |
| Consistency rule | Program-dependent | None on funded accounts |
| Profit split | 75% to 100% by program | Up to 90% from day 1 |
| Payouts | Bi-weekly | First after 14 days, then weekly |
| Cheapest $5K entry | $35 (High Stakes) | $40 (PRO 1-Step) |
| Platforms | MT-based platforms | DXtrade only |
| Track record | Since 2016, decade of payouts, scaling to $4M | Since 2026 (crypto prop launch) |
Drawdown and Daily Loss Limits
Both firms combine a daily loss limit with an overall maximum loss. The5ers sets them per program. Hyper Growth pairs a 10% target with tighter daily and max-loss rules for a fast route to funding, High Stakes runs a 5% daily loss and 10% overall max loss, and Bootcamp uses a low target spread across three steps with a 3% daily pause at the funded stage. The daily limit means a single bad session can end a run even if your overall account is healthy.
Velotrade also uses a daily loss limit (5% on the 2-Step, 4% on the 1-Step, 3% on PRO), paired with a static maximum drawdown fixed from your starting balance that never trails up against you. There is also no consistency rule, so you can concentrate profit on your best sessions. The difference is that Velotrade's floor behaves the same on every plan.
For why the calculation method matters as much as the percentage, see static maximum drawdown explained. Neither is universally better: The5ers gives you more program shapes to choose from, while Velotrade keeps the drawdown model identical across its plans.
Markets: Forex-First vs Crypto-Native 24/7
The5ers is forex-first. It covers currencies, metals, indices, and some crypto, and its programs are built around forex trading. For a forex trader, that is exactly the right fit.
Velotrade is built for the 24/7 crypto market. It funds crypto, forex, stocks, indices, and commodities on markets that run around the clock, so weekend holding and news trading are part of the default rule set rather than an exception. For a trader whose edge is in crypto, where the market never closes and weekends are active, that always-on structure matters. To see where each sits among peers, compare the field in the best crypto prop firms.
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Program Structure vs One Rule Set
The5ers runs its evaluations as distinct programs rather than one challenge, so the rules depend on which you pick. Hyper Growth is a one-step, fast route to funding with a 10% target. High Stakes is a two-step evaluation with 10% then 5% targets. Bootcamp spreads a lower 6% target across three steps, making it the most survivable per attempt. Each program has its own targets, daily limits, and drawdowns, which gives you the flexibility to match cost and structure to your style at the cost of more complexity.
Velotrade takes the simpler path: three challenge types, all with a static drawdown, applied consistently across every asset. There is no menu of program formats to compare, and the same rules apply whether you trade crypto or forex. That trades The5ers' flexibility for predictability. If you want to fine-tune the number of steps and the rule profile, The5ers gives you the levers; if you want one clean structure you can learn once, Velotrade is the cleaner fit.

Profit Split, Fees, and Payouts
The5ers' profit splits depend on the program: Hyper Growth pays 75% up to $300,000, High Stakes starts at 80%, and splits climb toward 100% as the account scales. Funded traders withdraw on a bi-weekly cycle. Entry is cheap: Bootcamp starts with a $22 entry fee (the rest paid on success), High Stakes costs $35 for $5,000 and $405 for $100,000, and Hyper Growth $52 for $5,000. High Stakes fees are refunded once you are funded.
Velotrade offers up to 90% from your first payout with no tier to climb. For a trader who wants the top rate from day one, that is the more direct route. For a trader building toward the largest capital and a 100% split over time, The5ers' scaling model rewards patience. Both are reasonable, and the better one depends on whether you optimise for the split now or the ceiling later.
Platforms
The5ers runs on MetaTrader-based platforms, familiar to most forex traders and compatible with existing setups, indicators, and allowed automation. Velotrade runs exclusively on DXtrade. If you are committed to a MetaTrader workflow, The5ers has the edge; if you are happy on DXtrade, Velotrade's single-platform focus keeps the rule set consistent across every asset. Confirm your strategy and any automation are allowed at either firm before purchasing.
Track Record and Background
The5ers' longevity is its biggest edge, and it is a real one. Funding traders since 2016, it is one of the longest-operating firms in an industry where most competitors are only a few years old. That decade of reliable payouts, an "Excellent" Trustpilot rating around 4.8 out of 5 across tens of thousands of reviews, and industry recognition add up to a trust signal newer firms simply cannot match. In a category where trust is scarce, that history is worth paying attention to.
Velotrade's counterpoint is a documented institutional team background and a rule set built specifically for crypto's 24/7 markets, though its crypto prop product launched in 2026 and does not carry the same accumulated payout history. Where The5ers leads on operating longevity and proven payouts, Velotrade leads on crypto-native rules and an always-on market. For the deeper firm profile, see the The5ers review.
What Each Firm Suits Best
Choose The5ers if:
- You trade forex, metals, or indices and value a proven, decade-long track record above all
- You want a structured scaling path toward large capital, up to a reported $4 million
- You prefer choosing among multiple programs to match cost and rule structure to your style
- You want the cheapest possible entry (High Stakes $5K for $35, or Bootcamp from $22)
Choose Velotrade if:
- You trade crypto and want a 24/7 market with weekend and news trading in the default rule set
- You want a static maximum drawdown on every plan, with the same model whichever plan you buy
- You want no consistency rule
- You want up to 90% profit split from your first payout and are comfortable on DXtrade
Which Prop Firm Is Better?
There is no single winner. The5ers wins on track record and scaling: a decade of payouts since 2016, strong independent ratings, multiple programs to choose from, and a path toward $4 million in capital. Velotrade wins on 24/7 fit and simplicity: crypto-native multi-asset markets, a static drawdown on every plan, no consistency rule, and up to 90% from day one.
Decide on how you trade. If you trade forex on weekday hours and want proven longevity with a structured scaling path, The5ers is the stronger package. If you trade crypto and want an always-on market with a static floor on every plan, you can start a Velotrade challenge for the better fit. Neither firm is strictly better than the other, so match the firm to the markets and rule structure you prefer, and verify the current terms directly before purchasing. Compare the wider field in top prop firms in 2026, and estimate your odds of passing either evaluation with the challenge pass calculator.
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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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