AquaFunded Prop Firm Review – What You Need to Know in 2025
Founded in December 2023, AquaFunded is a proprietary trading firm headquartered in Dubai, UAE, operated by Aqua Funded FZCO and led by CEO Jason Blax, alongside co-founders Franco Crean and Sean Bainton. It offers funded accounts from $2,500 to $200,000, scalable to $2 million, with profit splits up to 95%. Traders can access forex, indices, commodities, metals, and cryptocurrencies on platforms like MatchTrader, TradeLocker, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), partnered with brokers such as ThinkMarkets and Purple Trading Seychelles. With over $2.6 million paid out to 34,000+ traders and a 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating from 147 reviews, AquaFunded emphasizes flexible challenges, transparency, and philanthropy (5% of profits support ocean cleanup).
AquaFunded Best suited for:
- Beginners: Affordable challenges starting at $45 and a try-before-you-buy option. Experienced Traders: Instant funding and up to 95% splits for high capital access.
- Crypto & Forex Traders: Supports diverse assets with high leverage (up to 1:100).
- Algo Traders: Allows Expert Advisors (EAs) and flexible trading strategies.
Pros & Cons of AquaFunded
Pros
High Profit Splits: Up to 95% (80% default), with 100% split options via add-ons. Flexible Funding Models: One-step, two-step, three-step, and instant funding (Standard/Pro) with no time limits. Diverse Platforms: MatchTrader, TradeLocker, MT4, MT5 with over 100 instruments. Fast Payouts: Bi-weekly, processed in 1-2 days, with a 48-hour guarantee or $500 compensation.- Refundable Fees: Challenge fees refunded with first payout, up to 120% with add-ons.
- Philanthropic Mission: 5% of profits fund ocean cleanup and clean water initiatives, verified by quarterly reports.
Cons
Only MetaTrader platforms available:- Weekend trading not available on most accounts:
- Payout timelines may vary based on verification speed:
How Does AquaFunded Work? (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Select Account & Challenge: Choose one-step, two-step, three-step, or instant funding ($2,500-$200,000).
- Pass Evaluation: Meet profit targets (5%-10% per phase) with no minimum trading days (5 days for some programs).
- Get Funded: Trade a funded demo account after KYC verification.
- Earn Profits: Receive 80%-95% profit splits, paid bi-weekly (first payout after 14 days).
AquaFunded Account Types & Funding Options
- Account Sizes: $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $200,000
- max $400,000 allocation, scalable to $2 million. Funding Models: One-Step Challenge: 10% profit target, 3% daily/6% trailing drawdown, $65-$1,099 fee. Two-Step Standard: 10% (Phase 1) + 5% (Phase 2), 5% daily/8% max drawdown, $34-$999 fee. Two-Step Pro: 8% + 5%, 5% daily/8% max drawdown, $49-$1,099 fee, 100% split option. Three-Step Challenge: 5% per phase, 3% daily/6% trailing drawdown, $59-$999 fee. Instant Funding (Standard/Pro): No evaluation, 3% daily/6% max drawdown, $100-$1,999 fee. Profit Splits: 80% default, up to 95% (100% with add-on). Fees: $34-$1,999, refunded with first payout
- discounts like 30% off or “AQUA” for 20% off.:
Profit Targets & Payouts
- Profit Targets: 5%-10% per phase (one-step: 10%
- two-step: 8%-10% + 5%
- three-step: 5% x 3)
- none for instant funding.
- Payouts: Via Rise, crypto (BTC, ETH, USDC), or bank transfer, processed in 1-2 days, bi-weekly (first after 14 days, 7 days with 95% split)
- minimum $100.
- Drawdown Limits: 3%-5% daily, 6%-8% max (static or trailing).
- Comparison: AquaFunded’s 3%-5% daily drawdown is more flexible than FunderPro (5%), but its bi-weekly payouts are slower than SFX Funded’s 10-day cycle.
Leverage & Trading Conditions
- Leverage: Up to 1:100 (forex, metals), 1:10 (indices, commodities), 1:2 (crypto).
- Commissions: $5/lot for forex and commodities
- commission-free for indices and crypto.
Allowed & Restricted Trading Strategies
Allowed Trading Strategies
- Scalping, swing trading, hedging (same account), martingale, news trading (evaluation phase only), Expert Advisors (EAs), overnight/weekend trading, copy trading (between AquaFunded accounts or personal external accounts).
Restricted Trading Strategies
- High-frequency trading (HFT)
- arbitrage
- latency trading
- cross-account copy trading
- exploiting platform errors
- news trading 5 minutes before/after high-impact events (funded phase).
How Long Does It Take to Get Funded by AquaFunded?
- Challenge Duration: Unlimited, with no minimum trading days (5 days for one-/two-step challenges). Evaluation Speed: One-step can take days
- two-/three-step may take 1-3 weeks. User Experiences: Fast funding (24-48 hours post-KYC).
How Long Has AquaFunded Been Around?
Since December 2023, AquaFunded has paid out over $2.6 million to 34,000+ traders. Its 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating and partnerships with ThinkMarkets and Purple Trading Seychelles add credibility, but its short history and limited 147 reviews compared to FTMO (2014) suggest caution. Philanthropic efforts (5% of profits for ocean cleanup) are verified via quarterly reports.
Who Owns AquaFunded? (Founder & Company Background)
Founders: Jason Blax (CEO), Franco Crean, Sean Bainton. Headquarters: Dubai, UAE (Aqua Funded FZCO, Dubai Silicon Oasis). Mission & Vision: Empower traders with capital, transparency, and philanthropy for sustainable success. Regulatory Status: Unregulated prop firm, partners with regulated brokers (ThinkMarkets, Purple Trading Seychelles).
What Can You Trade with AquaFunded? (Supported Markets & Assets)
Markets: Forex (major, minor, exotic pairs), indices (S&P 500, NASDAQ), commodities (oil), metals (gold, silver), cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH). Assets: Over 100 instruments across 5 classes. Restrictions: No HFT, arbitrage, or news trading 5 minutes before/after high-impact events (funded phase), restricted countries include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Pakistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Kenya, Myanmar.
Does AquaFunded Offer Education & Trader Support? (Learning Resources & Coaching)
Limited, basic FAQs and trading guides, no webinars or formal academy. Trader Development: Real-time dashboard analytics for risk and performance tracking. Coaching Programs: None, relies on community support. Community & Networking: Active Discord, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Telegram for updates and trader interaction (@AquaFunded on X).
How Good is AquaFunded’s Customer Support? (Response Time & Availability)
Support Channels: Live chat, email (support@aquafunded.com (mailto:support@aquafunded.com)), Discord, social media. Response Times: Typically within minutes via live chat, email responses may take 12-24 hours. Operating Hours: 24/7 for live chat and Discord, response times vary. Trader Feedback: Positive for quick, professional support, negative for occasional delays.
Is AquaFunded a Scam or a Legit Prop Firm?
AquaFunded is legitimate, verified by UAE registration (Aqua Funded FZCO), a 4.4/5 Trustpilot rating from 147 reviews, and over $2.6 million in payouts to 34,000+ traders. Its partnerships with ThinkMarkets and Purple Trading Seychelles, refundable fees, and philanthropy (5% of profits for ocean cleanup) enhance credibility. Traders praise fast payouts and no hidden rules.
Alternatives to AquaFunded – How It Compares
- FTMO: Higher trust score (4.9/5), 90% split, two-step evaluation, regulated brokers, broader review base, but stricter rules. FundedNext: 95% split, MT4/MT5/cTrader, scaling to $4 million, on-demand payouts, less strict consistency rules. SFX Funded: Up to 100% split, instant funding, 10-day payouts, but stricter 3% drawdown.
Final Verdict – Should You Trade with AquaFunded?
AquaFunded is a compelling choice for forex and crypto traders seeking affordable challenges ($34+), high profit splits (up to 95%), and flexible funding models (one-/two-/three-step, instant). Its platform variety (MatchTrader, TradeLocker, MT4/MT5), refundable fees, and philanthropy (ocean cleanup) make it attractive, while fast payouts (48-hour guarantee) and EA support appeal to diverse traders. However, its unregulated status, short history since December 2023, limited Trustpilot reviews, and occasional pay out issues (e.g., “inconsistent trading”) warrant caution compared to FTMO or FundedNext. Traders should test with smaller accounts, use discounts and monitor X feedback ( @AquaFunded ) before committing in 2025, balancing its innovative features and transparency against potential risks.
