FTMO US vs FTMO Global in 2026: Rules, Availability, and Which One You Can Join

Verified: Aug 28, 2025 · Built for 2026 searches

At a glance: FTMO US vs FTMO Global

Dimension	FTMO US (USA)	FTMO Global (International)
Availability	U.S. residents (18+, TIN); not accepted: Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina (subject to change).	Accepted globally apart from listed restrictions; U.S. persons not accepted on the global product.
Platform	MT5 only; netting/FIFO; no hedging.	MT4/MT5/cTrader/DXtrade (with restrictions for U.S. persons).
Risk Rules	Maximum Daily Loss 5%, Maximum Loss 10% (CE(S)T reset).	Maximum Daily Loss 5%, Maximum Loss 10% (same logic).
Profit Targets	Challenge 10%; Verification 5%.	Challenge 10%; Verification 5%.
Rewards	80% up to 90% after scaling; initial fee refunded with first reward withdrawal.	Commonly up to 90% on the FTMO Account (per program docs).
Assets	42 simulated FX pairs + 6 simulated assets (3 U.S. indices, Gold, Oil, BTC).	Broad set per platform (Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto).
Leverage	Up to 1:33 (fixed for FTMO US account type).	Varies by entity/account type.
Time Limits	No special time pressure beyond standard objectives.	No time limit on new accounts since the 2023 update.

Availability & eligibility: who can join which?

FTMO US — designed for U.S. residents

FTMO US accepts U.S. residents (or U.S.-incorporated entities) aged 18+ with a valid U.S. Tax Identification Number (e.g., SSN) and U.S. bank account for reward processing. Current state-level exceptions (not accepted): Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina. Always recheck the FTMO US FAQ for updates.

The U.S. program operates through a dedicated U.S. entity for Evaluation and an OANDA U.S. entity for the Rewards Account—both in a simulated environment.

FTMO Global — international product with a non-accepted list

FTMO Global’s “Who can join FTMO?” page lists categories and jurisdictions that are not accepted, including U.S. persons (nationals and residents), plus a long list of restricted countries and regions. The map and list are updated per internal compliance decisions.

Rules & risk: MDL/ML and profit targets (are they the same?)

Yes. Both FTMO US and FTMO Global use the core FTMO risk framework: Maximum Daily Loss (5%) and Maximum Loss (10%). In Step 1 (Challenge), your Profit Target is 10%, and in Step 2 (Verification) it’s 5%. MDL resets on the CE(S)T midnight snapshot of your balance; ML tracks your all-time equity drawdown from the initial balance. Understanding that reset and the difference between MDL and ML is key to position sizing and intra-day exposure.

Practical sizing tip (illustrative only)

On a $100,000 simulated account, your daily loss budget is $5,000 and total loss budget is $10,000. If your average risk per setup is 0.5% ($500), you can take ~10 losing setups in a day before reaching MDL (not advised), or 20 sequential losing setups before ML—purely theoretical, since strategy variance matters. Aim to keep total costs (spread/commissions/slippage) under ~10% of your planned daily risk to avoid eating into MDL.

Platforms & execution: MT5-only vs multi-platform

FTMO US

FTMO US trades on MetaTrader 5 (MT5) only, in netting mode that enforces FIFO and disallows hedging. For U.S. residents, this reflects U.S. market norms and simplifies risk.

FTMO Global

FTMO Global supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and DXtrade, though there are limitations for U.S. persons on certain platforms. Non-U.S. traders typically choose based on strategy tooling or automation needs.

What can you trade?

FTMO US instruments

FTMO US offers 42 simulated FX pairs plus 6 additional simulated assets (3 U.S. indices, Gold, Crude Oil, BTC). Instruments bear a .sim suffix and follow realistic pricing/expiry behavior.

FTMO Global instruments

On the global product, the instruments available match your platform selection and include Forex, indices, commodities, stocks, and crypto.

Payouts, scaling, and premium

FTMO US Rewards: After passing, you become eligible for 80% rewards, rising to up to 90% after scaling. The initial fee is refunded with your first reward withdrawal.

Scaling examples on FTMO US show how Max Daily Loss and Max Loss grow with higher balances (e.g., $400k → MDL $20k, ML $40k; later up to $800k → MDL $40k, ML $80k). Public stats on the U.S. site also highlight millions of customers served and cumulative rewards paid—useful proof points for due diligence.

Which route should you choose?

Choose FTMO US if:

• You’re a U.S. resident (or U.S.-incorporated entity) and meet TIN/W-9 requirements.
• Your state is accepted (not AR, DE, LA, MT, SC).
• You’re comfortable with MT5 netting/FIFO, no hedging.

Choose FTMO Global if:

• Your country is eligible on the Global list and you are not a U.S. person.
• You want platform choice (MT4, MT5, cTrader, DXtrade).
• You plan to use strategies reliant on hedging/multiple open positions per symbol (netting/FIFO in FTMO US would limit this).

Onboarding steps (both routes)

1. Confirm eligibility on the relevant FAQ (U.S. vs Global). If you’re in the U.S., read the FTMO US “Who can join” and state restrictions. Global traders: scan the non-accepted map/list.
2. Understand objectives: MDL 5%, ML 10%, Profit Targets (10% / 5%), and CE(S)T reset behavior.
3. Pick platform: FTMO US = MT5 only; Global = MT4/MT5/cTrader/DXtrade (with limitations for U.S. persons).
4. Try the Free Trial to validate execution/rules and tools before paying.
5. Start your Challenge (sizes from $10k to $200k on FTMO US; see Global configurator for options).

FAQs — FTMO US vs FTMO Global (2026)

Is FTMO really back in the U.S.?

Yes. In late August 2025, FTMO and OANDA announced a strategic partnership enabling FTMO US for U.S. residents.

Which U.S. states can’t join FTMO US right now?

As of the most recent public FAQ: Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina. Always check the official page for changes before you pay any fee.

Is the U.S. allowed on the global product?

No. The Global “Who can join” page lists U.S. persons among the non-accepted categories. Use the U.S. program instead.

Are the pass rules identical?

Yes—5% MDL, 10% ML; 10% Challenge target, 5% Verification target. Both routes are simulated environments with the same core risk logic.

What platform do I get in the U.S.?

MT5 only, netting/FIFO, no hedging. Global supports multiple platforms.

What assets are on FTMO US?

42 simulated FX pairs plus 6 simulated assets (3 U.S. indices, Gold, Oil, BTC).

How much can I receive as rewards?

FTMO US: 80% up to 90% after scaling; fee refunded with first reward withdrawal. Global program materials commonly reference up to 90% rewards on the FTMO Account.

Official resources

• FTMO US — Who can join FTMO US?
• FTMO US — How it Works (objectives, rewards, refund)
• FTMO Global — Who can join FTMO?
• FTMO Global — Platforms
• OANDA Press — FTMO partnership
• FTMO Press — U.S. partnership

Disclosure: All FTMO programs operate in a simulated environment; rewards are based on simulated profits as described by FTMO. This article includes a partner affiliate link.