FTMO US MT5 Setup & Execution - The Payout Report

Set up FTMO US on MT5 (fast): login, netting/FIFO, order flow & costs

U.S. account type, MT5-only. Follow this checklist to go live on your Challenge cleanly.

Updated: August 27, 2025 · U.S. MT5 configuration

Snapshot: FTMO US is MT5-only with a netting account (FIFO applies) and leverage up to 1:33. U.S. account type allows overnight/weekend holding and news trading. Trading hours & specs live on the Simulated Assets page; platform changes appear on Trading Updates. Fee refunded with your first Reward. Site stats show 3M+ customers and $400M+ paid globally (Trustpilot 4.8).

What’s unique about FTMO US on MT5?

MT5-only: You can’t switch platforms during Evaluation or in the FTMO Rewards Account. US account type
Netting & FIFO: One net position per symbol; closes reduce the oldest volume first. Hedging is not available in netting mode.
Execution model: Fill-or-Kill (FOK) logic aligns fills with visible depth; no partial fills if full size isn’t available at the price.
Costs: FX ≈ $5/lot (100k) round-trip; indices/commodities/metals ≈ 0.0025% per side of notional (~$5 per $100k round-trip). Swaps charged daily on notional.
Leverage: up to 1:33 (≈3% margin) on selected instruments; check each symbol’s contract in-platform.

Step 1 — Install & log in to MT5 (desktop / web / mobile)

Install MT5: Use the official FTMO MT5 links (desktop/web/mobile).
Find the correct server: In MT5, search for OANDA Corporation and refresh to list all available servers. Pick the FTMO US server shown in your account email.
Use the master password: A read-only (investor) password won’t let you trade.

Stuck at login (server not visible / trading disabled)? Re-search “OANDA Corporation”, then retry with your master password. Start or retry your Challenge.

Step 2 — Account specs that drive your risk

Leverage: up to 1:33 (applies to simulated capital).
Trading hours: visible on the Simulated Assets page and inside MT5; check Trading Updates for maintenance/holiday changes.
Overnight & weekend: allowed on the U.S. account type (futures must be closed before expiry; auto-close one hour before expiry if you forget).
News trading: allowed on the U.S. account type.

Step 3 — Order types & netting behavior (MT5)

Order / action	How it works here	Tips
Market	Executed with FOK logic; if full size isn’t available at a single price, order is rejected	Glance at DOM depth before hitting buy/sell
Limit / Stop / Stop-Limit	Pending orders trigger into market with FOK checks	Use reasonable sizes around news/liquidity pockets
TP/SL	Attached at position level (netting)	Use partial close sizes to trim exposure cleanly
Trailing stop	Client-side (needs terminal running)	For server-side behavior, manage with staged SLs
Multiple entries same symbol	They aggregate into one net position	Plan adds/reductions; FIFO closes oldest volume first

Costs: commissions, spreads & swaps — quick math

Instrument	Example size	Commission guide	Swap (illustrative)	Notes
EURUSD.sim	0.50 lot (50k)	≈ $2.50 RT (FX ≈ $5/100k RT)	Charged daily on notional	Keep all-in cost ≪ planned stop value
US100_current.sim	$100k notional	≈ $5 RT (0.0025% per side)	Varies by symbol & holding time	Check contract spec in MT5
XAUUSD.sim	1.00 lot (100 oz)	≈ $5 per $100k notional RT	Daily swap on notional	Spread widens around news/rolls

Use MT5’s Symbol specifications to confirm tick size/value, min lot, trading session, and swap method for each symbol.

Symbols, sessions & where to check hours

Most instruments carry a “.sim” suffix (e.g., EURUSD.sim, US100_current.sim) to clearly mark the simulated environment. Core U.S. index sessions align with futures hours and may have maintenance windows. Crypto shows weekend sessions with platform-maintenance breaks.

What to verify	Where	Why
Trading hours & rolls	Simulated Assets page; Trading Updates	Holiday changes and maintenance are posted there
Tick value, min lot, margin	MT5 → Symbol → Specifications	Positions that fit your stops & leverage
Futures expiries	Trading Updates; contract specs	Futures are auto-closed 1h before expiry if you forget

Risk guardrails you must respect (U.S.)

Profit Target (Phase 1): 10% of initial balance.
Maximum Daily Loss: 5% of initial balance (sum of closed + floating for the day).
Maximum Loss: 10% of initial balance (equity-based).

Tip: Stop for the day at ~4% down to avoid MDL breaches; plan your reward requests when flat & in profit (first one possible from Day-14).

Execution quality & slippage — how to read DOM

DOM (Depth of Market) in MT5 shows available volume per price level. With the FOK model, orders print at the level where full size is matched; insufficient size = rejection (no partial). Slippage can still occur around fast moves; size accordingly and avoid sweeping thin levels.

Want the 90% reward path and a fee refund on first Reward? Pass cleanly, then scale. Start FTMO US (affiliate).

Set once, use forever — a quick MT5 checklist

Hotkeys for lot up/down & partial closes (since netting aggregates entries).
Default SL/TP templates (protects you from fat-finger entries).
DOM visible for active symbols; watch depth before news.
Time zone note: server is typically GMT+2 (+DST) — align your journal.
App Suite by FX Blue: position sizing, dashboards, journal helpers inside MT5.

U.S.-specific FAQs

Can I hold trades overnight or over the weekend?

Yes — the U.S. account type allows both. Futures must be flat before contract expiry (auto-close 1h before expiry if not).

Is news trading allowed?

Yes — on the U.S. account type you can place simulated trades during news events.

Where do I find exact trading hours?

Inside MT5 (Symbol specifications) and on the Simulated Assets page. Check Trading Updates weekly for maintenance/holiday changes.

What are typical commissions?

Guidance: FX ≈ $5 per 100k notional round-trip; indices/commodities/metals ≈ 0.0025% per side of notional (≈ $5 per $100k RT). Swaps accrue daily on notional.

Any official stats worth citing?

FTMO’s site displays 3M+ customers and $400M+ paid in rewards with a 4.8 Trustpilot score.

Ready to trade FTMO US on MT5 like a pro?

Lock your setup, respect MDL/ML, claim clean rewards, and scale with confidence.

Start the FTMO US Challenge

Official resources

Disclosure: FTMO US provides a simulated, educational environment. Performance in simulation does not guarantee live-market results. This article includes a partner affiliate link.