FTMO Futures’ end-of-day trailing drawdown is not a static loss limit. FTMO says the active limit is set from the highest prior day-end balance, then equity can still breach that limit at any point during the next trading day.
That distinction matters because “end of day” describes when the reference balance is updated, not when risk disappears. FTMO announced its separate Futures product on September 17, 2026; the live rule page, rather than a launch headline or comparison table, is the document to check before relying on a rule. LeapRate independently reported the beta launch, while FTMO’s own Futures rules remain the source for the calculation.
The rule in one line
FTMO defines the Maximum Drawdown Limit as the highest account balance recorded at the close of a preceding trading day, or the initial simulated capital if that is higher, minus the applicable maximum-drawdown amount. Its rules say the limit can rise but cannot fall, and it locks permanently at the initial simulated capital once it gets there.
A trailing drawdown is a loss floor that follows a reference high upward and does not retreat after a lower close. The unusual detail here is the reference point: FTMO Futures uses prior end-of-day balances for the next calculation, yet tests the account’s equity against the already-active floor throughout the day. FTMO defines equity there as balance plus open-position profit and loss, less commissions.
The published $50,000 example
FTMO’s rules include a worked example with $50,000 of initial simulated capital and a $2,000 maximum-drawdown amount. The point of the example is the sequence, not a template for sizing another account.
| Trading day | Prior highest day-end balance used | Calculation | Active limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | $50,000 | $50,000 - $2,000 | $48,000 |
| Day 2, after a $51,000 Day 1 close | $51,000 | $51,000 - $2,000 | $49,000 |
| Day 3, after a $50,500 Day 2 close | $51,000 | $51,000 - $2,000 | $49,000 |
| Day 4, after a $52,500 Day 3 close | $52,500 | calculated limit exceeds initial capital | $50,000 |
The $50,500 close does not lower the Day 3 limit because FTMO’s formula uses the highest prior closing balance. On Day 4, the calculation would put the limit above $50,000, so the rule locks it at $50,000 instead. Those figures and the sequence are FTMO’s published illustration, not a forecast or a statement about every plan.
Four things to record before you judge the buffer
A rules page is easier to reason about when the moving parts are written down separately.
- Clock: FTMO defines a trading day as 6:00 p.m. ET to 4:10 p.m. ET on the following calendar day. Record the relevant timezone rather than assuming that a calendar date or a local platform clock is the rule boundary.
- Reference balance: here it is the highest balance at a prior day close, with initial simulated capital used if it is higher. A rule that references balance is not automatically the same as one that references intraday equity highs.
- Breach measure: FTMO says equity hitting the Maximum Drawdown Limit violates the rule. Open profit and loss and commissions therefore remain relevant before the next end-of-day update.
- Lock point: once the limit reaches initial simulated capital, FTMO says it locks there for the remaining evaluation unless the stated reset or breach conditions apply. A trailing rule with a lock can behave differently from one that continues to trail indefinitely.
This is the same discipline needed for any firm’s loss rules: separate the calculation clock from the breach clock. For the wider distinction between an account balance and floating equity, see balance versus equity drawdown for prop traders. For the broader mechanics of a moving loss floor, see prop-firm trailing drawdown explained.
What this rule does not establish
The rule description does not establish that a futures account is suitable, that a trader will receive a payout, or that a particular strategy will survive the limit. FTMO’s press release describes Growth and Pro plans and says both use an end-of-day trailing drawdown that locks at starting balance; its live Futures overview and trading objectives should be checked for the current plan terms.
FTMO’s Futures product is separate from its CFD offering. That means older discussions of an FTMO Challenge should not be treated as a substitute for the Futures rules. Terms, availability and product parameters can change, and FTMO explicitly states that its described accounts are simulated environments.
The practical limitation is plain: a clean rule formula is not evidence about execution, fees, a trader’s decisions, or results. It only tells you which account path is allowed. A risk plan that does not reproduce the provider’s clock, reference balance, equity test and lock point is testing a different rule.
Frequently asked questions
Does FTMO Futures check drawdown only at the end of the day?
No. FTMO says the limit is calculated using prior end-of-day balances, but equity hitting the active Maximum Drawdown Limit at any point violates the rule. The calculation cadence and the breach test are different parts of the rule.
When does the FTMO Futures trailing limit stop moving?
FTMO says the limit locks permanently at initial simulated capital once the calculated limit reaches that figure. Check the live trading-objectives page for the account and plan you are considering because terms can change.
Is an end-of-day trailing drawdown the same as a static drawdown?
No. FTMO’s published formula can move the limit upward after a higher day-end balance until it locks at initial simulated capital. A static limit does not use that moving high-water-mark calculation.
A drawdown rule is not understood when you know its label. It is understood when its clock, reference balance, breach measure and lock point are written down.