The Trading Pit is a Liechtenstein-registered prop firm offering both CFD and futures challenges, with profit splits up to 80% and a unique "Level 10 Hedge Fund Path" for top performers. It's a solid mid-tier option, but a controversial activation fee and aggressive hedging detection have frustrated some traders.
TL;DR: A legitimate firm with both CFD and futures programs, decent payout speeds (2-3 business days), and an interesting long-term scaling path. But the hidden activation fee and strict inter-account hedging rules knock it down a few pegs. Best for traders who want a single firm covering multiple asset classes.
How The Trading Pit Works
The Trading Pit AG was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. CEO Thomas Heyden leads the operation, which has grown to over 10,000 active monthly accounts and 450,000+ executed trades.
The firm runs a standard challenge model: you pay a fee, trade a simulated account within specific risk parameters, and if you hit the profit target without breaching drawdown limits, you graduate to a funded account. What sets The Trading Pit apart from most competitors is that it offers both CFD and futures challenges under one roof. If you trade forex and ES futures, you don't need two separate firms.
The firm won "Most Transparent Prop Firm 2024" from Forex Prop Reviews, and has paid out over $4 million to traders. Those aren't industry-leading numbers compared to FTMO's $200M+ or Apex's $721M+, but they're verifiable and the firm's growth trajectory suggests they'll increase.
The Level 10 Hedge Fund Path is a longer-term incentive. Top-performing traders can progress through a series of levels, eventually managing institutional capital within the firm's structure. Few traders will reach Level 10, but the pathway gives ambitious traders something to aim for beyond just withdrawing profits.
Account Types & Pricing
CFD Challenges
| Account | Price | Account Size | Daily Loss | Max Drawdown | Drawdown Type | Profit Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | €99 | €10,000 | €500 | €1,000 | Trailing | 50%-70% |
| Standard | €179 | €20,000 | €1,000 | €2,000 | Trailing | 50%-70% |
| Executive | €399 | €50,000 | €2,500 | €5,000 | Static | 60%-80% |
| VIP | €999 | €100,000 | €5,000 | €10,000 | Static | 60%-80% |
Futures Challenges
| Account | Price | Account Size | Profit Target | Duration | Daily Drawdown | Drawdown Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive | €349 | $150,000 | $3,000/phase | 30 days | $2,500 (P1) / $1,000 (P2) | Static |
| VIP | €599 | $250,000 | $3,000/phase | 60 days | $2,500 (P1) / $1,500 (P2) | Static |
The pricing is competitive for CFD challenges. The €99 Lite account is a reasonable entry point for testing the platform. For futures, the €349 Executive is mid-range compared to Topstep at $49/month or Apex at $15 during sales.
An important distinction: the Executive and VIP accounts use static drawdown, while the Lite and Standard accounts use trailing. Static drawdown is significantly more forgiving. If you start a €50,000 Executive account and grow it to €55,000, your drawdown floor stays at €45,000. On a trailing Lite account, that floor would have moved up. For any serious evaluation attempt, the Executive or VIP tiers offer a meaningful rules advantage.
The Hidden Activation Fee
There's a €129 activation fee when you move from the evaluation to a funded account. This covers Rithmic live data feed costs for futures accounts. Over half of negative Trustpilot reviews mention it as a surprise charge.
The fee itself isn't unreasonable. Most futures firms charge something similar. Topstep charges $129 on its Standard Path. My Funded Futures used to charge one until eliminating it in July 2025. The problem isn't the fee itself; it's how The Trading Pit communicates it. The information exists on the website, but it's not prominent during purchase. Traders who budget exactly for the challenge fee feel blindsided.
Trading Rules & Conditions
The profit targets vary by account type and phase. CFD challenges require hitting specific profit milestones. Futures challenges use a two-phase structure with $3,000 targets per phase within 30 or 60 day windows.
Key rules across all programs:
- Drawdown: Trailing on Lite/Standard, static on Executive/VIP
- Daily loss limits: Vary by tier (€500 to €5,000 for CFD)
- Minimum trading days: Not explicitly required
- Platforms: MT5 and DXTrade for CFD, Rithmic for futures
- Markets: Forex, indices, commodities (CFD) and CME futures
- News trading: Generally permitted, check specific account terms
The hedging problem: Multiple traders on Trustpilot report account terminations for inter-account hedging. The firm's detection system flags traders who go long NQ on one account and short ES on another, even if the trades are independent strategies. If you run multiple accounts at The Trading Pit, tread carefully with correlated positions across accounts. This is the firm's most controversial policy.
IP verification issues have also been reported. Traders using VPNs, shared office networks, or travelling between locations have been flagged for suspected account sharing. While the firm's need to prevent abuse is understandable, the false positive rate appears higher than at other firms.
Payout Structure & Methods
Profit splits range from 50% to 80% depending on your account tier:
- Lite and Standard: 50%-70%
- Executive and VIP: 60%-80%
These splits are below the industry average. FTMO starts at 80%. FundingPips offers up to 100% on monthly payouts. Even budget firms typically offer 80%. The Trading Pit's lower starting split of 50% on entry-level accounts is a clear weakness.
On the positive side:
- Payouts process in 2-3 business days once requested
- Weekly withdrawals are available for funded traders
- Your challenge fee is refunded with your first payout
- No minimum payout amount on most accounts
The fee refund is a nice touch and brings The Trading Pit closer to FTMO's refund model. If you pass and request your first payout, you get both the profit split and the challenge fee back.
What We Like
- Dual CFD and futures coverage under one firm, still relatively rare in the industry
- Static drawdowns on Executive/VIP accounts give experienced traders more room
- Payout speed of 2-3 business days is genuinely fast
- Liechtenstein registration provides a European regulatory framework
- Challenge fee refund with first payout reduces effective cost
- Level 10 Hedge Fund Path offers a genuine long-term growth trajectory
- No minimum payout amount on most account types
- Named CEO and public leadership adds accountability
What Could Be Better
- Hidden activation fee (€129) catches many traders off guard
- Profit splits start at just 50%, well below the 80-90% industry standard
- Aggressive hedging detection has led to disputed account terminations
- IP verification disputes where traders report false flags for shared IPs
- Trustpilot score of 4.3/5 from 737 reviews is decent but review volume is low
- Trailing drawdown on cheaper accounts is less forgiving than static
- Two-phase futures evaluation is slower than one-step firms
The Trading Pit vs Competitors
Compared to FTMO, The Trading Pit offers futures trading but has lower profit splits and higher effective costs when you factor in the activation fee. Against futures-focused firms like Topstep or Apex Trader Funding, the futures pricing is less competitive. The firm's real advantage is the combined CFD/futures offering, so check our best futures prop firms and best CFD prop firms rankings to see where it places.
Against E8 Funding, which also offers multi-asset coverage, The Trading Pit has a cleaner European registration but lower profit splits. E8 covers crypto in addition to forex and futures, while The Trading Pit does not.
Is The Trading Pit Legit?
Yes. The Trading Pit AG is a registered company in Liechtenstein with verifiable leadership and a track record since 2021. The $4M+ in payouts is relatively modest, but it's documented. The Trustpilot rating of 4.3/5 across 737 reviews shows mostly positive experiences, with 78% five-star ratings.
The concerns around hedging detection and the activation fee are legitimate frustrations but don't indicate a scam. They indicate a firm that needs to improve its communication and rule enforcement clarity. Many of the negative reviews stem from traders who felt the rules weren't transparent enough, not from traders who were denied legitimate payouts.
Final Verdict
Rating: 3.8/5
The Trading Pit fills a genuine gap as one of the few firms offering both CFD and futures challenges. The Liechtenstein registration, reasonable payout speeds, and Level 10 scaling path are real strengths. But the hidden activation fee, below-average profit splits on entry accounts, and hedging detection issues hold it back from competing with the top tier.
It's a decent choice if you specifically want one firm for both asset classes. If you only trade CFDs, FTMO or FundingPips offer better value. If you only trade futures, Topstep or My Funded Futures are stronger picks. And if the activation fee concerns you, make sure to budget for it from the start.
FAQ
Is The Trading Pit legit?
Yes. Registered in Liechtenstein (The Trading Pit AG) with named CEO Thomas Heyden and $4M+ in documented payouts since 2021.
How much does The Trading Pit cost?
CFD: €99 (Lite) to €999 (VIP). Futures: €349 (Executive) to €599 (VIP). Plus a €129 activation fee when moving to a funded account.
What is The Trading Pit's profit split?
50-70% for Lite/Standard, 60-80% for Executive/VIP. Below industry averages.
Can I use The Trading Pit in the US?
Yes, The Trading Pit accepts US-based traders for both CFD and futures programs.
How fast are The Trading Pit payouts?
2-3 business days. Weekly withdrawal requests are available for funded traders.
Does The Trading Pit offer both CFD and futures?
Yes. One of the few firms covering both asset classes. CFD runs on MT5/DXTrade; futures run on Rithmic.
What is the Level 10 Hedge Fund Path?
A progression system where top performers can advance through levels, eventually managing institutional capital. A long-term incentive for consistently profitable traders.
Why do some traders complain about hedging detection?
The firm's system flags correlated positions across multiple accounts (e.g., long NQ on one, short ES on another). Some traders report false positives from unrelated strategies. Check current policies before running multiple accounts.
Disclaimer: This review is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Trading involves risk of loss.