Complete Guide to Earn2Trade's Trader Career Path

Introduction: What Is Earn2Trade?

Earn2Trade is a prop firm specializing in futures, founded in 2016 in the United States. Unlike most firms that offer a simple 1-2 phase evaluation, Earn2Trade designed the Trader Career Path (TCP): a level-based progression system where you start with a small account and scale up to managing up to $400,000 in capital.

In this guide, we will break down step by step how the TCP works, the rules for each phase, the differences between the 3 available plans, and everything you need to know before purchasing your evaluation.

How Does the Trader Career Path Work?

The TCP is divided into 3 main phases:

1. Evaluation — You trade on a demo account with strict rules. You must reach a profit target without violating drawdown, daily loss, or consistency rules.

1. Initial Funded Account (LiveSim/Live) — After passing the evaluation, you receive your first funded account. You start in LiveSim mode (simulated) and can move to Live after meeting certain requirements.

1. Growth Plan — As you reach profit targets in your funded account, Earn2Trade promotes you to larger accounts with more favorable rules, up to the maximum level.

What makes the TCP unique is this progressive scaling system. It is not just "pass and trade." It is a structured professional career where capital and conditions improve with your performance.

Phase 1: The Evaluation

The evaluation is a demo account where you must demonstrate consistency and risk management. The rules are the same for all 3 TCP plans:

• Minimum 10 trading days — No maximum. You can take as long as you need.
• End-of-Day (EOD) Drawdown — The trailing drawdown is calculated only at end of day, not intraday. This gives you more room to trade through volatility.
• 30% Consistency Rule — No single day can represent more than 30% of your total profit. If you make $3,000 total, no single day can have more than $900 in profit.
• Daily loss limit — Each account has a maximum allowed daily loss.
• Contract scaling — The number of contracts you can trade depends on your accumulated profit. You start with few and unlock more as you generate profits.
• News trading allowed — You can trade during economic news events.
• No time limit — As long as you pay the monthly subscription, your evaluation stays active.

Available Accounts: TCP25 vs TCP50 vs TCP100

Which to choose? The TCP 25K is the most affordable, but the $1,500 drawdown is very tight. The TCP 50K offers the best balance between cost and room to maneuver. The TCP 100K is for experienced traders who want to quickly access large accounts.

Phase 2: Your First Funded Account

After passing the evaluation, you receive a funded account of the same size as your evaluation. This account has two modes:

LiveSim (Simulated)

• You trade in an environment that replicates the real market but without real capital at risk.
• An activation fee of $139 is required, which is deductible from your first withdrawal.
• EOD Trailing drawdown (same type as the evaluation, calculated at end of day).
• Inactivity rule: if you do not trade for 5 consecutive days, you may lose your account. Scheduled absences notified in advance are permitted.
• Minimum 7 trading days before you can request a withdrawal.

Live (Real Capital)

• Once you demonstrate consistency in LiveSim, you can request the switch to a real capital account.
• The drawdown changes to Trailing intraday in this phase.
• A monthly platform/data fee is charged while your Live account is active: $140/mo (Rithmic) or $156/mo (NinjaTrader).
• You need to meet profit targets to progress to the next level.

The main difference between LiveSim and Live is that in Live you trade with the fund's real capital, while in LiveSim everything is simulated. Profits are paid equally in both modes (80/20 profit split).

Phase 3: The Growth Plan

This is where the TCP differentiates itself from other prop firms. Every time you reach the profit target at your current level, Earn2Trade promotes you to a larger account with better conditions.

TCP 25K Progression

• Level 1 — LiveSim/Live 25K: Profit target $1,750, drawdown $1,500 trailing
• Level 2 — Live 50K: Profit target $3,000, drawdown $2,000 trailing
• Level 3 — Live 100K: Profit target $6,000, drawdown $3,500 trailing
• Level 4 — Live 200K: Profit target $11,000, drawdown $6,000 static

TCP 50K Progression

• Level 1 — LiveSim/Live 50K: Profit target $3,000, drawdown $2,000 trailing
• Level 2 — Live 100K: Profit target $6,000, drawdown $3,500 trailing
• Level 3 — Live 200K: Profit target $11,000, drawdown $6,000 trailing
• Level 4 — Live 400K: Profit target $11,000, drawdown $12,000 static

TCP 100K Progression

• Level 1 — LiveSim/Live 100K: Profit target $6,000, drawdown $3,500 trailing
• Level 2 — Live 150K: Profit target $9,000, drawdown $4,500 trailing
• Level 3 — Live 200K: Profit target $11,000, drawdown $6,000 trailing
• Level 4 — Live 400K: Profit target $40,000, drawdown $12,000 static

The final level of each plan has static drawdown, meaning your loss limit does not move with your profits. This is significantly more favorable than the trailing drawdown of previous levels.

What Happens with Drawdown at Each Phase?

Understanding drawdown types is crucial to keeping your account:

Evaluation: End-of-Day (EOD) Trailing

The drawdown only updates at end of day. If your maximum closing balance was $52,000 and your drawdown is $2,000, your limit is at $50,000. But during the day, you can drop further without triggering the rule — only where you close matters.

LiveSim: EOD Trailing

In the LiveSim phase (your first funded account), the drawdown remains EOD Trailing, same as the evaluation. It only updates at end of day, giving you room to trade intraday without negative peaks penalizing you.

Live and Intermediate Levels: Trailing Intraday

When you move to Live, the drawdown changes to trailing intraday. It updates tick by tick with your highest point. If you rise to $55,000 intraday and your drawdown is $2,000, your limit moves to $53,000 immediately.

Maximum Level: Static Drawdown

At the final account (200K or 400K), the drawdown becomes static. It is fixed based on your initial balance and does NOT move with your profits. This is the most favorable drawdown type.

Withdrawals and Payouts

Earn2Trade's withdrawal rules are straightforward:

• Profit split: 80% for the trader, 20% for Earn2Trade
• Frequency: 1 withdrawal per week
• Minimum withdrawal: $100
• Process: Request before 2:00 PM CT on Friday. Processed the following Wednesday.
• Minimum days before first withdrawal: 7 trading days
• Withdrawal fee: $10 for withdrawals under $500. Free for $500+.
• Deductible activation fee: The $139 LiveSim activation fee is deducted from your first withdrawal.
• LiveSim withdrawal limit: Gauntlet Mini: $4,000 maximum. TCP: $1,750 (25K), $3,000 (50K), $6,000 (100K).

Available payment methods:

• Rise: $50 fee (non-US) or 1.5% (US)
• Deel: $50 fee
• Bayzat: $5-40 fee
• Direct Crypto: 0.735% fee

TCP vs Gauntlet Mini: Which to Choose?

Earn2Trade offers two evaluation programs. Here are the main differences:

Choose TCP if you want a structured growth path, you are willing to start with a small account and scale up, and you value having clear progression objectives.

Choose Gauntlet Mini if you prefer a fixed-size account from the start, you want direct access to 150K or 200K accounts, or you are looking for the lowest price per account size.

Prices and Discounts

Earn2Trade frequently offers discounts of 40% to 60%, especially during holidays and special events. It is recommended to wait for a promotion before purchasing, as discounts are quite common.

The $139 LiveSim activation fee is a one-time payment deducted from your first withdrawal. It is not an additional cost but an advance that you recover with your first profits.

Reset Fees

If you lose your evaluation, you can restart by paying a reset fee:

Monthly Live Fee

When you move to a Live account, a monthly platform/data fee is charged:

• Rithmic: $140/mo
• NinjaTrader: $156/mo

This fee applies as long as your Live account is active.

Tips for Passing the Evaluation

1. Respect the contract scaling — Do not try to trade with maximum contracts from day 1. Contracts unlock as you generate profit.

1. Watch the 30% rule — Distribute your profits across several days. A "home run" day can mean you need many more days to dilute that percentage.

1. Leverage the EOD drawdown — During evaluation, the drawdown is only calculated at close. If you trade intraday and close flat, intraday peaks do not count.

1. Do not rush — There is no time limit. It is better to take 30-40 days with consistency than to force the profit target in 10 days.

1. Manage risk per trade — A 1-2% stop loss of maximum drawdown per trade is a healthy reference. With a $2,000 drawdown, that means $20-40 stops per contract.

1. Trade during regular hours — Although there is no time restriction, liquidity is better during main market hours (9:30-16:00 ET for index futures).

1. Keep a trading journal — Record every trade with the entry reason, result, and what you learned. Consistency comes from reflection, not just repetition.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to pass the evaluation?

There is no time limit. As long as you keep your subscription active (monthly payment), your evaluation remains valid. You can take weeks or months.

What happens if I break a rule during the evaluation?

Your evaluation is closed. You can pay a reset fee to restart from scratch with the same plan (TCP 25K: $55, TCP 50K: $65, TCP 100K: $100), or purchase a new evaluation.

Is the activation fee an additional cost?

Not exactly. The $139 activation fee is deducted from your first withdrawal. Meaning, if your first profits are $500, you will receive $500 x 80% - $139 = $261. After that first withdrawal, no more fees are charged.

Can I trade crypto or forex?

No. Earn2Trade is exclusively for futures (ES, NQ, YM, RTY, CL, GC, among others). It operates on CME Group through Rithmic-compatible platforms.

What platforms can I use?

Earn2Trade is compatible with multiple platforms that support Rithmic as a data feed: NinjaTrader, Sierra Chart, Bookmap, Jigsaw, among others.

Can I have multiple active evaluations at the same time?

Yes, you can have multiple active evaluation accounts simultaneously.

When do I move from LiveSim to Live?

There are no exact public criteria. Generally, you need to demonstrate consistency trading in LiveSim over a period. Earn2Trade reviews your performance and notifies you when you are ready to trade Live.

What happens if I lose my funded account?

If you violate drawdown or daily loss rules on your funded account, you lose the account. You can restart the evaluation by paying the reset fee or purchasing a new plan.