City Traders Imperium Singapore Review
Pros (What we like)
- Direct funding programs bypass evaluations entirely
- Profit share scales up to a unique 100% payout tier
- Generous holding limits (weekend and news holding allowed)
- Longevity and reputation in educational funding space
Cons (Drawbacks)
- Direct funding option has higher initial pricing
- Strict consistency rules apply to trading size distributions
Overview: Objective Prop Firm Evaluation
Founded in 2018 in London, United Kingdom, City Traders Imperium (CTI) is one of the longest-operating and most established proprietary trading firms in the retail industry. While newer competitors focus almost exclusively on rapid two-phase challenges with high failure rates, CTI built its reputation around institutional trader development and an innovative Direct Funding architecture that allows seasoned traders to bypass evaluation testing phases entirely.
For experienced Singapore retail participants who possess a validated, profitable trading strategy, CTI provides a pathway to scale virtual portfolio capital up to $4,000,000 while elevating profit splits to a rare 100% tier. However, prop firms are private contractual businesses rather than regulated retail brokerages. Below is an objective audit examining CTI’s funding tracks, drawdown risk constraints, execution feeds, and Singapore tax obligations.
Direct Funding vs Evaluation Challenge Tracks
CTI accommodates both capitalized veterans and developing traders through two distinct operational pathways:
1. Direct Funding Program (No Evaluation)
Traders pay an upfront onboarding fee to immediately receive credentials for a funded account. There are zero profit target requirements to maintain the account or qualify for withdrawals: you earn an initial 70% to 80% profit split on all net gains from your very first profitable trade. However, direct funding enforces tighter drawdown parameters (typically a 5% to 6% maximum loss limit) to safeguard corporate capital.
2. Classic Evaluation Challenges (1-Step & 2-Step)
For traders seeking lower entry fees, CTI provides standard evaluation tracks starting from £109. These require reaching an 8% profit target on Phase 1 and 5% on Phase 2, with no minimum trading day mandates, unlocking funded accounts with baseline 80% profit shares.
The $4,000,000 Capital Scaling Framework
CTI operates one of the most structured scaling programs in the prop trading industry:
- Milestone Progression: Every time a trader generates a cumulative 10% net profit on their active account, CTI doubles their capital allocation tier.
- Scaling Ceiling: Accounts can scale systematically from initial starting balances of $10,000 or $20,000 all the way to $4,000,000 in total managed funding.
- 100% Profit Split Tier: As traders advance through higher milestone tiers, the profit share escalates from 70% to 80%, 90%, and ultimately 100% on the highest tier.
Conservative Leverage (1:33) & Static Drawdowns
A unique aspect of CTI is its institutional risk philosophy:
1:33 Maximum Leverage: Unlike offshore prop firms that offer 1:100 leverage, CTI caps retail leverage at 1:33 on foreign exchange majors. This lower leverage encourages disciplined position sizing and prevents catastrophic single-trade account breaches.
Static Absolute Drawdown: Drawdown thresholds are calculated as a static percentage from starting balance. Unrealized intraday profits do not ratchet the stop-out floor upward, ensuring swing traders are not penalized by trailing equity traps.
Platforms & Execution Environment
CTI routes simulated order flow through MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) with institutional liquidity providers. Execution spreads on EUR/USD and GBP/USD average 0.1 to 0.3 pips during liquid hours.
Holding positions over the weekend and trading through economic news catalysts are fully permitted on CTI’s swing-designated account profiles, making the firm particularly appealing to Singapore professionals who cannot monitor live charts during regular working hours.
Singapore Payout Channels & IRAS Tax Rules
The tax treatment of prop-firm payouts depends on the facts and circumstances of the trader's activity. If the activity constitutes a trade, business, profession or vocation, income may need to be reported as self-employment/business income. Singapore traders should assess their individual circumstances against current IRAS guidance:
- Disbursement Channels: Payouts are handled via Deel (supporting direct local SGD bank transfers to Singapore accounts at DBS, OCBC, and UOB) or via cryptocurrency (USDT). Local bank transfers clear in 2 to 3 business days according to standard banking processing.
- Tax Assessment on Trading Activity: Under Singapore tax law, whether prop firm payouts are treated as taxable trade income or capital transactions depends on individual circumstances assessed under the Badges of Trade. If the activity constitutes carrying on a trade, business, or vocation, net earnings may need to be reported under official IRAS Self-Employed Individuals Guidance.
- Expense Deductibility: Where trading is determined to be a taxable business activity, evaluation challenge fees and direct funding fees may qualify as tax-deductible operational expenses incurred in the generation of trade income.
- CPF MediSave Considerations: Mandatory MediSave obligations may arise when an individual is treated as self-employed for tax purposes and statutory Net Trade Income thresholds (exceeding S$6,000 per annum) are met under official CPF Board MediSave Guidelines. Review full rules in our Singapore Trading Tax Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CTI allow holding trades over the weekend?
Yes, CTI allows weekend holding on their swing accounts, making it suitable for swing traders in Singapore who cannot monitor the markets 24/5.
What is the maximum scaling capital available on CTI?
Traders hitting consistent 10% profit milestones can systematically double their account size up to a maximum allocation of $4,000,000.
Is City Traders Imperium regulated by the MAS?
No. Proprietary trading firms offering simulated evaluations do not accept customer deposits and are not regulated financial institutions. CTI operates as an offshore commercial evaluation business.
Curated Alternatives & Recommendations
If you want to compare CTI against alternative prop firms offering different leverage and pricing structures, visit our comprehensive hub on Prop Trading in Singapore. If you prefer firms offering higher 1:100 leverage and cTrader feeds, explore AquaFunded Review, or review firms offering profit sharing during evaluation stages in our FundedNext Review.
High-Risk Alert (YMYL Compliance)
Forex and CFD trading involves significant leverage, which can amplify both profits and losses. According to regulatory disclosures mandated by international authorities (such as the UK FCA and European ESMA), between 74% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Ensure you fully understand the mechanics of leverage and market volatility before committing capital.
Editorial Transparency & Research Standards
Our editorial team evaluates platforms through independent desk research, regulatory register audits (including MAS, FCA, ASIC, and CySEC databases), and verified fee schedule analysis. Editorial ratings are determined using our structured 7-dimension scoring framework. We refuse compensation in exchange for positive reviews or altered ratings. Review our Review Methodology and Editorial Guidelines.
Written by PeterRESEARCH EDITOR
Research Editor
Financial researcher focused on retail forex, commodities, and derivatives since 2012. Peter conducts independent desk research, regulatory audits, and fee schedule verification to provide transparent, risk-focused analysis for Singapore traders.