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: Peter's Honest Audit
City Traders Imperium (CTI) is a UK-based prop firm founded in 2018 that stands out for its direct funding programs. While most prop firms force you to pass a stressful multi-stage evaluation challenge, CTI allows you to skip the tests entirely. By paying a higher upfront fee, you can get funded with real capital from day one, which is a massive time-saver for experienced traders.
For Singapore retail traders who have a proven trading strategy but lack the capital to make meaningful returns, CTI's scaling plan is one of the most generous in the market, allowing you to scale up to $4 million in funding while keeping up to 100% of the profits.
Let's dive into their rules, platforms, and the direct funding models available.
Direct Funding vs Standard Challenges
CTI's Direct Funding program is highly unique. You buy an account and start trading with real capital. There is no profit target to hit to start withdrawing; you are paid a profit split from your first profitable trade. However, you must adhere to a strict daily drawdown and overall loss limit. Standard challenges are also available at much lower entry costs for those who prefer the traditional route.
Singapore Payout Channels and Timing
Withdrawals are processed monthly via Deel or directly in USDT. Deel allows direct local bank withdrawals into Singapore banks like DBS, UOB, or OCBC in SGD. Most payouts are processed within 2 to 3 business days of the withdrawal request.
IRAS Trade Income Declaration for CTI Payouts
Since CTI payouts are contractor fees paid by a UK company, they are taxable under IRAS rules. You must report them as trade revenue. If you are trading high capital and receiving large payouts, it is highly recommended to consult a Singapore tax professional to set up a corporate structure to optimize your taxes.
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 profit split?
The profit split starts at 70% to 80% and can scale up to 100% as you hit profit targets and scale the account size.
What is the leverage on CTI accounts?
CTI offers a conservative leverage up to 1:33. This is done to ensure traders manage risk and do not blow the account with massive position sizes.
High-Risk Alert (YMYL Compliance)
Binary options trading is highly speculative and carries a substantial risk of loss. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued multiple advisories warning that retail investors dealing with unregulated offshore binary options platforms are highly likely to lose their entire capital. Up to 90% of retail retail traders blow their accounts here.
Editorial Transparency & Bias Check
Our team tests brokers using real money accounts to measure actual spreads, transaction friction, and deposit speeds. Broker ratings are calculated algorithmically based on spreads, regulation, customer service, and ease of withdrawals. We refuse payment in exchange for positive reviews. Unregulated brokers are marked clearly with risk warnings.
Written by PeterVERIFIED TRADER
Professional Retail Trader & Editor
Trading Forex, Gold (XAUUSD), and indices since 2012. Survived three margin calls and spread widenings so you don't have to. Peter reviews platforms based on actual deposit testing, spreads audit, and latency check.