Proptary

AquaFunded Review

AquaFunded is a Dubai-based prop firm offering one-step, two-step, and instant funding evaluations across forex, crypto, and futures markets.

HQ
Dubai, UAE
Founded
2023
Regulation
Unregulated

Operated by AquaFundedhq LTD

Written by the Proptary Team · Updated 16 Oct 2026

Researched with AI assistance and verified by our editors

Visit AquaFunded

Overview

In this AquaFunded review, we cover an online proprietary trading firm that offers one-step, two-step, and instant funding evaluations across foreign exchange, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies.

AquaFunded operates from commercial facilities in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Simulated trading assessments are legally contracted through AquaFundedhq LTD, a Saint Lucia corporation with company number 2004-00597. The website is operated by Aqua Funded FZCO in Dubai Silicon Oasis. AquaFunded does not publicly state that it holds any financial regulatory authorization or license, and its Terms say the company carries out no regulated activities and that its only activity is simulated trading.

Review summary

Pros and cons

What works

4 strengths

  • Low cost of entry, with challenges starting from $39 for a $5,000 account
  • Multiple evaluation pathways including 1-step, 2-step, and instant funding
  • AquaFunded says a profit split of up to 100% is available through paid add-ons and scaling
  • Wide platform selection supporting MT5, cTrader, Match-Trader, and TradeLocker

What doesn't

4 to plan around

  • Trustpilot rating unavailable because of a guidelines breach (as of October 2026)
  • Multiple documented trader reports of payout delays and disputed deductions
  • Trailing drawdown on 1-step models recalculated continuously from intraday equity peaks
  • Daily loss limit calculated from previous day's highest balance or equity rather than fixed balance

Cost of entry

AquaFunded pricing

Account Size1-Step Standard2-Step Standard2-Step Pro
$5,000$39$39$49
$10,000$69$69$89
$25,000$149$149$179
$50,000$249$249$289
$100,000$449$449$499
$200,000$849$849$949

AquaFunded challenges start from $39 for a $5,000 account and scale up to $949 for a $200,000 2-Step Pro evaluation, depending on the plan. On a $100,000 two-step evaluation costing $449, your upfront fee buys access to simulated capital where passing requires reaching combined phase targets without breaching the 4% daily or 8% total loss ceilings. That initial payment is one-time rather than a recurring monthly subscription, but evaluation fees are refunded only upon your fourth consecutive approved payout rather than your first withdrawal. Traders who purchase optional checkout add-ons such as higher profit splits or seven-day reward cycles pay up to 25% more at the register, which raises the fee you put at risk before you place a single simulated trade.

Rule clarity

AquaFunded rules

Score60 / 100

Our AquaFunded review of the rules starts with the one-step model, which requires a 9% profit target alongside a 3% daily loss limit and a 6% trailing maximum drawdown. On a standard $10,000 account, your 3% daily loss limit leaves $300 of room, measured from the prior midnight UTC balance or equity high. An adverse intraday move can end the challenge immediately, even if your earlier closed trades were profitable. The trailing drawdown calculation tracks your highest recorded equity mark continuously rather than locking at the initial balance, which constantly pulls your loss threshold higher as your account grows. Leverage of 1:100 magnifies losses as well as gains. A small adverse move on a leveraged position can breach the 3% daily loss limit or the 6% trailing drawdown, and either breach ends the evaluation and forfeits the fee. If an open position suffers heavy slippage during volatile sessions, the account is closed without a grace period and you forfeit the evaluation fee.

Profit target
9%
Max daily loss
3%
Max total drawdown
6%
Drawdown type
Trailing
Min trading days
3
Time limit
None
Consistency rule
On instant funded challenges, a consistency rule of 15% applies; one trading day can not equal or be greater than 15% of the total profits made.
Max leverage
1:100
Scaling plan
Yes, up to $4M
Platforms
MT5, cTrader, TradeLocker, Match-Trader
Instruments
Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Futures
Not accepted from
Cuba, Iran, Syria, Vietnam, Kenya, Albania, Algeria, North Korea, Senegal, Myanmar, Russia, Belarus, Sudan, South Sudan, Venezuela

What a trailing drawdown means for you

The limit follows your highest equity, so as the account grows the floor rises with it. Give back too much of an open profit and you can breach even while still up on the day — this is the type that ends the most accounts.

What changes once you are funded

In our AquaFunded review of the funded stage, the profit target is removed once you are funded. AquaFunded adds other risk controls. WaveStop is its floating-loss rule, and open floating losses above 1% earn a strike. Profits made inside high-impact news windows are capped at 0.5% of balance. You must also complete three profitable days with at least 0.5% gain before requesting each payout.

Strategy rules

News trading
Allowed
EAs / bots
Allowed
Weekend hold
Allowed
Hedging
Not allowed
Copy trading
Allowed
HFT / tick scalping
Not allowed

Payout reliability

AquaFunded payouts

Score25 / 100

Our AquaFunded review of payouts shows performance rewards paid under a default 90% profit split every 14 days, subject to a minimum withdrawal threshold of $100 and a 3% processing fee. On an account with $5,000 in net gains, your standard 90% split is $4,500 before the 3% processing fee (about $135 if applied to that amount), paid via Rise transfer or cryptocurrency, while the first two payout cycles on accounts of $100,000 or larger remain subject to a $10,000 withdrawal ceiling. You must achieve at least three separate trading days showing a minimum profit of 0.5% during each cycle to submit a reward claim. The main trade-off lies in payout execution, where public community reports document verification freezes and rule disputes over news trading that delayed distributions well past the advertised 24-hour turnaround. Community reports collected on Oct 16, 2026 describe payouts arriving in one to two business days in some cases, alongside documented delays well beyond AquaFunded’s advertised 24-hour turnaround.

Profit split
90%
Payout cycle
Every 2 weeks
Reported payout speed
1-2 business days
Withdrawal fee
3%
Minimum withdrawal
$100
Payout methods
Crypto, Rise

Customer support

Customer support

Score65 / 100

Our AquaFunded review of support found that the firm provides customer assistance through continuous live chat, direct email inquiries, and an official Discord community. Public feedback on support is mixed. Routine onboarding questions are handled through live chat, but traders with delayed payouts report difficulty reaching support, canned responses, and temporary chat restrictions when they dispute payout denials.

Channels
Live chat, Email, Discord
Availability
24/7
Reported response time
Not enough reports
Reports collected
16 Oct 2026

Track record

Track record and transparency

Score40 / 100

Since launching operations, AquaFunded expanded its evaluation catalog from standard two-step challenges into instant funding, crypto contracts, and futures accounts. The firm updated its terms in 2026 to introduce WaveStop floating loss thresholds and revised its consistency guidelines across select account models. Public scrutiny increased following a Trustpilot guidelines notice that some third-party outlets linked to review manipulation, alongside multiple independent trader reports documenting disputed payouts and retroactive rule interpretations.

Community sentiment

Community sentiment

Score20 / 100

Community feedback is split. Positive feedback on review directories praises low challenge costs, swift platform execution, and responsive onboarding support. Conversely, as of October 2026, Trustpilot shows AquaFunded’s rating as unavailable because of a breach of its guidelines, and some third-party outlets report that the cause was review manipulation. Individual Reddit users and an independent report from September 2026 describe complaints about delayed withdrawals, unannounced account liquidations, and disputed consistency calculations.

Decision

Final verdict

Our AquaFunded review finds an accessible entry point for traders seeking high profit splits and affordable challenge pricing across diverse asset classes. However, the operational reality calls for caution. The combination of an active Trustpilot guideline breach warning, trailing drawdowns that track intraday equity spikes, and multiple documented withdrawal delays points to a real risk of payout problems. While experienced traders capable of navigating strict risk limits may extract value, the lack of third-party review integrity and documented payout friction make it difficult to recommend without significant reservations.

With a score of 42, this firm is not recommended before paying for an evaluation.

Is AquaFunded right for you?

Based on this AquaFunded review, the firm may suit disciplined discretionary traders who prioritize low upfront evaluation costs and know how to manage equity exposure without triggering trailing stop-outs. It is not suitable for traders who rely on verified payout histories, news-heavy trading setups, or swing strategies that risk violating tight intraday floating loss limits.

Who should trade with AquaFunded?

You should consider AquaFunded only if you practice conservative position sizing, avoid holding through major economic releases, and treat the challenge fee as disposable capital. If you depend on two-day payout turnarounds or transparent corporate oversight, compare firms with a longer, independently documented payout record before paying for an evaluation.

Questions

FAQ

What Is AquaFunded?

AquaFunded operates as an evaluation service that grants simulated trading accounts to retail participants who pass performance assessments in currency, futures, and digital asset markets.

How to Withdraw from AquaFunded?

You withdraw profits from AquaFunded by requesting a payout directly inside your trader dashboard every 14 days once you complete three profitable trading days. Payouts are delivered through the Rise payment platform or supported cryptocurrency wallets, subject to a $100 minimum threshold and a 3% transaction fee.

How Does AquaFunded Work?

AquaFunded operates by selling simulated evaluation challenges where traders must hit profit targets between 6% and 10% without violating daily or maximum drawdown parameters. Successfully completing the assessment qualifies you for a funded simulation account where you retain up to a 90% profit split on generated gains.

When Was AquaFunded Founded?

AquaFunded does not publicly state its founding year on its official website, though its simulated trading entity AquaFundedhq LTD operates under Saint Lucia registration number 2004-00597. The platform expanded its commercial presence and international marketing operations starting in 2023 from its administrative offices in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Before you pay

Many prop firms operate without a financial services license. They argue that traders use simulated accounts and the firm risks its own capital, so no client money is held and no license is required. That arrangement is common in this industry, but it also means no regulator supervises the firm and there is no compensation scheme if it stops paying. Proptary is not a financial institution, not an investment adviser, and is not supervised by any financial regulator.

Nothing here is advice. Our grades, scores and write-ups are information only. They are not investment or trading advice, not a recommendation to buy an evaluation, and not tailored to your circumstances. Read the firm’s own terms and decide for yourself.

A grade is not a guarantee. A Proptary Grade summarises the evidence we were able to verify on the date shown. It is not a measure of the firm’s financial strength, not a promise that it will pay you, and not an assurance that it will still be operating next month. Payout records, review scores and support times we cite are historical evidence, never a forecast.

The fee is at risk from the moment you pay it. An evaluation buys an attempt, not an account. Most traders do not pass. Breaching a drawdown or consistency rule can cost you the entire fee and any funded account, with no refund.

Prices and rules change without notice. Firms change fees, rules and payout terms, sometimes days after we check. Confirm the current terms on the firm’s own site before you pay for anything. Proptary is not liable for losses arising from reliance on information published here.

Links to firms leave Proptary. We do not open, hold or operate trading accounts. Payment, identity checks, data handling and payouts are between you and the firm, under that firm’s own terms and privacy policy.

How this page is researched. Data is gathered with AI assistance and verified by our editors against the firm’s own documents before publishing.