2-Step Challenge
Two Step Prop Firm Challenge
A two step prop firm challenge, also called a prop trading challenge, evaluates you across two phases before funding: Phase 1 at a 10% target, Phase 2 at a 5% target. Core Funded's 2-Step (Standard) runs from $5,000 to $500,000, priced from 45€.
2-Step Standard rules by account size
| Size | Price | Phase 1 target | Phase 2 target | Max daily loss | Max total loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | 45€ | 10% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
| $10,000 | 95€ | 10% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
| $25,000 | 175€ | 10% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
| $50,000 | 305€ | 10% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
| $100,000 | 495€ | 10% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
| $200,000 | 795€ | 10% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
| $300,000 | 1,095€ | 10% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
| $400,000 | 1,395€ | 10% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
| $500,000 | 1,695€ | 10% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
How the two-phase evaluation works
Phase 1 asks for 10% profit on your starting balance. Once passed, you request Phase 2 in the dashboard: you keep the same account and login, the balance is reset to the starting balance, and the new target is 5%. Clearing Phase 2 moves the same account to the funded stage, again reset to the starting balance. Phase reviews are usually completed within 24 business hours.
The max daily loss across both phases is 5%, calculated from the higher of balance or equity at 00:00 UTC minus the fixed percentage of your original balance, resetting every day at 00:00 UTC. The max total loss is 8%, a static drawdown from your starting balance that does not move up as you bank profit.
Minimum trading days and consistency
The 2-Step challenge requires 3 qualifying trading days, each with at least 0.5% net realized profit, and these days do not need to be consecutive. The rule applies in both phases and on the funded account.
At payout time, a consistency rule limits any single day to 30% of your total profit. On $5,000 total profit, no more than $1,500 can come from one day; each day counts at its highest net profit reached, and you can continue trading after hitting a target.
No time limit, and what happens if you fail
There is no expiry on either phase or on the funded account, so you never fail by running out of time. An account only ends if you breach a loss limit or a rule: it is then closed, and you can start again with a new one. The Trader tier of the rewards program includes one free retry after a failed challenge.
Standard vs Flex: choosing your 2-Step
Core Funded offers two versions of the 2-Step challenge. The Standard 2-Step described on this page has a 5% max daily loss and an 8% max total loss. The 2-Step Flex removes the daily loss limit entirely, keeping only the 12% max total loss, and is available up to $100,000.
Both versions share the same profit targets (10% Phase 1, 5% Phase 2) and the same minimum trading days rule, though Flex requires 5 qualifying days instead of 3.
Standard vs Flex comparison
| Feature | 2-Step Standard | 2-Step Flex |
|---|---|---|
| Max daily loss | 5% | None |
| Max total loss | 8% | 12% |
| Min trading days | 3 | 5 |
| Available sizes | $5,000–$500,000 | $5,000–$100,000 |
| Price ($100K) | 495€ | 745€ |
Funded account terms
The 2-Step funded account starts at an 80% profit split, upgradable to up to 95% at checkout. Payouts are requested on demand in Match-Trader, with a minimum of 3 qualifying trading days since the previous payout, paid by bank transfer or crypto within 24 hours; if a payout runs past that window, you keep 100% of the profit split for it.
The scaling plan applies on the funded account: 12% profit within a 3-month period grows your balance by 25% of the starting balance, repeatable up to $10,000,000 in total capital.
Trading conditions
Trading runs on Match-Trader, a browser-based platform that also offers a TradingView chart layout, at 1:100 leverage (1:5 on crypto). You can trade forex, indices, commodities and crypto, including 24/7 crypto and overnight or weekend positions.
News trading is fully allowed during the challenge. On the funded account, the default rule blocks opening or closing positions 5 minutes before and after high-impact news and FOMC events; trades inside that window don't breach the account, but their profits are removed. An optional News Trading upgrade at checkout removes this lockout, including on the funded phase. Hedging on the same account, EAs, trade copiers and copy trading (between accounts of the same legal holder) are allowed; stop loss is not mandatory, martingale is not allowed.
Worked example: $100K 2-Step
A trader buys a $100,000 2-Step Standard challenge for 495€ and goes through both phases.
- Starting balance
- $100,000
- Phase 1 target (10%)
- $110,000
- Phase 2 target (5%, after reset)
- $105,000
- Max total loss floor (8%)
- $92,000
- Max daily loss
- 5% of original balance, reset at 00:00 UTC
- Minimum trading days
- 3 qualifying days
Equity must stay at or above $92,000 throughout both phases, and the daily floor is recalculated each day from balance or equity at 00:00 UTC minus 5% of $100,000.
Who the 2-Step challenge suits
- Traders who want a wider 5% daily loss limit than the 1-Step's 3%
- Traders comfortable splitting their evaluation into two smaller, resettable targets
- Traders who want the lowest entry price among the challenge accounts
- Traders who may later prefer Flex's no-daily-limit format once they outgrow the Standard rules
FAQ
Questions and answers
What is a two step prop firm challenge?
What is the profit target in each phase of the 2-Step challenge?
What is the max daily loss on the 2-Step Standard?
What is the max total loss on the 2-Step Standard?
How many trading days do I need for the 2-Step challenge?
What happens if I breach a limit in the 2-Step challenge?
Is there a time limit on the 2-Step challenge?
What is the difference between 2-Step Standard and 2-Step Flex?
What profit split do I get on a 2-Step funded account?
What sizes are available for the 2-Step challenge?
Start your 2-Step challenge
Pick a size from $5,000 to $500,000 and work through two phases to funding.
