E8 Markets Review: Pros, Cons, Features & Real Trader Feedback

If you’re a trader looking to access substantial capital without risking your own money, you’ve probably stumbled across E8 Markets in your search. Originally launched as E8 Funding in 2021, this Dallas-based proprietary trading firm has carved out a reputation in the crowded prop firm space. But does it live up to the hype? Can you actually make money with it? And more importantly, will they pay you when you do?

This review cuts through the marketing noise to give you the real story. We’ve analyzed everything from their evaluation challenges and profit splits to actual trader experiences on Trustpilot and other review platforms. Whether you’re a beginner exploring your first funded account or an experienced trader looking to scale, you’ll find the honest breakdown you need to decide if E8 Markets deserves your time and money. We’ll cover their complete range of programs, from 1-step to 3-step challenges, discuss what traders love about them, highlight where they fall short, and help you understand if this prop trading firm aligns with your trading goals.

What is E8 Markets?

E8 Markets (formerly E8 Funding) is a proprietary trading firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas, founded by Dylan Elchami in November 2021. The company rebranded to E8 Markets in 2024 to better reflect its expanded vision and services. As a prop firm, E8 Markets operates by providing traders access to virtual trading capital after they successfully pass evaluation challenges.

The firm is operated by E8 Funding LLC and has offices in both the United States and Czech Republic. What sets E8 Markets apart from traditional brokers is that traders don’t risk their own capital once funded. Instead, they trade with the firm’s simulated funds and keep a percentage of the profits they generate.

The company focuses primarily on forex trading and futures trading, having streamlined its offerings in 2025 to concentrate on these two asset classes. E8 Markets provides evaluation programs with customizable account sizes ranging from $5,000 to $500,000 for Forex and up to $150,000 for Futures. With support for multiple trading platforms, including cTrader, TradeLocker, Match-Trader, and MetaTrader 5, the firm caters to traders with different platform preferences.

E8 Markets Evaluation Programs: How to Get Funded

Getting funded with E8 Markets requires passing one of their evaluation challenges. The firm offers multiple pathways, each designed for different trader profiles and risk tolerances.

1-Step Challenge (E8 One)

The simplest route to funding, the 1-Step Challenge requires traders to meet a single profit target while adhering to risk management rules. The One model features a 6% profit target with maximum daily loss ranging from 3% to 9.2%, and maximum overall loss between 4% and 14%. This model has no time limit and requires only 1 minimum trading day, making it attractive for confident traders who want quick access to a funded account.

The profit target varies based on your chosen drawdown level. For example, if you select a 4% drawdown option, your profit target will be 6%. The lower the drawdown you choose, the higher the profit target you’ll need to hit.

2-Step Challenge (E8 Classic)

The Classic 2-Step program offers flexible trading objectives with profit targets of 8% and 4% across the two phases, with daily loss limits ranging from 3% to 7% and overall loss limits from 6% to 14%. This approach gives traders more breathing room to prove consistency over two separate evaluation phases.

Phase 1 requires an 8% profit target, while Phase 2 softens to 4%. The drawdown limits remain consistent across both phases, and there’s no time pressure. Once you complete Phase 2, you receive access to a funded trading account typically within 24 hours.

3-Step Challenge (E8 Track)

For traders who prefer a more gradual progression, the 3-Step Challenge offers the longest evaluation path. E8 Markets offers two variants: E8 Track and E8 Track 1:1.

The E8 Track Challenge maintains the initial 8% profit goal but extends the challenge over three phases, each requiring a 4% profit to advance. This structure allows traders to demonstrate consistency over a longer period, which can be beneficial for those who trade with lower risk per trade.

All evaluation programs come with customizable drawdown options, no time limits, and the flexibility to trade at your own pace.

E8 Markets Profit Split & Payout Structure

One of the most critical factors when choosing a prop trading firm is how much you actually keep from your profits. E8 Markets offers competitive profit sharing that can reach up to 100% in specific conditions.

Profit Sharing Breakdown

E8 Markets maintains an 80/20 profit split as the standard, with the possibility of bi-weekly withdrawals. However, traders can increase their split through various account types and performance milestones. The E8 Pro account option allows traders to work toward earning 90% or even 100% of their profits under specific trading conditions.

The firm sweetens the deal for newcomers with a 5% payout bonus on the first withdrawal after 8 days. This bonus structure provides immediate earning potential for funded traders who can quickly hit profitability.

Payout Methods & Processing Times

E8 Markets offers two payout methods: Plane and Rise. Plane supports local currency bank transfers in over 70 countries with no fees and a low $50 minimum, while Rise allows for fast global payments in cash or crypto with a $250 minimum. The firm doesn’t charge withdrawal fees, though payment processors may apply their own charges.

Payouts are typically processed within 5 business days, which is reasonably fast compared to industry standards. Traders consistently report in reviews that fast and reliable payouts—often within a week—are a key strength of the platform.

Scaling Opportunities

The overall drawdown allowance increases by 1% after each withdrawal, up to 14%. This progressive scaling mechanism rewards consistent profitability and provides traders with increasing flexibility as they prove their risk management abilities.

E8 Markets provides a scaling plan that increases traders’ capital allocation based on performance up to $1 million, with traders required to achieve 10% profits for three months. The firm offers a 25% capital increase for every qualifying period where performance targets are met.

Trading Conditions & Platform Access

Leverage & Instruments

E8 Markets offers trading across multiple asset classes with varying leverage ratios. Leverage options range from 1:2 for cryptocurrencies to 1:50 for major forex pairs, providing flexibility for different trading strategies.

For the E8 One account specifically, leverage is more conservative: 1:30 on Forex, 1:15 on indices and metals, and 1:1 on crypto. This conservative approach ensures responsible risk management during evaluations.

Traders have access to forex pairs, indices, metals, energies, and cryptocurrencies through the platform. Since 2025, E8 Markets has decided to focus only on forex and futures, streamlining their offerings to provide better service in their core competencies.

Trading Platforms

E8 Markets supports multiple professional trading platforms to accommodate different trader preferences:

• MetaTrader 5 (MT5): Industry-standard platform with advanced charting
• cTrader: Known for its clean interface and advanced order types
• Match-Trader: Features TradingView charting integration
• TradeLocker: Modern cloud-based trading solution
• E8 Futures Platform: Specialized for futures traders

Platform availability may vary based on your location, with some restrictions for US-based traders on certain platforms.

Spreads & Commissions

E8 Markets offers two account structures: raw spread accounts and commission-based accounts. The raw spread option provides tight spreads starting from 0.1 pips on major currency pairs, while commission accounts feature different fee structures depending on the asset class and trading hours.

According to trader feedback, competitive spreads and low commissions draw consistent praise, contributing to favorable trading conditions.

E8 Markets Pros: What Traders Love

Fast & Reliable Payouts

The number one positive mentioned in trader reviews is payout reliability. Reviewers note fast and secure payouts, with many appreciating the risk interviews as friendly conversations rather than interrogations. Multiple verified traders report receiving payouts within a week of requesting them, with some even reporting same-day processing.

Flexible Drawdown Options

Unlike many competitors with fixed risk parameters, E8 Markets allows traders to customize their drawdown levels during account setup. This flexibility means aggressive traders can opt for tighter drawdowns with lower profit targets, while conservative traders can choose higher drawdowns with correspondingly higher profit targets.

No Time Limits

Traders can get paid in as little as 8 days, and there are no minimum or maximum days to complete challenges. This removes the pressure that comes with time-constrained evaluations at other firms and allows traders to execute their strategies at their natural pace.

Transparent Rules & Communication

Traders appreciate the transparency of the evaluation process and the overall trustworthiness of the firm. The trading rules are clearly outlined, with no hidden gotchas that can lead to unexpected account breaches.

Customer Support Quality

Professional and responsive customer support receives consistent praise across review platforms. The support team is available via live chat and email, with many traders reporting quick resolution times for their questions and concerns.

Scaling Potential

The firm’s aggressive scaling plan allows successful traders to grow their accounts up to $1 million in virtual capital. Payout amounts are not deducted from the account and are used to scale your account over time, meaning your trading capacity increases with each successful withdrawal.

14-Day Free Trial

E8 Markets offers a 14-day free trial where prospective traders can test the platform, dashboard, and trading conditions with a simulated $100,000 account before committing to a paid challenge. This allows traders to verify the firm is a good fit before financial commitment.

E8 Markets Cons: Areas for Improvement

Limited Educational Resources

E8 Markets’ blog is not currently available due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems, and the MVP educational program has yet to launch. For beginners looking for comprehensive training materials, this is a notable gap. The firm would benefit from developing a robust education hub to support trader development.

Consistency Requirements Can Be Strict

While not universally applied, some account types require traders to meet consistency rules for payouts. Some traders mention meeting a 40% consistency requirement, which can extend the time to first payout. This rule exists to prevent high-risk gambling strategies, but it can frustrate traders who achieve profit targets quickly through concentrated positions.

Trading Restrictions

E8 Markets prohibits certain trading activities that may be standard at other firms:

• High-frequency trading (HFT) strategies are restricted
• Account hedging between multiple E8 accounts is not allowed
• Some high-impact news trading may be prohibited depending on account type

The firm restricts news, overnight, and weekend trading on certain account types, which may limit strategies for traders who specifically target these market conditions.

Customer Support Hours

E8 Markets live chat is only available Monday to Friday from 4AM to 4PM CST and on weekends from 8AM to 1PM CST. For traders in significantly different time zones or those who encounter urgent issues outside business hours, this limited availability can be frustrating.

Geographic Restrictions

E8 Markets maintains a substantial list of restricted countries due to regulatory and compliance requirements. Traders from countries including Russia, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and many others cannot participate in E8 Markets programs.

No Instant Funding Option

E8 Markets does not offer instant funding, requiring all traders to pass evaluation challenges before receiving funded accounts. For experienced traders looking to skip evaluations, this may be a dealbreaker compared to competitors offering instant funding programs.

Real Trader Feedback: What The Community Says

To get an accurate picture of E8 Markets’ reputation, we analyzed trader feedback across multiple review platforms.

Trustpilot Reviews

E8markets has a 4-star rating on Trustpilot with 2,911 reviews. The platform shows strong overall satisfaction, though opinions vary based on individual trader experiences.

Positive feedback frequently mentions:

• Fast payout processing
• Professional customer service
• Transparent evaluation rules
• User-friendly trading dashboard
• Reliable platform performance

Negative reviews occasionally cite:

• Rigid evaluation phase requirements
• Verification delays for identity documents
• Customer support response times during peak hours

Independent Review Sites

E8 Markets secures a respectable overall rating of 4.7 out of 5, based on average ratings from three different review platforms: Trustpilot, Trustindex, and Reviews.io. This high score indicates strong customer satisfaction across several aspects.

Scanning user reviews reveals highly positive experiences, with many users highlighting fast and reliable payouts as a key strength alongside professional and responsive customer support.

Common Trader Concerns

Some areas needing attention include occasional issues with payouts and the need for more transparent communication, technical glitches, and some inconsistency in service quality. However, these complaints represent a minority of the overall feedback.

With a response rate of 37% to negative reviews, there’s notable room for improvement in how E8 Markets engages with customer feedback.

E8 Markets vs. Competitors: How Does It Stack Up?

When comparing E8 Markets to other leading proprietary trading firms like FTMO, The5ers, or FundedNext, several factors stand out:

Profit Split: E8 Markets’ 80-100% profit split is competitive with industry leaders. While not the highest available, it’s substantially better than the 70-75% offered by some competitors.

Challenge Variety: The 1-step, 2-step, and 3-step options provide more flexibility than firms offering only a single evaluation path. This customization allows traders to select challenge structures that match their trading style.

Scaling Speed: The 25% capital increase every three months is aggressive compared to industry averages, where quarterly scaling typically ranges from 10-20%.

Evaluation Fees: Entry-level challenges start at $33-40, which is competitive with similar account sizes at other firms. However, larger account challenges can reach $1,000+, which is standard across the industry.

Geographic Reach: E8 Markets accepts traders from over 70 countries, though the restricted country list is more extensive than some competitors.

Who Should Choose E8 Markets?

E8 Markets is particularly well-suited for:

Intermediate to Advanced Traders: Those who already have a proven strategy and can meet profit targets without excessive hand-holding will thrive. The lack of comprehensive educational resources makes this less ideal for complete beginners.

Risk-Conscious Traders: The customizable drawdown options appeal to traders who prefer managing risk according to their specific risk tolerance rather than being forced into one-size-fits-all parameters.

Scalpers & Day Traders: The no-time-limit structure and fast payout processing benefit active traders who can achieve targets quickly.

Traders Seeking Quick Payouts: The 8-day minimum to first payout is among the fastest in the industry, appealing to traders who want rapid access to earnings.

E8 Markets may not be the best choice for:

Complete Beginners: Without substantial educational resources, new traders may struggle to develop the skills needed to pass evaluations.

News Traders: Restrictions on news trading may limit certain strategies.

US Futures Traders: Platform limitations for US residents may be restrictive depending on your preferred trading software.

Is E8 Markets Legit or a Scam?

E8 Markets really does pay the share of profit earned from the platform, with community feedback from various sources confirming that the prop firm pays and is not a scam. The firm has paid out over $63 million to traders since its inception, demonstrating a track record of honoring its payout obligations.

Several factors confirm E8 Markets’ legitimacy:

Registered Business Entity: The company is properly registered as E8 Funding LLC in the United States with physical offices in Dallas, Texas.

Transparent Operations: The firm clearly discloses that all trading occurs in a simulated environment, not with real broker accounts. This transparency about their business model is a positive sign.

Consistent Payout History: Thousands of verified trader reviews confirm regular payouts, with many traders receiving multiple payouts over extended periods.

Active Community Engagement: The firm maintains active social media presence and engages with the trading community through Discord and other platforms.

However, it’s important to understand that like all prop firms, E8 Markets operates on a simulated trading model. Your trades don’t go to the actual market. The firm makes money through evaluation fees and a percentage of your simulated profits. This doesn’t make it a scam, but traders should understand the business model they’re participating in.

Final Verdict: Should You Trade With E8 Markets?

E8 Markets presents a solid option in the proprietary trading firm landscape, particularly for traders who value fast payouts, flexible risk parameters, and transparent evaluation processes. E8 Markets shines as a reputable company in the proprietary trading world, showing commitment to improvement and positioning itself as a trustworthy and forward-looking firm.

The firm’s strengths—competitive profit splits, customizable drawdowns, no time limits, and reliable payouts—outweigh its weaknesses for most traders. The main limitations involve educational resources and certain trading restrictions that may not suit every trading style.

For traders with proven strategies looking to scale capital without risking personal funds, E8 Markets delivers on its core promise. The 4-star Trustpilot rating and consistently positive feedback about payout reliability provide confidence that this is a legitimate operation that honors its commitments to funded traders.