The Futures Desk Is Now Part of Topstep (April 2026 Update)

Q: Is The Futures Desk a legit futures prop firm, and do they really pay out?

Yes. The Futures Desk is a futures-only proprietary trading firm that moves successful traders into live brokerage accounts at regulated FCMs rather than keeping everything on internal simulated balances. Once you complete the assessment and sim-brokerage stages, you trade real capital in a brokerage account and all payouts come directly from that real account, not from simulated PnL, which is why they emphasize no simulated payouts in their marketing.

Q: Do payouts at The Futures Desk come from simulated accounts or real brokerage accounts?

All payouts at The Futures Desk come from real brokerage accounts once you are in the live stage. You do not receive payouts from the Assessment Desk or sim-brokerage stages; those are purely simulated and exist to qualify you for real capital. This is a key difference from many instant funding models that pay from simulated balances and never put you on a real FCM account.

Q: How many accounts can I have with The Futures Desk, and can I scale up later?

The Futures Desk currently allows a maximum of two accounts per trader. This limit applies regardless of whether the accounts are in assessment, sim-brokerage, or live brokerage stages, and is part of their focus on sustainability over mass scaling. If you want to manage more capital, the idea is to grow the size and balance of those accounts over time rather than stacking a large number of separate evaluations and funded accounts.

Q: Is The Futures Desk a one-step or multi-step evaluation, and how do renewals and resets work?

The Futures Desk uses a multi-step process: Assessment Desk, then sim-brokerage, then live brokerage. You must complete at least six trading days in the Assessment Desk to qualify, and there is an additional sim-brokerage stage before you trade real capital. Renewals typically occur if you reach the time limit without hitting your targets, while resets are available if you violate max drawdown and want to start again; resets are limited to prevent abuse, and each reset brings your account back to its starting conditions for a new attempt.

Q: What markets and products can I trade with The Futures Desk?

The Futures Desk focuses exclusively on CME Group futures products, such as equity index futures, treasury futures, energies, metals, and other supported CME/CBOT/NYMEX/COMEX contracts. They do not currently support spot forex, stocks, or options; the entire model is built around futures trading on regulated U.S. exchanges. Available symbols can vary by account type and platform, so it is best to confirm the full contract list in their knowledge base or pricing pages before you start an assessment.

Q: What commissions and fees does The Futures Desk charge on futures trades?

The Futures Desk uses CME membership pricing and negotiated rates to offer low all-in commissions for both E-mini and micro contracts. E-mini futures typically have all-in costs in the low $1.x per side per contract range, while micros are often around a few dimes per side, although exact numbers can change as exchange and clearing fees change. One key point is that you pay realistic brokerage-style commissions, not inflated per-contract markups; evaluation and live brokerage stages use a similar cost structure so your edge does not disappear when you graduate to real capital.

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As of April 1, 2026, The Futures Desk is now part of Topstep. The TFD founders announced that they are combining everything under Topstep to double down on helping traders succeed in live markets.

In their own words: “We built TFD because we wanted to create a platform focused on developing traders to succeed in live markets. This mission is exactly why we came together. Topstep shares our obsession, and we’re committed to bringing you the same developmental tools and support that made TFD stand out to you.”

You can watch the official announcement from The Futures Desk Co‑Founder Josh Schwartzberg and Topstep Founder Michael Patak here: Official TFD × Topstep video.

What This Means for The Futures Desk Traders

Keep trading: Current The Futures Desk traders can continue to trade their Evaluation Accounts.
Funded accounts stay live: If you earn a funded account, you will still receive a Live TFD funded account with the same live funded and payout rules as before.
No new signups or resets: Effective immediately, The Futures Desk is no longer accepting new account purchases or resets on existing evaluations as the platform is integrated into Topstep.
Subscriptions without active accounts: For active subscriptions where no active trading account is found at the time of renewal, the subscription will be canceled automatically before the renewal date.

In the meantime, your current TFD account, evaluation terms, and support remain active with no interruption—but all new futures traders should now go through Topstep instead of The Futures Desk.

Where to Go Now That The Futures Desk Is Closed to New Traders

If you were planning to sign up with The Futures Desk, your best move now is to start with my full Topstep review or compare Topstep against other leading futures prop firms on my main Best Futures Prop Firms rankings page.

Topstep is integrating The Futures Desk tools and coaching into its own platform, so you still get the developmental focus that made TFD popular—just under the Topstep brand and infrastructure.

Historical Review: What Made The Futures Desk Stand Out?

The rest of this page is kept as a historical review of The Futures Desk so traders can see what the firm offered before the acquisition. Treat everything below as archived information. If you want a live, currently‑available futures prop firm, use the updated Topstep review and the futures prop firm hub linked above.

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Quick Summary: Is The Futures Desk Good in 2026?

Best for: Serious futures traders who want low commissions, real brokerage accounts, and no payout caps once live.
Not ideal for: Traders who want ultra‑cheap one‑phase “instant funding” or lots of simultaneous accounts.
Max accounts: 2 accounts per trader.
Path to live: Assessment → Sim‑brokerage → Live brokerage, minimum 6 days to reach live uncapped payouts.
Drawdown: Static or end‑of‑day (EOD); no intraday unrealized trailing drawdown.
Payouts: Daily, uncapped, from real brokerage accounts—no simulated payouts.

If you want to compare The Futures Desk with every other futures prop firm we’ve reviewed, start with our
Best Futures Prop Firms rankings.

How The Futures Desk Funding Model Works

The Futures Desk uses a three‑stage model that moves you from simulated trading to real brokerage capital as quickly as possible, without pretending that simulated “funded” accounts are live money.

Stage 1: Assessment Desk (Evaluation)

You trade a simulated account with rules around profit target, max drawdown, and minimum trading days.
Minimum of 6 trading days to complete the assessment and qualify for the next step.
You can choose different drawdown types (static or end‑of‑day) depending on your risk preference.
Hitting the max drawdown fails the evaluation; hitting the daily loss limit typically triggers a soft lockout, not full failure.

Stage 2: Sim Brokerage (Short Transitional Phase)

After passing the assessment, you move to a sim‑brokerage stage that mirrors live conditions but is still simulated.
This phase is designed to confirm your consistency and execution under conditions closer to the live environment.
There are no payouts from sim‑brokerage; all payouts happen only from live brokerage accounts.

Stage 3: Live Brokerage (Real Capital & Uncapped Daily Payouts)

Once you complete sim‑brokerage, you are moved into a real brokerage account with a regulated FCM (Dorman/Plus500 or similar).
From this point forward, all trading is on real capital and all payouts come from the brokerage account—no simulated payouts at any stage.
Payouts are daily and uncapped, with a low minimum payout threshold, and can be processed via RiseWorks if you request before the daily cutoff.
There are no consistency rules and no arbitrary payout windows once you are live; you are treated like a professional trader, not a challenge customer.

The Futures Desk is very clear that they are not a “direct‑to‑funded” shop and that most firms using that label are still paying from simulated accounts. Here, you pay for a short evaluation path and then trade real brokerage capital with uncapped payouts once you are through.

Account Sizes, Max Accounts, and Drawdown

The Futures Desk offers multiple evaluation sizes, each with a profit target, max drawdown, and daily loss limit. Details can change over time, so treat the structure below as a framework and always confirm on their pricing page.

Account sizes: Multiple tiers designed for intraday traders and swing traders in ES, NQ, CL, and other CME futures.
Max accounts: You can have up to 2 accounts per trader.
Drawdown types: Choose between static or end‑of‑day (EOD) drawdown—both are far more trader‑friendly than intraday unrealized trailing.
Daily loss limit: Acts as a soft lockout point; hitting daily loss is not a hard fail, but hitting max drawdown is.

If you want more background on how different drawdown models work in prop firms, read our Prop Firm Drawdown Policies Guide and our detailed explanation of unrealized trailing drawdown.

Payouts: Real Brokerage Only, Daily and Uncapped

The biggest selling point of The Futures Desk in 2026 is how they handle payouts compared to “instant funding” shops.

No simulated payouts – You do not receive payouts from simulated accounts. All profit withdrawals happen from live brokerage accounts once you are through the assessment and sim‑brokerage stages.
Daily, uncapped payouts – Once live, you can request payouts daily with no cap on how much you can withdraw, subject only to your available account balance.
Fast processing – Payout requests made before the daily cutoff are typically processed the same day via RiseWorks.
No consistency rules once live – There are no requirements around how profits must be distributed across days in order to be paid.

If you are tired of simulated “funded” accounts that never convert to real brokerage, The Futures Desk’s structure is a clear upgrade: you pass a short evaluation and then deal only with real accounts and real payouts.

Commissions and Fees at The Futures Desk

The Futures Desk leans heavily on low commissions as a competitive edge by using CME membership and negotiated rates.

E‑mini contracts: All‑in rates (commissions + fees) are typically around the low $1.x per side range per contract.
Micro contracts: Around $0.xx all‑in per side, depending on the exact product.
No hidden “prop tax” spreads: You pay real, competitive commissions instead of padded per‑contract markups.

Exact rates can change as exchanges adjust fees, so always confirm current commission schedules on The Futures Desk site or with their support before committing to a specific account size.

Trading Platforms: TFD‑X (ProjectX), Rithmic, and Advanced DOM Tools

The Futures Desk offers several platform choices geared toward active futures traders, including a ProjectX‑based web platform and Rithmic‑powered DOM tools.

TFD‑X (ProjectX‑based) – A web platform built on the same ProjectX tech that powers TopstepX. It includes firm‑integrated risk controls, clear rule visibility, and platform‑level protections on daily loss and drawdown.
Rithmic connectivity – For traders who prefer pro DOM and footprint tools, TFD offers Rithmic, which lets you connect platforms like Sierra Chart, Quantower, Jigsaw, and Bookmap.
Hybrid setups – Many traders will run TFD‑X for oversight and risk while using Rithmic‑based DOM platforms for scalping and advanced order flow.

If you want to see how TFD‑X compares with other major platforms used by futures prop firms, check our updated guide: Best Prop Firm Trading Platforms.

Regulation, Brokerage Structure, and Safety

The Futures Desk is a proprietary trading operation, not a retail broker. When you reach the live brokerage stage, your trades run through regulated FCMs like Dorman or Plus500.

Regulated FCMs – Live accounts are held at NFA/CFTC‑regulated brokerages, not inside a prop firm’s internal simulator.
POA on sub‑accounts – Traders receive a power of attorney structure on sub‑accounts, similar to many professional prop setups.
Clear separation – TFD handles the prop and evaluation side; the FCM handles custody, execution, and regulatory compliance.

This structure is closer to a traditional prop‑desk + broker relationship than the purely internal “casino‑prop” model used by some firms.

Pros and Cons of The Futures Desk in 2026

Pros

Short path to real brokerage accounts (minimum 6 days to reach the live stage if you hit targets).
No simulated payouts—only real brokerage payouts once live.
Daily, uncapped payouts with no consistency rules in the live stage.
Trader‑friendly static/EOD drawdown and no intraday unrealized trailing.
Low all‑in commissions via CME membership, great for active futures traders and scalpers.
Access to both TFD‑X (ProjectX‑based) and Rithmic‑powered pro platforms.

Cons

Max of 2 accounts per trader—less scaling than some mass‑market prop firms that allow 10–20 accounts.
No “instant funding” marketing; you must still complete assessments and sim‑brokerage before reaching live payouts.
Less appealing if you only want a cheap, one‑phase challenge with simulated payouts and no interest in real brokerage.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Choose The Futures Desk?

The Futures Desk is best for futures traders who care about:

Low commissions and long‑term survivability more than ultra‑cheap evaluations.
Trading real brokerage accounts with daily, uncapped payouts.
Using professional platforms like TFD‑X and Rithmic‑powered DOM/footprint tools.

If your goal is to treat prop trading like a serious futures business, The Futures Desk’s combination of evaluations, sim‑brokerage transition, and true live brokerage payouts makes it one of the most professional futures prop options in 2026.

To see how it stacks up against other firms like Apex, Take Profit Trader, Tradeify, Lucid, and Alpha Futures, check out our updated Futures Prop Firm Rankings before you decide where to place your next evaluation.

The Futures Desk FAQ (2026)

Answers to the most common questions traders ask about The Futures Desk: legitimacy, payouts, timelines, rules, platforms, and commissions.

Is The Futures Desk a legit futures prop firm, and do they really pay out?

Yes. The Futures Desk is a futures‑only proprietary trading firm that moves successful traders into live brokerage accounts at regulated FCMs (such as Dorman or Plus500) rather than keeping everything on internal simulated balances. Once you complete the assessment and sim‑brokerage stages, you trade real capital in a brokerage account and all payouts come directly from that real account, not from simulated PnL, which is why they emphasize “no simulated payouts” in their marketing.

How many days does it take to reach live brokerage and uncapped daily payouts at TFD?

The bare minimum time to reach a live brokerage account with uncapped daily payouts is six trading days, assuming you hit your profit target, respect the drawdown rules, and do not trigger any lockouts. Those six days cover the initial assessment period; after that, you pass through a short sim‑brokerage transition before being moved into a live brokerage account. In practice, most traders take longer than six days because they spread risk and avoid forcing trades just to hit the minimum.

Do payouts at The Futures Desk come from simulated accounts or real brokerage accounts?

All payouts at The Futures Desk come from real brokerage accounts once you are in the live stage. You do not receive payouts from the Assessment Desk or sim‑brokerage stages; those are purely simulated and exist to qualify you for real capital. This is a key difference from many “instant funding” models that pay from simulated balances and never put you on a real FCM account.

Can I get daily payouts at The Futures Desk, and are there payout caps or consistency rules?

Once you are trading in a live brokerage account, The Futures Desk offers daily payouts with no payout caps. As long as you meet the minimum withdrawal amount (typically around $100) and have the funds in your live account, you can request a payout, and requests made before the daily cutoff are usually processed the same day via their payout provider. There are no consistency rules or payout windows in the live stage—your payout eligibility is based on your real account balance, not on how profits are distributed across days.

How many accounts can I have with The Futures Desk, and can I scale up later?

The Futures Desk currently allows a maximum of two accounts per trader. This limit applies regardless of whether the accounts are in assessment, sim‑brokerage, or live brokerage stages, and is part of their focus on sustainability over mass scaling. If you want to manage more capital, the idea is to grow the size and balance of those accounts over time rather than stacking a large number of separate evaluations and funded accounts.

Is The Futures Desk a one-step or multi-step evaluation, and how do renewals and resets work?

The Futures Desk uses a multi‑step process: Assessment Desk, then sim‑brokerage, then live brokerage. You must complete at least six trading days in the Assessment Desk to qualify, and there is an additional sim‑brokerage stage before you trade real capital. Renewals typically occur if you reach the time limit without hitting your targets, while resets are available if you violate max drawdown and want to start again; resets are limited (for example, one per day) to prevent abuse, and each reset brings your account back to its starting conditions for a new attempt.

What markets and products can I trade with The Futures Desk?

The Futures Desk focuses exclusively on CME Group futures products, such as equity index futures (ES, NQ, YM), treasury futures, energies (CL, NG), metals (GC, SI), and other supported CME/CBOT/NYMEX/COMEX contracts. They do not currently support spot forex, stocks, or options; the entire model is built around futures trading on regulated U.S. exchanges. Available symbols can vary by account type and platform, so it is best to confirm the full contract list in their knowledge base or pricing pages before you start an assessment.

What commissions and fees does The Futures Desk charge on futures trades?

The Futures Desk uses CME membership pricing and negotiated rates to offer low all‑in commissions for both E‑mini and micro contracts. E‑mini futures typically have all‑in costs in the low $1.x per side per contract range, while micros are often around a few dimes per side, although exact numbers can change as exchange and clearing fees change. One key point is that you pay realistic brokerage‑style commissions, not inflated “prop tax” per‑contract markups; evaluation and live brokerage stages use a similar cost structure so your edge does not disappear when you graduate to real capital.

Does The Futures Desk allow algorithmic trading, copy trading, and automation tools like TradingView or TradersPost?

The Futures Desk generally allows algorithmic trading and automation as long as your strategy respects their risk limits and does not generate abusive order flow. Through Rithmic connectivity, traders can link third‑party platforms and copy traders, and TFD has explicitly promoted tools such as ETP trade copiers for Rithmic users in their communications. You can also integrate with automation services like TradersPost or TradingView‑based workflows where supported, but you are still responsible for ensuring that your automated system stays within daily loss, drawdown, and position‑size rules at all times.

Can I trade news events and hold positions through major economic releases at TFD?

The Futures Desk does not universally ban news trading, but they expect traders to manage risk responsibly around major economic events. You can typically hold positions through scheduled releases as long as you respect your daily loss, max drawdown, and product‑specific risk parameters set by the firm and the brokerage. Because news volatility can cause large slippage and rapid drawdown changes, it is smart to reduce size or flatten ahead of key events unless your strategy is specifically designed for news‑driven order flow and you fully understand the risk.

Which trading platforms can I use at The Futures Desk?

The Futures Desk offers both a TFD‑X web platform built on ProjectX and Rithmic connectivity for advanced third‑party tools. TFD‑X provides an all‑in‑one web interface with integrated risk controls, rule visibility, and performance tracking, while Rithmic lets you connect platforms like Sierra Chart, Quantower, Jigsaw, Bookmap, and other pro DOM/footprint tools. Many traders run TFD‑X for oversight and dashboards while using a Rithmic‑based DOM or charting platform as their primary execution screen, combining firm‑integrated risk with professional trading tools.

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