Alpha Futures Inactivity Rule: Will You Lose Your Account?

Alpha Futures enforces a strict 10 trading day inactivity policy across all account types—evaluation and funded, Standard and Advanced and Zero. Trading platforms archive your trading data after 10 consecutive trading days without executing at least one trade. This isn't 10 calendar days—it's 10 actual trading sessions, roughly 2 weeks of market time.

The rule seems simple: trade once every 10 trading days, any size, any instrument. But the consequences of violation, the lack of warnings, and the compressed timeline create real account loss risk for part-time traders, those taking vacations, or anyone facing unexpected life events preventing trading access.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Alpha Futures and the info available when I published/updated this. Things change in prop trading — rules, payouts, promos, all of it.

For the absolute latest, check Alpha Futures's website or their help center.

The 10 Trading Day Rule: Exact Parameters

Alpha's official policy: "Trading platforms archive trading data after 10 inactive trading days. To keep your account active you must place at least one trade at least once every 10 trading days (does not matter size of trade)."

What counts as "trading days":

• Monday through Friday when markets are open (excluding holidays)
• You must execute a trade, not just log in or place orders that don't fill
• The trade can be any size (1 micro contract qualifies)
• The trade can be any instrument Alpha supports (ES, NQ, CL, etc.)
• The trade can result in profit or loss—outcome doesn't matter

What doesn't count:

• Logging into your dashboard without trading
• Placing limit orders that never fill
• Weekends and market holidays (don't count toward 10-day clock)
• Cancelled orders or pending orders

Timeline calculation:

Day 1-10: You're safe. Trade anytime during this period and the clock resets.

Day 11: If you haven't traded by end of day 10, your account data gets archived on day 11.

Example: Last trade Friday, January 3rd. Counting 10 trading days forward: January 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. By end of day Friday, January 17th (day 10), you must execute another trade. If you don't trade by January 17th close, your account archives on Monday, January 20th (day 11).

What "Archived" Actually Means

Alpha states that "trading platforms archive trading data"—but what does this mean for your account practically?

Based on prop firm industry standards and Alpha's documentation, archiving likely means:

For evaluation accounts:

• Your account progress freezes
• You cannot execute new trades
• Your evaluation period doesn't advance
• Monthly subscription continues billing (you're still paying for inactive account)
• You may need to contact support to reactivate or reset

For funded accounts:

• Account access suspended
• Cannot trade or request payouts
• Accumulated profits frozen
• May require support intervention to restore access
• Risk of permanent account closure if inactivity extends significantly

Critical uncertainty: Alpha's help center doesn't explicitly detail whether archived accounts are permanently closed or can be restored. This ambiguity creates risk—you might lose weeks of evaluation progress or thousands in funded account profits.

Why Alpha's Rule Is Stricter Than Most Competitors

Most prop firms use 30-90 day inactivity policies measured in calendar days. Alpha's 10 trading days (roughly 14 calendar days including weekends) is significantly tighter.

Competitor comparison:

Lucid Trading: 30 days of inactivity before account suspension, measured in calendar days. You have full month without trading.

TopOneFutures: No published strict inactivity policy, generally allows extended breaks.

Tradeify: 60 days calendar inactivity before account review.

TakeProfitTrader: 30 days calendar inactivity guideline.

Alpha Futures: 10 trading days = approximately 14 calendar days. Strictest in the industry.

Why this matters:

Two-week vacation? You'll violate Alpha's policy but stay compliant at other firms.

Unexpected illness requiring 3 weeks away? Alpha archives your account; others remain active.

Busy work period preventing trading for 15 days? Alpha violation; most firms unaffected.

Real-World Scenarios Creating Inactivity Risk

Scenario 1: Extended Vacation

You're traveling internationally for 3 weeks with no reliable internet or trading platform access. Alpha's 10 trading days expires during week 2, archiving your account while you're mid-vacation.

Solution: Execute one micro contract trade before leaving (costs $10-$20 in commissions), or arrange trusted person to execute single trade on your behalf during trip.

Scenario 2: Medical Emergency

Unexpected hospitalization or serious illness preventing computer access for 2-3 weeks. You're focused on health, not trading—Alpha archives your account automatically.

Solution: Minimal. Contact Alpha support immediately upon recovery explaining circumstances. They may restore account as courtesy, but policy gives them no obligation.

Scenario 3: Work/Life Crisis

Job crisis, family emergency, or major life event consuming all attention for 15-20 days. Trading becomes impossible priority.

Solution: If you have any advance warning, execute one quick trade before crisis fully consumes you. Otherwise, risk account archival and hope Alpha support shows leniency.

Scenario 4: Failed Technology

Computer crashes, trading platform login issues, or internet outage lasting 10+ days while waiting for repairs or technical support.

Solution: Maintain backup access method—mobile app, friend's computer, internet cafe. One micro trade from backup access prevents archival.

Scenario 5: Part-Time Trader Inconsistency

You trade sporadically based on high-conviction setups. Two weeks pass without quality setup meeting your criteria—you don't force trades just for activity.

Solution: Alpha's policy forces "maintenance trades" even when no setups exist. Execute one micro contract trade every 7-9 days as insurance preventing violation regardless of setup quality.

Strategies to Prevent Inactivity Violations

Strategy 1: Calendar Reminder System

Set recurring calendar alert every 7 days: "ALPHA MAINTENANCE TRADE REQUIRED." This creates 3-day buffer before 10-day deadline.

Trade one MES or MNQ micro contract capturing 2-4 ticks ($5-$10 profit/loss), closing immediately. Total time: 2-5 minutes. Minimal risk, resets your inactivity clock.

Strategy 2: Designated Trading Days

Commit to trading Mondays and Thursdays weekly (or Tuesday/Friday, etc.). This guarantees you'll never exceed 3-4 days between trades, providing massive buffer under 10-day limit.

Even if you only execute one small trade each designated day when no setups exist, you've protected account continuity.

Strategy 3: Authorized Representative

Grant a trusted person (trading partner, family member, friend) access to execute single trade if you're unreachable. Provide clear instructions: "If I haven't contacted you within 8 days, execute one MES trade immediately."

Important: This may violate Alpha's terms if they consider it "account sharing." Use cautiously and ensure the representative only executes minimal maintenance trades, not actual trading decisions.

Strategy 4: Mobile Platform Backup

Install trading platform mobile app ensuring you can execute trades from phone anywhere with internet. Vacation, business trip, hospital—you can execute one 30-second micro trade from phone preventing archival.

Strategy 5: Micro Contract Insurance Trades

Keep risk minimal during forced maintenance trades: use MES (E-mini S&P 500 micro) or MNQ (E-mini Nasdaq micro) with immediate market entry/exit.

Example: Buy 1 MES at current market price (say 4,500.00), sell immediately at market (fills around 4,500.25-4,499.75). You've made/lost $1.25-$6.25, but reset your inactivity clock completely.

This costs essentially nothing in P&L risk but maintains account active status.

What to Do If You've Already Violated the Rule

Step 1: Contact Alpha Support Immediately

Email support@alpha-futures.com explaining situation:

• When your last trade occurred
• Reason for inactivity (illness, travel, emergency)
• Request account reactivation

Be honest and professional. Support may restore access as courtesy.

Step 2: Document Your Request

Save all support correspondence with timestamps. If account restoration is delayed or denied, documentation supports any dispute or escalation.

Step 3: Prepare for Potential Loss

Worst case: Alpha refuses restoration. Evaluation accounts lose all progress (but you can purchase new evaluation). Funded accounts may lose accumulated profits and qualification status.

Budget for this possibility. Don't assume automatic restoration.

Step 4: Learn and Implement Prevention

If Alpha restores your account, immediately implement one of the prevention strategies above. Second violations are harder to excuse.

The Monthly Subscription Complication

Alpha's monthly subscription continues billing even if your account archives from inactivity. You're paying $79-$419/month for an account you cannot trade.

This creates double penalty:

• Account archived (no access)
• Subscription still charging (losing money)

If you know you'll be inactive 30+ days, consider canceling subscription before inactivity period begins. Yes, you'll lose evaluation progress, but you'll stop hemorrhaging monthly fees for unusable accounts.

Math example:

You're inactive 6 weeks (30 trading days) on $100K Standard eval:

• Subscription: $159 × 2 months = $318 paid for frozen account
• Account archived after 10 days, but you paid full 60 days
• Alternative: Cancel before inactivity, save $318, restart fresh when you return

Does the Rule Apply Equally to All Account Types?

Alpha's help center doesn't differentiate—the 10 trading day inactivity policy applies to:

• Standard evaluations
• Advanced evaluations
• Zero evaluations
• Standard funded accounts
• Advanced funded accounts
• Zero funded accounts

All accounts face same archival risk. Your $150K funded account generating $10K monthly income faces identical 10-day policy as a $50K evaluation account.

This seems harsh for funded accounts where you've proven profitability and generated revenue for Alpha. Many traders expect more leniency on funded accounts versus evaluations.

Comparison: Inactivity Rules Across Prop Firms

Alpha's 10 trading day policy is 2-4× stricter than industry standard, creating higher account loss risk for part-time traders or those facing temporary life disruptions.

Bottom Line: The 10-Day Rule Is Serious—Protect Yourself

Alpha Futures' 10 trading day inactivity policy is the strictest among major prop firms. At roughly 14 calendar days including weekends, you have minimal buffer for vacations, emergencies, or life events preventing trading access.

Account archival is real risk—not theoretical possibility. The policy applies equally to evaluation and funded accounts. No automatic warnings are sent before archival occurs.

Implement prevention now: Set calendar reminders every 7 days, execute micro contract maintenance trades consuming 2-5 minutes, maintain mobile platform access, or designate backup trading capability.

If you're a part-time trader, travel frequently, or have unpredictable schedule, Alpha's inactivity rule creates structural incompatibility with your lifestyle. Consider firms with 30-60 day policies providing more breathing room.

For active daily traders executing multiple setups weekly, the 10-day rule is invisible—you'll never approach the limit. But for everyone else, it's a hidden trap requiring constant vigilance and deliberate prevention strategies.

Don't lose weeks of evaluation progress or thousands in funded profits to a preventable inactivity violation. Trade at least once every 7-9 days without exception, even if it's a meaningless 1-micro-contract flip trade costing $5 in commissions.

The rule is unforgiving. The consequences are serious. The prevention is simple—just execute one tiny trade regularly.

Protect your account.

Next Steps

👉 Start Trading at Alpha Futures Today

👉 Read My Full Alpha Futures Review

👉 Alpha Futures Payout Rules

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