AquaFutures "On Hold" Accounts: What It Means When You Pass a 4th Evaluation

Written by Paul

Published on

January 12, 2026

When you pass a 4th AquaFutures evaluation while already holding 3 funded accounts (the maximum), your newly passed account goes "on hold." You can't trade it, you can't withdraw from it, and it doesn't activate until you close or breach one of your existing funded accounts.

Quick heads-up: This article is based on my real experience with Aquafutures 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 Aquafutures´s website or their faq page.

The on-hold account stays frozen indefinitely—for weeks, months, or years—until a funded slot opens. You've passed the evaluation, but you can't use the account until you're under the 3-account limit.

I'm breaking down why the 3-account limit exists, what happens to on-hold accounts, how to prioritize which accounts to keep active, strategies for managing multiple funded accounts, and whether passing a 4th evaluation makes sense.

Why AquaFutures Limits You to 3 Funded Accounts

The 3-account limit is a risk management policy. AquaFutures is backing your trading with real capital—if they let you scale indefinitely, their exposure becomes unmanageable.

With 3 funded $50K accounts, you're trading $150K of AquaFutures' capital. That's already significant exposure.

With 10 funded $50K accounts, you'd be trading $500K. If you breach all 10 in one week, AquaFutures loses massively.

The 3-account cap:

Limits per-trader exposure
Forces traders to manage capital efficiently
Prevents overtrading and burnout
Keeps the firm's risk manageable

Most prop firms have similar limits: Topstep allows 3-5 accounts, Apex allows 3 initially (can scale to 15+ with performance), FTMO allows 2-4 depending on account size.

For account comparison details, see the account sizes guide.

What "On Hold" Status Means

When your 4th evaluation passes but you already have 3 funded accounts active:

✅ You've successfully passed the evaluation - AquaFutures recognizes you met all requirements (profit target, win days, consistency rule, no breaches).

❌ The account doesn't activate - It stays in "On Hold" status. You can't log in, you can't trade it, you can't access the platform.

⏳ It waits in a queue - Once you close or breach one of your 3 active funded accounts, the on-hold account automatically activates.

💰 Your subscription continues - If it's an evaluation-based account, you keep paying $114-$196/month even though the funded version is on hold.

📋 Progress is preserved - Your trade history, profit target completion, and win days are locked in. You don't need to retrade the evaluation when it activates.

How Long Do Accounts Stay On Hold?

Indefinitely—until you free up a funded slot.

Scenarios:

Scenario 1: You breach a funded account next week

Your 4th account (on hold) automatically activates when the breached account closes. You're back to 3 active funded accounts.

Scenario 2: You voluntarily close a funded account

If you decide to close one of your 3 active accounts (maybe it's underperforming or you want to consolidate), the on-hold account activates immediately.

Scenario 3: You keep all 3 funded accounts healthy

The on-hold account stays frozen forever—or until you breach/close one of the active three.

Scenario 4: You pass a 5th evaluation

Now you have 2 accounts on hold. They'll activate in the order you passed them as funded slots open.

There's no time limit. An account can stay on hold for months or years if you never breach your active funded accounts.

Do You Keep Paying Subscription Fees for On-Hold Accounts?

If it's an evaluation-based account (Beginner/Standard):

You paid monthly fees during the evaluation phase ($114-$196/month × however many months it took to pass). Once the evaluation passes, there are no more subscription fees—even if the funded version is on hold.

If it's an Instant funded account:

You paid a one-time fee ($291). Once you pass the 7 win days and the account would normally fund, it goes on hold if you already have 3 active accounts. You don't pay any additional fees while it's on hold.

Summary: You don't pay ongoing fees for on-hold funded accounts. You already paid to pass the evaluation—the on-hold status doesn't cost you anything extra.

Can You Trade an On-Hold Account?

No. On-hold accounts are completely frozen. You can't:

Log into the platform
Place trades
Withdraw profits (there are no profits—it hasn't traded yet)
Access account data

The account sits in limbo until a funded slot opens. Once it activates, you start trading it like a normal funded account.

What Happens When a Funded Slot Opens?

When you breach or close one of your 3 active funded accounts, your oldest on-hold account automatically activates.

Activation process:

Funded account closes - You breach Account A (one of your 3 active funded accounts)
Notification sent - AquaFutures emails you: "Account D [on hold] has been activated"
Platform access granted - You can now log into Account D and start trading
Funded account rules apply - Wave stop, 5% max drawdown, contract limits—everything a normal funded account has

Win days requirement: You'll need to accumulate 5 win days on the newly activated account before requesting your first payout, just like any funded account.

For funded account rules, see the funded account guide.

Should You Pass a 4th Evaluation If You Already Have 3 Funded Accounts?

Arguments for passing more evaluations:

✅ Instant replacement if you breach - If you breach a funded account, your on-hold account activates immediately. No downtime, no restarting an evaluation.

✅ Peace of mind - Knowing you have backup accounts reduces pressure on your active funded accounts.

✅ Future scaling - If AquaFutures ever increases the account limit from 3 to 5, you'll already have accounts ready to activate.

Arguments against passing more evaluations:

❌ Wasted time - The weeks you spend passing a 4th evaluation could be spent trading your 3 funded accounts and making profits.

❌ Subscription costs - If you're paying $114-$342/month across multiple evaluations, that's capital you could invest elsewhere.

❌ Mental bandwidth - Managing 3 funded accounts is already complex. Adding evaluations on top creates unnecessary stress.

❌ Opportunity cost - You're trading evaluations (which pay nothing) instead of funded accounts (which generate income).

Recommendation: Focus on keeping your 3 funded accounts healthy rather than passing a 4th. If you breach one, start a new evaluation then—not before.

How to Prioritize Which Accounts to Keep Active

If you have 4 passed evaluations (3 active, 1 on hold) and you need to choose which accounts to trade, prioritize by:

1. Account Size

Larger accounts = more capital = higher profit potential. If you have one $100K and two $50K accounts active, plus a $25K on hold, keep the $100K and $50K accounts active.

2. Drawdown Cushion

Accounts with more room before breach are safer to trade. If Account A has $3,000 cushion and Account B has $800 cushion, prioritize Account A.

3. Contract Limits

If one account has 9 contracts and another has 6, the 9-contract account gives you more flexibility (or risk, depending on how you use it).

4. Rule Structure

Beginner accounts have EOD drawdown tracking (easier). Standard accounts have intraday tracking (harder). If you have both types, the Beginner funded account might be easier to keep alive.

5. Profitability

If Account A has made $8,000 and Account B has made $1,200, you might prioritize Account B (lower buffer holdback) or Account A (proven profitability)—depends on your strategy.

Managing 3 Active Funded Accounts: Strategies

Trading 3 funded accounts simultaneously requires discipline:

Strategy 1: Identical Trade Replication

Take the same trades across all 3 accounts. If you go long 6 ES on Account A, go long 6 ES on Accounts B and C.

Pros: Simple execution, diversification across 3 firms' risk management, scales profits 3x.

Cons: If you breach, you breach all 3 simultaneously. No room for error.

Strategy 2: Rotational Trading

Trade one account per day. Monday = Account A, Tuesday = Account B, Wednesday = Account C, repeat.

Pros: Reduced mental load, less simultaneous exposure, spreads breach risk across time.

Cons: Slower profit accumulation, doesn't fully utilize all capital.

Strategy 3: Tiered Risk Allocation

Account A: Aggressive (6 contracts, larger targets). Account B: Moderate (4 contracts). Account C: Conservative (2-3 contracts, preservation mode).

Pros: If Account A breaches, Accounts B and C survive. Diversifies risk profiles.

Cons: Complex mental accounting, underutilizes Account C's capital.

Strategy 4: Specialized Strategies

Account A: Day trading ES. Account B: Swing trading. Account C: News-based trading.

Pros: Exploits different market conditions, reduces correlated risk.

Cons: Requires mastery of multiple strategies, complex execution.

Most traders use Strategy 1 (identical replication) because it's simplest. If you're consistently profitable on one account, replicating across three scales your income without adding complexity.

Can You Voluntarily Close a Funded Account to Activate an On-Hold Account?

Yes. If you want to replace one of your active funded accounts with an on-hold account, contact AquaFutures support and request to close the active account.

Why you might do this:

The on-hold account is larger ($100K vs $50K)
The on-hold account has better rules (Beginner vs Standard)
You want to consolidate and focus on specific account sizes
One active account is close to breaching and you'd rather close it gracefully

Process:

Email AquaFutures support: "I'd like to voluntarily close Account A [ID]"
AquaFutures processes the request (may take 24-48 hours)
Account A closes, Account D (on hold) activates automatically
You lose any buffer profits remaining in Account A

Important: Voluntarily closing an account forfeits any buffer holdback (40%). If Account A has $2,000 in buffer, you lose that when you close it. Withdraw as much as possible before closing.

What If You Breach All 3 Active Accounts?

If you breach all 3 funded accounts while you have an on-hold account, the on-hold account activates automatically.

Example:

Monday: You breach Account A → Account D (on hold) activates
Tuesday: You breach Account B → No on-hold accounts left, Account B just terminates
Wednesday: You breach Account C → No on-hold accounts left, Account C just terminates
You're now down to 1 funded account (Account D)

Having on-hold accounts provides insurance against bad weeks, but it doesn't prevent you from losing everything if you breach aggressively.

Can You Have More Than 1 Account On Hold?

Yes. If you pass 5 evaluations, you'll have 3 active funded accounts and 2 on hold.

They activate in the order you passed them. If you breach Account A, the oldest on-hold account activates first.

Practical limit: Most traders don't pass more than 4-5 evaluations total. The time and cost to pass 10 evaluations (3 active + 7 on hold) doesn't make sense—you're better off trading your active funded accounts.

Does AquaFutures Ever Increase the 3-Account Limit?

Some prop firms increase account limits for high performers. Topstep and Apex offer scaling programs where successful traders can manage 5-15 accounts.

AquaFutures doesn't currently publish a formal scaling program, but it's possible they could offer exceptions for consistently profitable traders who've been funded for 6-12 months.

If you're interested in scaling beyond 3 accounts, contact AquaFutures support once you've proven sustained profitability (e.g., 3 funded accounts, $30K+ total withdrawals, 6+ months history).

On-Hold Accounts vs Starting Fresh: Which Is Better?

On-hold account advantages:

✅ Already passed—no need to retrade the evaluation

✅ Activates instantly when a funded slot opens

✅ No additional subscription fees

Starting fresh advantages:

✅ You can choose account size/type (maybe you want a different size now)

✅ You can evaluate if you still want that account before committing

✅ You're not "wasting" a passed evaluation sitting on hold

Recommendation: If you're trading 3 funded accounts successfully, don't pass a 4th until you breach one. Then start a new evaluation to replace the breached account. This avoids having capital tied up in on-hold accounts you might never use.

Real Example: Managing On-Hold Accounts

Week 1: Trader has 3 active funded accounts (all $50K Beginner). Passes a 4th $100K Standard evaluation. Account goes on hold.

Week 5: Breaches one of the three $50K accounts. The $100K Standard account (on hold) activates immediately.

Week 6: Now has two $50K Beginner + one $100K Standard active.

Week 10: Breaches the $100K Standard (intraday tracking was too hard). Back to two $50K Beginner accounts active.

Week 12: Starts a new $50K Beginner evaluation to replace the breached accounts.

Week 18: Passes the new evaluation → activates immediately (only 2 funded accounts active, under the 3-account limit).

The on-hold account served as immediate insurance when he breached Week 5. But the $100K Standard was harder to maintain, so it breached quickly.

Final Thoughts: On-Hold Accounts Are Insurance, Not Strategy

Having an on-hold account means you've proven you can pass evaluations. That's valuable—but it's not a core strategy.

Your focus should be: Keep your 3 active funded accounts healthy and profitable.

If you breach, having an on-hold account is nice (instant replacement), but it's better to not breach in the first place.

Pass a 4th evaluation only if:

You're confident you'll breach one of your funded accounts soon
You have spare time and capital to run another evaluation
You want the psychological comfort of having a backup

Otherwise, focus on trading your funded accounts. That's where the income is.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "on hold" mean for AquaFutures accounts?

An account goes on hold when you pass a 4th evaluation while already holding 3 funded accounts (the maximum). The account stays frozen—you can't trade it or access it—until you breach or close one of your active funded accounts. It then activates automatically.

How long do on-hold accounts stay frozen?

Indefinitely, until a funded slot opens. This could be days, weeks, months, or years depending on whether you breach/close one of your active accounts. There's no time limit—an account can stay on hold forever if you never free up a slot.

Do I pay subscription fees for on-hold accounts?

No. You already paid subscription fees during the evaluation phase. Once the account passes and goes on hold, there are no additional fees—even if it stays on hold for months.

Can I trade an on-hold account?

No. On-hold accounts are completely frozen. You can't log in, place trades, or access any account data. The account only becomes tradable once it activates (when a funded slot opens).

Should I pass a 4th evaluation if I already have 3 funded accounts?

Probably not. Focus on keeping your 3 funded accounts healthy rather than passing more evaluations. If you breach one, start a new evaluation then—not before. Passing evaluations that sit on hold wastes time and capital.

What happens when one of my funded accounts breaches?

Your oldest on-hold account automatically activates. You'll receive an email notification, get platform access, and start trading it like a normal funded account (with the 5 win days requirement before first payout).

Can I choose which on-hold account activates?

No. On-hold accounts activate in the order you passed them. If you passed Account D first, then Account E, Account D activates before Account E when a slot opens.

Can I voluntarily close a funded account to activate an on-hold account?

Yes. Contact AquaFutures support and request to close one of your active accounts. The on-hold account will activate automatically. Note: Closing voluntarily forfeits any buffer holdback (40%) in that account.