AquaFutures Prohibited Trading Strategies: Complete List of What's Banned

Five categories of trading strategies are explicitly prohibited on AquaFutures accounts and lead to immediate termination: (1) hedging across multiple accounts (long ES on Account 1, short ES on Account 2 simultaneously), (2) coordinated trading with other users (signal groups, Discord rooms, synchronized execution), (3) exploiting platform glitches or price feed delays, (4) wash trading (fake volume to manipulate statistics), and (5) account sharing (letting others trade your account or trading others' accounts).

These restrictions exist to prevent risk-free profit schemes that exploit prop firm capital, systematic risk that violates the firm's business model, and unfair advantages that undermine skill-based competition. Violations result in account termination, voided profits, permanent ban, and no refunds. Most banned strategies are obvious attempts to game the system—legitimate discretionary trading is fully allowed.

I'm breaking down each prohibited strategy with examples, why firms ban them, detection methods, consequences, gray areas that might seem prohibited but aren't, and how to trade legitimately without accidentally violating rules.

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 5 Prohibited Strategy Categories

1. Hedging Across Accounts

Trading opposite positions on multiple accounts to eliminate risk.

2. Coordinated Trading

Synchronizing trades with other users through signals, groups, or communication.

3. Platform Exploitation

Taking advantage of technical glitches, price feed delays, or system errors.

4. Wash Trading

Creating fake volume or manipulating account statistics.

5. Account Sharing

Allowing others to trade your account or trading others' accounts.

All five lead to: Immediate termination, voided profits, permanent ban.

For evaluation rules, see the evaluation rules guide.

Prohibited Strategy 1: Hedging Across Multiple Accounts

What is hedging across accounts?

Taking opposite positions on different accounts to create a risk-free profit scenario.

Example 1: Simple hedge

• Account 1: Long 6 ES at 5,200
• Account 2: Short 6 ES at 5,200
• Result: No matter which direction ES moves, one account profits, one loses. Net P&L across both = $0 (minus spreads).

Why it's banned:

This eliminates risk. If ES rallies +20 points:

• Account 1: +$6,000 (passes evaluation)
• Account 2: -$6,000 (breaches)
• Net result: You profit from Account 1, lose nothing personally (prop firm absorbed Account 2's loss)

You're exploiting prop capital for risk-free profit.

Example 2: Ratio hedge

• Account 1: Long 4 ES at 5,200
• Account 2: Short 6 ES at 5,200
• Net exposure: Short 2 ES

Still banned. Even if not perfectly hedged, trading opposite directions on multiple accounts to reduce risk violates rules.

Example 3: Different instruments (still banned)

• Account 1: Long 6 ES (S&P 500)
• Account 2: Short 6 NQ (Nasdaq-100)

Still hedging. ES and NQ are highly correlated. This reduces risk across accounts—banned.

For coordinated trading rules, see the coordinated trading guide.

How AquaFutures Detects Hedging

Detection Method 1: Opposite Positions at Same Time

AquaFutures flags accounts with:

• Same owner (you)
• Opposite positions (long vs short)
• Entered within minutes of each other
• Same or similar position sizes

Detection Method 2: Correlated P&L

If Account 1's profit = Account 2's loss consistently, it's hedging.

Example:

• Week 1: Account 1 +$800, Account 2 -$750
• Week 2: Account 1 +$600, Account 2 -$580
• Week 3: Account 1 -$400, Account 2 +$420

Pattern detected: Accounts are inversely correlated. Manual review confirms hedging.

Detection Method 3: Manual Review Before Funding

AquaFutures reviews all passed evaluations. Reviewers check:

• Do you have multiple accounts?
• Do they show opposite trading patterns?
• Are profits/losses suspiciously balanced?

If yes → denied funding, accounts terminated.

For drawdown tracking details, see the drawdown guide.

Prohibited Strategy 2: Coordinated Trading

What is coordinated trading?

Synchronizing trades with other AquaFutures users through signals, groups, or real-time communication.

Banned scenarios:

❌ Discord trading groups where members share live entries ("Entering ES long 5,200 NOW")

❌ Signal services that send real-time trade alerts

❌ Trading rooms where everyone executes together

❌ Partner arrangements ("You go long, I'll go short, we'll split profits")

❌ Copy trading other people's accounts (even with permission)

Why it's banned:

Creates systematic risk for prop firms. If 50 coordinated traders all lose on the same trade, the firm loses on 50 accounts at once—violating their risk model.

Allowed alternative:

✅ Learn strategies from others (YouTube, courses, books)

✅ Discuss markets generally ("ES looks bullish today")

✅ Share past trades for feedback (after they're closed)

✅ Trade the same strategy independently (no real-time coordination)

The difference: Learning from others = allowed. Synchronizing execution with others = banned.

For full coordinated trading details, see the coordinated trading guide.

Prohibited Strategy 3: Platform Exploitation

What is platform exploitation?

Taking advantage of technical glitches, price feed delays, or system errors.

Example 1: Price feed arbitrage

• Your platform shows ES at 5,200
• Real market price (CME): 5,210
• You buy at 5,200 (delayed feed), sell at 5,210 (real price)
• Risk-free $500 profit

Banned. Exploiting feed delays is system abuse.

Example 2: Order entry glitches

• Platform allows you to enter 20 contracts (limit should be 6)
• You trade 20 contracts, make huge profit
• Later discovered as platform bug

Result: Profits voided, account terminated. "I didn't know it was a bug" isn't a defense.

Example 3: Duplicate order fills

• You click "Buy 4 ES" once
• Glitch causes 2 fills (8 ES total)
• You profit from the extra 4 ES

If accidental: Contact support immediately. If intentional/repeated: Banned for exploitation.

Example 4: Negative balance exploit

Some platforms allow brief negative balances during rollovers or system maintenance. Trading during these windows to bypass drawdown limits = exploitation (banned).

For platform details, see the supported platforms guide.

Prohibited Strategy 4: Wash Trading

What is wash trading?

Creating fake trading volume or manipulating account statistics without real economic risk.

Example 1: Rapid buy/sell to inflate trade count

• Buy 4 ES at 5,200.00
• Immediately sell 4 ES at 5,200.00
• Repeat 50 times
• Goal: Show "high activity" to appear legitimate

Why it's banned: No real trading occurred. You're manipulating stats to look active.

Example 2: Wash trading for win days

• Day 1: Trade normally, net +$500
• Day 2: Open/close 20 tiny positions (net +$5)
• Day 3: Open/close 20 tiny positions (net +$3)
• Goal: Accumulate win days without real trading

Detected: Unusual pattern of tiny net P&L on "win days" triggers review.

Example 3: Self-trading (if on multiple accounts)

• Account 1: Buy 6 ES at 5,200.25 (market order)
• Account 2: Sell 6 ES at 5,200.00 (limit order)
• Account 1's buy fills against Account 2's sell

Result: You're trading with yourself. Banned.

For consistency rule details, see the consistency rule guide.

Prohibited Strategy 5: Account Sharing

What is account sharing?

Allowing someone else to trade your account, or you trading someone else's account.

Banned scenarios:

❌ Hiring a "prop trader coach" who trades your account for you

❌ Letting a friend trade your account while you're on vacation

❌ Trading your spouse's account (even if you live together)

❌ Selling account access to others

❌ Buying account access from others

Why it's banned:

AquaFutures funds you based on your trading ability. If someone else is trading, the evaluation is fraudulent.

Consequences:

• Immediate termination
• Permanent ban for both parties (you + the person trading)
• Voided profits
• Potential legal action (fraud)

Allowed:

✅ Asking mentors for advice (they tell you what to do, but you execute)

✅ Discussing trades with friends/spouse (they don't touch your account)

✅ Using trading education/signals (you make final decision and click buttons)

For account sharing details, see the account sharing guide.

Gray Area: What LOOKS Prohibited But Isn't

Scenario 1: Multiple accounts, same strategy

You have 3 accounts. You trade the same "50 EMA bounce" strategy on all 3.

Is this hedging? No—as long as:

• You're not trading opposite directions
• Positions are entered based on your analysis (not coordinated with others)
• Trades aren't perfectly synchronized (slight timing variance)

This is allowed. You're scaling your own strategy across your own accounts.

Scenario 2: Short ES on Monday, long ES on Tuesday (same account)

Is this hedging? No. Hedging requires opposite positions at the same time on different accounts. Trading both directions at different times on the same account is normal directional trading.

Scenario 3: Copying trades between your own accounts

Account 1: Long 4 ES at 5,200

Account 2: Long 4 ES at 5,200 (replicating Account 1)

Is this coordinated trading? No—as long as all accounts are yours and you're the sole trader. This is copy trading (allowed).

Scenario 4: Reporting platform bugs

You notice your platform shows wrong balance. You email support immediately.

Is this exploitation? No. Reporting bugs = good. Exploiting bugs = banned.

For copy trading rules, see the copy trading guide.

Consequences of Using Prohibited Strategies

Key insight: No appeals. Evidence for prohibited strategies is typically clear and documented. Don't risk your account trying to game the system.

For breach consequences, see the breach consequences guide.

What's NOT Prohibited: Legitimate Trading Strategies

Fully allowed:

✅ Scalping (holding trades 30 seconds to 5 minutes)

✅ Swing trading (holding hours to days)

✅ Day trading (opening/closing same day)

✅ Position trading (holding weeks to months—if prop firm allows)

✅ Technical analysis (indicators, chart patterns, support/resistance)

✅ Order flow trading (footprint charts, volume profile, DOM reading)

✅ News trading (though risky—see Tier-1 news guide)

✅ Overnight trading (holding positions through market close)

✅ High-frequency trading (if manual and within contract limits)

The principle: Any strategy where you analyze, decide, and execute based on market conditions = allowed. Strategies that exploit prop firm capital, eliminate risk, or involve coordination with others = banned.

For trading principles, see the values guide.

How to Trade Legitimately Without Accidentally Violating Rules

Rule 1: Trade your own accounts independently

• Don't coordinate with other traders
• Don't follow signal services in real-time
• Learn from others, but execute independently

Rule 2: Don't hedge across multiple accounts

• If you have 3 accounts, trade them in the same direction (or sit out)
• Never: Account 1 long, Account 2 short simultaneously

Rule 3: Report bugs immediately

• If you notice platform errors, email support
• Don't exploit bugs for profit (even if accidental)

Rule 4: Keep your login credentials private

• Don't share your account with anyone
• Don't trade others' accounts
• Don't hire someone to trade for you

Rule 5: Trade with real intent

• Don't wash trade (open/close immediately for fake volume)
• Don't manipulate stats
• Trade to make money—not to game the system

For support details, see the customer support guide.

Real Examples: Prohibited Strategy Violations

Example 1: Hedge detected during manual review

Trader passed 2 evaluations:

• Account A: Long ES bias, +$3,100 profit
• Account B: Short ES bias, +$3,200 profit

Manual review revealed:

• Account A's best days = Account B's worst days
• Account B's best days = Account A's worst days
• Perfect inverse correlation

Result: Both accounts denied funding, permanent ban.

Example 2: Coordinated Discord group

15 traders in Discord server. Leader posts: "Entering ES long 5,200." All 15 enter within 10 seconds.

AquaFutures detected pattern over 3 weeks. All 15 accounts terminated.

Result: $50K+ combined profits voided, all permanently banned.

Example 3: Platform bug exploitation

Trader discovered bug: could enter 15 contracts (limit was 6). Traded 15 contracts for 2 days, made $5,000.

Bug fixed, trade history reviewed. Account terminated, $5,000 profit voided.

Result: Permanent ban. "I didn't know" wasn't accepted as defense.

Example 4: Account sharing with mentor

Trader hired "prop firm expert" to trade their account. Expert passed evaluation, account funded.

AquaFutures detected different trading style pre/post funding. Investigation revealed account sharing.

Result: Both trader and expert permanently banned, profits voided, potential legal action.

What If You're Accused of a Prohibited Strategy?

Step 1: Review the evidence

AquaFutures will email you explaining the violation. Review their evidence:

• Trade timestamps
• Position data
• IP addresses
• Pattern analysis

Step 2: Respond professionally

If you believe it's a mistake:

"Hello,

I received notification that my account was flagged for [violation type]. I'd like to clarify:

[Explain your side: e.g., "I trade the same strategy on both accounts, but they're not hedged—both are long-biased. The timing differences are because I analyze each account separately."]

[Provide evidence: Screenshots, trade logs, explanation of strategy]

Could you please review this again?

Thank you,[Your Name]"

Step 3: Accept the decision

If AquaFutures upholds the termination, accept it. Appeals rarely succeed because evidence is typically clear.

Step 4: Learn and move on

If you violated rules unknowingly:

• Learn from it
• Don't do it again
• Try a different prop firm (if not blacklisted industry-wide)

For dispute processes, see the refund policy guide.

Industry-Wide Blacklists

Important: Prop firms share information about banned users.

If you're caught hedging on AquaFutures, you might be:

• Blacklisted at Topstep, Apex, FTMO, etc.
• Unable to open accounts at any prop firm
• Flagged in industry databases

Bottom line: Prohibited strategies aren't worth the risk. One violation can end your prop trading career permanently.

Final Thoughts: Trade Legitimately, Sleep Well

95% of traders never violate these rules because they're focused on legitimate trading—not gaming the system.

The 5% who violate rules:

• Try to hedge for "risk-free" profits
• Join signal groups for coordination
• Exploit bugs instead of reporting them
• Share accounts to bypass evaluations
• Manipulate stats with wash trades

All of them eventually get caught. Prop firms have sophisticated detection systems and manual reviewers trained to spot violations.

Best approach:

✅ Learn a legitimate strategy

✅ Trade your own accounts independently

✅ Focus on skill development—not system exploitation

✅ Report bugs, don't exploit them

✅ Keep your credentials private

Trade clean. Build real skills. Pass evaluations legitimately. Get funded. Scale sustainably.

That's the path to long-term success in prop trading.

Frequently Asked Questions

What trading strategies are prohibited on AquaFutures?

Five categories: (1) Hedging across accounts (long ES on Account 1, short ES on Account 2 simultaneously), (2) Coordinated trading (signal groups, Discord rooms, synchronized execution with others), (3) Platform exploitation (abusing glitches, price feed delays), (4) Wash trading (fake volume to manipulate stats), (5) Account sharing (letting others trade your account). All lead to immediate termination, voided profits, permanent ban.

Can I hedge on a single account?

Yes. Opening/closing opposite positions on the SAME account at different times is normal trading. Prohibited: Hedging ACROSS MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS simultaneously (Account 1 long, Account 2 short at same time). Single-account hedging (buy morning, sell afternoon) is allowed.

Is copy trading between my own accounts prohibited?

No. Copy trading YOUR OWN accounts is allowed—trade Account 1 manually, replicate to Accounts 2-3 (all in your name). This is capital allocation, not hedging. Prohibited: Copying trades from/to OTHER PEOPLE's accounts, trading opposite directions across your accounts to eliminate risk.

How do prop firms detect hedging across accounts?

Three methods: (1) Opposite positions at same time—same owner, opposite directions (long vs short), entered within minutes, similar sizes, (2) Correlated P&L—Account 1's profit consistently equals Account 2's loss, (3) Manual review before funding—checking for inverse trading patterns. Detection is certain—hedge attempts always get caught.

What happens if I exploit a platform bug?

Immediate termination, profits voided (even if accidental), permanent ban, possible legal action. "I didn't know" isn't a defense. If you notice platform errors: Email support immediately, don't trade using the bug, document what you saw. Reporting bugs = good. Exploiting bugs = career-ending ban.

Can I follow signal services or join trading groups?

Not for real-time execution. Prohibited: Following signals where you execute immediately when alerts arrive, Discord groups with live calls ("entering ES long NOW"), trading rooms with synchronized execution. Allowed: Learning strategies from courses/YouTube, discussing markets generally, sharing past trades for feedback, trading same strategy independently (no real-time coordination).

Is account sharing with a mentor or coach prohibited?

Yes—absolutely prohibited. Hiring someone to trade your account, letting friends trade while you're away, trading your spouse's account, selling/buying account access—all banned. Consequences: Both parties permanently banned, profits voided, possible legal action (fraud). Allowed: Mentors giving advice (you execute), discussing trades (they don't touch account).

What if I'm falsely accused of a prohibited strategy?

Respond professionally with evidence: Email explaining your side, provide trade logs/screenshots/strategy explanation, request review. However, appeals rarely succeed—prop firms have clear evidence (timestamps, positions, IP data). If decision is upheld, accept it and move on. Don't argue—focus energy on legitimate trading elsewhere.

Your Next Steps

‍👉 Start Trading at Aquafutures Today

‍👉 Read My Full Aquafutures Review

‍👉 Check out Aquafutures´s Payout Rules

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