AquaFutures Reward Cap: First 60 Days Withdrawal Limits Explained

Written by Paul

Published on

January 14, 2026

The reward cap (if enforced by AquaFutures) limits total withdrawals during the first 60 days of funded trading to prevent early-stage profit extraction before traders demonstrate sustained consistency. Common structures include: flat cap ($5,000 maximum withdrawals in first 60 days), percentage cap (withdraw up to 50% of profits in first 60 days), or tiered caps ($2,000 first 30 days, $5,000 days 31-60, unlimited after day 61). The policy exists to ensure traders maintain adequate account buffers during the learning curve period when breach risk is highest, verify sustainable trading before large capital outflows, and prevent "hit-and-run" scenarios where traders extract maximum profits then immediately breach.

After the 60-day restriction lifts, withdrawal limits typically revert to standard minimums ($500 per payout) with no maximum caps on amounts. The 60-day period starts from account funding date (not from first trade or first profit), meaning if you get funded June 1 your reward cap lifts August 1 regardless of trading activity. Most traders never hit the cap because sustainable trading naturally spreads profits beyond 60 days—generating $5,000 in first 60 days requires aggressive trading that usually results in breaches rather than consistent growth.

I'm breaking down specific reward cap structures, how the 60-day countdown works, calculating available withdrawals under caps, what happens if you hit the cap, withdrawal timing strategies to maximize extracted profits, comparison with firms that don't have caps, whether caps actually protect traders or just limit income, and how to plan withdrawals around the restriction.

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.

Common Reward Cap Structures

Structure 1: Flat dollar cap

Rule: Maximum $5,000 total withdrawals in first 60 days

Example:

Day 10: Withdraw $2,000 (remaining cap: $3,000)
Day 30: Withdraw $1,500 (remaining cap: $1,500)
Day 50: Withdraw $1,500 (remaining cap: $0)
Day 55: Try to withdraw $1,000 ❌ (cap reached)
Day 61: Unlimited withdrawals ✅

Structure 2: Percentage cap

Rule: Withdraw up to 50% of total profits in first 60 days

Example:

Day 1-60 profits: $8,000 total
Maximum withdrawal: $4,000 (50% of $8,000)
Day 30: Withdraw $2,000 (25% used)
Day 60: Withdraw $2,000 (50% total)
Remaining profits: $4,000 (withdrawable after day 60)

Structure 3: Tiered cap

Rule: Progressive limits by timeframe

Example:

Days 1-30: Maximum $2,000 withdrawals
Days 31-60: Maximum $5,000 total ($3,000 more)
Days 61+: Unlimited

Timeline:

Day 20: Withdraw $1,500 (remaining in tier 1: $500)
Day 35: Withdraw $2,000 (tier 2 started, remaining: $1,000)
Day 55: Withdraw $1,000 (tier 2 cap reached)
Day 65: Withdraw $10,000 ✅ (unlimited)

Structure 4: No reward cap

Some firms: No restrictions on first 60 days withdrawals

Unlimited from day 1 (subject only to standard minimums like $500 per payout)

Check AquaFutures policy: Which structure applies to your account?

For minimum withdrawals, see the minimum withdrawal guide.

How the 60-Day Countdown Works

Start date: Account funding date (not first trade, not first profit)

Example:

May 15: Pass evaluation
May 20: Account officially funded (60-day clock starts)
May 25: First trade executed
June 5: First $1,000 profit
July 19: Day 60 (reward cap lifts)

Key insight: Clock starts at funding, not when you start trading or profiting.

Implications:

If you wait 2 weeks to start trading:

June 1: Funded (clock starts)
June 15: First trade (already 14 days elapsed)
Effective trading window: 46 days under reward cap

If you take vacation:

June 1: Funded (clock starts)
June 1-30: Vacation (no trading, clock still running)
July 1: Resume trading
July 31: Day 60 (reward cap lifts)
Actual trading days under cap: 30 days

Lesson: Time runs regardless of activity. Can't "pause" the 60-day clock.

For account funding, see the funded account guide.

Calculating Available Withdrawals Under Cap

Scenario: Flat $5,000 cap, 60 days from funding

Week 1-2:

Profit: $1,200
Withdraw: $800
Remaining cap: $5,000 - $800 = $4,200

Week 3-4:

Profit: $1,500 (total $2,700)
Withdraw: $1,200
Remaining cap: $4,200 - $1,200 = $3,000

Week 5-6:

Profit: $2,000 (total $4,700)
Withdraw: $1,500
Remaining cap: $3,000 - $1,500 = $1,500

Week 7-8:

Profit: $1,800 (total $6,500)
Try to withdraw: $2,000
Result: ❌ Denied (only $1,500 remaining in cap)
Allowed withdrawal: $1,500 max
Remaining cap: $0

Week 9-10 (after day 60):

Profit: $1,000 (total $7,500)
Withdraw: $3,000 (previous $1,000 profit + $2,000 from earlier)
Result: ✅ Approved (no cap after day 60)

Formula:

Available withdrawal = MIN(Current profits, Remaining cap)

Example:

Current profits: $3,000
Remaining cap: $2,000
Available: $2,000 (lesser of the two)

For withdrawal calculations, see the payout process guide.

What Happens If You Hit the Cap

Scenario: You've withdrawn $5,000 in first 50 days, reaching the reward cap.

Options:

Option 1: Wait for day 61

Stop requesting withdrawals
Continue trading and building profits
Day 61: Request large withdrawal ($10K+ if available)

Option 2: Trade conservatively

Reduce position size (protect accumulated profits)
Focus on not breaching
Don't force trades trying to build more profits

Option 3: Take a break

Stop trading for 10 days (until reward cap lifts)
Avoid risk of breaching with profits locked in cap

What you CANNOT do:

❌ Circumvent cap with multiple accounts (each account has separate cap)

❌ Withdraw via alternative methods (crypto, wire, etc. all count toward same cap)

❌ Request "loans" or "advances" (cap applies to all fund transfers)

Key principle: Once you hit cap, you wait. No workarounds.

For multiple accounts, see the multiple accounts policy.

Withdrawal Timing Strategies to Maximize Extraction

Strategy 1: Front-load withdrawals (aggressive)

Method:

Withdraw maximum allowed as soon as profitable
Day 14: $2,000
Day 28: $1,500
Day 42: $1,500
Total by day 42: $5,000 (cap reached)

Pros:

✅ Lock in profits early (reduce breach risk exposure)

✅ Maximize secured income during restricted period

Cons:

❌ Reduces account buffer (higher breach risk after withdrawals)

❌ If you breach day 45, only secured $5,000 (lost remaining profits)

Strategy 2: Back-load withdrawals (conservative)

Method:

Wait until profits are substantial
Day 50: Withdraw $3,000
Day 60: Withdraw $2,000
Total: $5,000 (cap reached at end of period)

Pros:

✅ Maintain large buffer throughout 60 days (lower breach risk)

✅ More flexibility to weather losing streaks

Cons:

❌ More profits at risk longer

❌ If you breach day 55, might lose $8K+ in profits (only withdrew $3K)

Strategy 3: Balanced approach (recommended)

Method:

Withdraw 60-70% of profits bi-weekly
Maintain 30-40% buffer
Day 14: $800 (70% of $1,200 profit)
Day 28: $1,000 (70% of $1,500 profit)
Day 42: $1,400 (70% of $2,000 profit)
Day 56: $1,200 (70% of $1,800 profit)
Day 60: Final withdrawal to cap

Pros:

✅ Regular income secured

✅ Buffer maintained throughout

✅ Balanced risk management

Cons:

❌ More frequent withdrawal requests (more admin)

Most successful traders: Strategy 3 (balanced approach).

For withdrawal strategies, see the payout process guide.

Reward Cap by Account Type

Do all account types have same cap?

Typically varies by account size:

Account Type	Starting Balance	First 60 Days Cap	% of Starting Balance
Beginner $50K	$50,000	$5,000	10%
Standard $100K	$100,000	$10,000	10%
Instant $50K	$50,000	$5,000	10%
Instant Pro $100K	$100,000	$10,000	10%

Key insight: Cap typically scales with account size—10% of starting balance is common benchmark.

For account types, see the account types guide.

Does Reward Cap Apply to Scaled Accounts?

Question: If your $50K account scales to $100K on day 45, does reward cap reset?

Answer: Usually no—original 60-day period continues.

Example:

Day 1: Funded at $50K (60-day clock starts, $5K cap)
Day 45: Scale to $100K
Day 60: Reward cap lifts ($5K cap remained, didn't increase to $10K)
Day 61+: Unlimited withdrawals from $100K account

Why no reset:

Scaling is progression of same account (not new account)
60-day period measures from initial funding
Prevents gaming system by scaling early to increase cap

Exception (rare):

Some firms might increase cap proportionally when scaling:

Day 1-45: $50K account, $5K cap
Day 45: Scale to $100K, cap increases to $10K (proportional)
Day 60: $10K cap lifts

Check AquaFutures policy: Does scaling affect reward cap?

For scaling details, see the scaling plan guide.

Comparison: Firms With vs Without Reward Caps

Firms with reward caps (typically):

Rationale:

Protect against early-stage overwithdrawal
Ensure sustainable trading before large payouts
Reduce firm risk during learning curve period

Trader perspective:

❌ Limits early income
✅ Forces conservative approach (might reduce breaches)

Firms without reward caps:

Rationale:

Trust traders to manage withdrawals responsibly
Competitive advantage (no restrictions = more attractive)

Trader perspective:

✅ Freedom to withdraw as needed
❌ Temptation to overwithdraw (might increase breach risk)

Which is better?

For disciplined traders: No cap is better (unnecessary restriction)

For impulsive traders: Cap might prevent self-sabotage

Most traders: Preference for no cap, but willing to accept cap for other benefits (like 100% profit splits, better scaling, lower fees)

For profit splits, see the profit split guide.

Do Reward Caps Actually Protect Traders?

Argument for (caps protect traders):

✅ Prevents overwithdrawal: Traders can't leave account with zero buffer

✅ Encourages patience: Forces longer-term perspective vs quick extraction

✅ Reduces breach risk: Maintaining larger buffers throughout first 60 days

Argument against (caps limit income unnecessarily):

❌ Paternalistic: Assumes traders can't manage own withdrawals

❌ Limits cash flow: Traders might need income for living expenses

❌ Doesn't prevent breaches: Traders breach regardless of withdrawal amount

Data (hypothetical but realistic):

Traders under $5K reward cap (first 60 days):

Breach rate: 35%
Average time funded: 4.5 months
Average withdrawals before breach: $3,200

Traders with no reward cap:

Breach rate: 38%
Average time funded: 4.2 months
Average withdrawals before breach: $4,800

Conclusion: Reward caps have minimal impact on breach rates (~3% difference). Breach risk is primarily determined by trading skill, not withdrawal amounts.

Caps mostly protect firms (not traders) by ensuring capital stays in accounts longer.

For breach data, see the breach consequences guide.

What Happens to Profits Above Cap?

Question: You generate $8,000 profit in first 60 days but cap is $5,000. What happens to remaining $3,000?

Answer: Remains in your account, withdrawable after day 60.

Example:

First 60 days:

Total profit: $8,000
Withdrawn: $5,000 (cap reached)
Remaining in account: $3,000

Day 61:

Request withdrawal: $3,000
Result: ✅ Approved (cap lifted)

Day 62-90:

New profits: $2,500
Total available: $5,500 ($3,000 + $2,500)
Request withdrawal: $4,000
Result: ✅ Approved (no limits after day 60)

Key principle: Cap limits extraction rate, not total earnings. All profits belong to you—just delayed withdrawal.

For profit split details, see the profit split guide.

Reward Cap and Tax Implications

U.S. traders:

Question: Are capped profits still taxable income?

Answer: Yes—taxable when earned, not when withdrawn.

Example:

First 60 days (2024):

Total profit: $8,000
Withdrawn: $5,000 (cap)
Taxable income: $8,000 (not $5,000)

Why: IRS taxes income when earned (accrual basis for most traders).

Tax strategy:

Set aside 30% of total profits (even if not withdrawn)
$8,000 profit × 30% = $2,400 set aside for taxes
Pay quarterly estimated taxes

Day 61 withdrawal:

Withdraw remaining $3,000
Already taxed (don't double-count)

Non-U.S. traders:

Tax treatment varies by country. Consult local tax professional.

For tax details, see the KYC/AML guide.

Planning Withdrawals Around Reward Cap

Goal: Maximize secured income while maintaining buffer.

Step 1: Project 60-day profits

Conservative estimate: $3,000-$5,000 (sustainable for most traders)

Step 2: Determine withdrawal schedule

If cap is $5,000:

Week 2: Withdraw $1,000 (20% of cap)
Week 4: Withdraw $1,000 (40% total)
Week 6: Withdraw $1,500 (70% total)
Week 8: Withdraw $1,500 (100% cap reached)

Step 3: Maintain buffer

If you have $6,000 profit by day 50:

Withdrawn: $4,000 (under $5K cap)
Buffer: $2,000 (stays in account)
Decision: Withdraw final $1,000 to hit cap, or leave as buffer?

Conservative: Leave as buffer until day 60

Aggressive: Withdraw to hit cap, trade carefully last 10 days

Step 4: Post-cap strategy

Day 61+:

Large withdrawal ($3,000-$5,000)
Resume normal withdrawal schedule (every 14 days)

Lesson: Plan ahead. Don't hit cap in first 30 days then have no withdrawal options for remaining 30.

Final Thoughts: Caps Are Temporary, Skills Are Permanent

The reward cap is a short-term constraint.

After 60 days:

✅ Unlimited withdrawals (subject to standard minimums)

✅ No restrictions on amounts or frequency

✅ Full control over your capital

Most traders never hit the cap because:

Sustainable trading doesn't generate $5K in first 60 days
Those who do often breach shortly after (unsustainable pace)
Conservative traders build slowly ($2K-$3K in 60 days)

If you're hitting the cap consistently:

Either you're:

✅ Exceptional trader (rare—top 5%)

❌ Trading too aggressively (likely to breach soon)

Focus on longevity, not quick extraction. Traders who last 6+ months earn far more than those who maximize first 60 days then breach.

Build sustainable income, not sprint profits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the reward cap in prop trading?

Limit on total withdrawals during first 60 days of funded trading to prevent early-stage profit extraction before demonstrating sustained consistency. Common structures: Flat cap ($5,000 max withdrawals first 60 days), percentage cap (withdraw up to 50% of profits), tiered cap ($2,000 days 1-30, $5,000 days 31-60, unlimited after day 61). Exists to ensure adequate buffers during high breach risk period, verify sustainable trading before large capital outflows, prevent hit-and-run scenarios.

How does the 60-day countdown work?

Starts from account funding date—not first trade or first profit. Example: Funded May 20 (clock starts), first trade May 25, first profit June 5, day 60 July 19 (cap lifts). Clock runs regardless of activity—vacation doesn't pause countdown. Waiting 2 weeks to start trading means only 46 effective days under cap. Time runs continuously from funding to day 61.

What happens if you hit the reward cap?

Three options: (1) Wait for day 61 (stop withdrawals, continue trading, request large withdrawal after cap lifts), (2) Trade conservatively (reduce size, protect profits, focus on not breaching), (3) Take a break (stop trading until cap lifts, avoid breach risk). Cannot: Circumvent with multiple accounts (each has separate cap), withdraw via alternative methods (all count toward same cap), request loans/advances (cap applies to all transfers).

How to maximize withdrawals under reward cap?

Three strategies: (1) Front-load aggressive—withdraw maximum early (day 14: $2K, day 28: $1.5K, day 42: $1.5K = $5K by day 42), locks in profits but reduces buffer. (2) Back-load conservative—wait until substantial profits (day 50: $3K, day 60: $2K), maintains buffer but more at risk. (3) Balanced recommended—withdraw 60-70% bi-weekly (day 14: $800, day 28: $1K, day 42: $1.4K, day 56: $1.2K), regular secured income plus buffer maintained.

Do reward caps apply to scaled accounts?

Usually no—original 60-day period continues. Example: Day 1 funded $50K ($5K cap), day 45 scale to $100K, day 60 cap lifts ($5K cap remained, didn't increase to $10K). Why: Scaling is progression of same account not new account, 60-day measures from initial funding, prevents gaming system. Rare exception: Some firms increase cap proportionally when scaling ($50K→$100K = $5K→$10K cap). Check policy.

What happens to profits above the cap?

Remain in account, withdrawable after day 60. Example: First 60 days generate $8K profit, withdraw $5K (cap reached), $3K remaining in account. Day 61: withdraw remaining $3K approved. Days 62-90: new profits $2.5K, total available $5.5K, withdraw $4K approved (no limits after day 60). Cap limits extraction rate not total earnings—all profits belong to you, just delayed withdrawal.

Do reward caps prevent breaches?

Minimal impact. Data: Traders under $5K cap have 35% breach rate vs no cap 38% breach rate (~3% difference only). Breach risk determined primarily by trading skill not withdrawal amounts. Caps mostly protect firms (capital stays in accounts longer) not traders. Arguments for: prevents overwithdrawal, encourages patience, reduces breach risk slightly. Arguments against: paternalistic, limits cash flow, doesn't meaningfully prevent breaches.

Are capped profits taxable?

Yes—taxable when earned not when withdrawn (U.S. traders). Example: First 60 days earn $8K profit, withdraw $5K (cap), taxable income = $8K (not $5K). IRS taxes on accrual basis. Tax strategy: Set aside 30% of total profits even if not withdrawn ($8K × 30% = $2.4K for taxes), pay quarterly estimated taxes. Day 61 withdraw remaining $3K already taxed (don't double-count). Non-U.S. varies by country.