E8 Markets Review 2026: Multi-Asset Prop Firm That Actually Pays

I've been running futures accounts with E8 Markets for the past year—pulled roughly $8k in payouts across multiple withdrawals. No drama, no weird payout denials, just steady cash-outs.

Here's the thing about E8 Markets that caught my attention early: they're one of the few prop firms offering forex, futures, and crypto under one roof. Most firms pick a lane and stick to it. E8 decided to do all three—and they've actually pulled it off without turning into a complicated mess.

I tested their futures program first (that's where I've made most of my money with them), but I've also poked around their forex and crypto setups enough to give you the full picture. Founded in 2021, they've quietly built up a solid reputation while bigger names were dealing with payout drama and rule changes.

Three things you need to know upfront:

1. E8 offers one of the most customizable evaluation structures I've seen—you can actually dial in your risk tolerance and payout split before you buy
2. Payouts hit in 24-48 hours once approved (I've tested this multiple times)
3. The multi-asset flexibility means you're not locked into one market if conditions change

Let's get into what actually matters.

What is E8 Markets? Quick Overview

E8 Markets (e8markets.com) is a prop trading firm that funds traders across forex, futures, and crypto. They're based in the US with offices in Czech Republic, operating as E8 Funding LLC since 2021.

The setup is straightforward: pass an evaluation trading on their simulator, get funded, keep 80-100% of your profits depending on which account model you choose. No live capital at risk during the eval—it's all sim trading until you get to the funded stage.

Unlike firms that run one evaluation model and call it a day, E8 gives you multiple paths: one-step challenges for quick access, two-step and three-step programs for lower entry costs, and their newer "Signature" accounts that use end-of-day drawdown instead of intraday.

I went with futures because that's where I trade anyway. The evaluation was clean—6% profit target, 4% EOD drawdown, no minimum trading days. Passed it in about three weeks, got my funded account within 24 hours, and started requesting payouts shortly after.

The firm's gotten some attention in the prop trading space for being one of the earlier multi-asset firms that didn't completely fall apart trying to manage different markets. Trustpilot shows around 3,000+ reviews with a 4+ star average. Not perfect, but solid compared to some of the newer outfits.

What sets them apart isn't any revolutionary feature—it's the combination of flexibility, multi-market access, and consistent payout processing that makes them worth looking at if you're shopping around.

E8 Markets Unique Features & What Actually Matters

Multi-Asset Access Without Account Juggling

This is the big one. Most prop firms specialize: you get futures OR forex OR crypto. E8 gives you all three, which matters if you trade multiple markets or want to shift focus based on volatility.

I'm primarily a futures trader, but having the option to grab a crypto account during alt season or test a forex strategy without opening accounts at three different firms? That's practical. No separate KYC processes, no learning different dashboard systems, no wondering which firm's rules you're operating under today.

Customizable Evaluation Structure

E8's customization goes beyond picking an account size. On their E8 One (1-step) accounts, you can adjust:

• Trailing drawdown: 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, or 14%
• Profit target: Scales with your drawdown choice (typically 6-21%)
• Payout split: 80%, 90%, or 100%

Want tighter rules with a higher payout split? You can do that. Need more breathing room on drawdown? Also doable—it just changes the profit target.

This isn't just marketing fluff. When I was testing E8 versus other firms, being able to set a 14% trailing drawdown on a futures account meant I could handle overnight gaps without blowing the account on a Fed announcement. Other firms force you into their preset risk parameters whether they fit your strategy or not.

Signature Accounts with EOD Drawdown

E8's newer Signature line uses end-of-day (EOD) drawdown instead of intraday. Your account doesn't breach if you're down 5% midday—it only matters where you close.

For swing traders or anyone who hates babysitting intraday drawdown, this is huge. You can let trades breathe without constantly checking if you're about to hit a hard stop.

Flip side: EOD accounts have different consistency rules (35% best day, 5 profitable days before payout, buffer requirements). It's not strictly better or worse—just different. If you day trade and close everything daily anyway, intraday drawdown might not bother you.

No Time Limits, Minimal Trading Day Requirements

E8 doesn't force you into artificial urgency. No "you have 30 days to pass" nonsense. The only requirement: place at least one trade every 60-90 days depending on the account type, or your account goes dormant.

This approach works for people with jobs, families, or strategies that don't fire signals every day. I've had accounts sit for two weeks during low-volume summer weeks—no problem.

E8 Markets Funding Options & Evaluation Process

E8 splits their offerings into Forex, Futures, and Crypto, each with different evaluation structures. Here's the breakdown:

Forex Account Options

Futures Options

Important note on futures: E8 used to charge monthly subscriptions for futures accounts. In December 2024, they eliminated monthly fees for new accounts purchased after a certain date. If you see conflicting info online about "monthly subscriptions," that's why—older accounts still have them, new ones don't.

Crypto

My pick: E8 Signature Futures at the $50K level. The monthly cost is reasonable at $150, EOD drawdown gives me room to work, and the 6% profit target is achievable without forcing overtrading. Once you pass eval, the monthly fee drops (or disappears depending on when you bought).

If you're just starting or testing E8, the E8 Classic 2-step at $33 for a $5K account is stupid cheap. Low commitment, and you get a feel for their platform before dropping $300 on a bigger account.

E8 Markets Rules: Drawdown, Targets & What to Watch

Rules make or break a prop firm. E8's rules vary by account type, which is both good (flexibility) and annoying (you need to pay attention).

Core Rules Across Most Accounts

The Tricky Bits (Actually Important)

1. Best Day Consistency Rule

On funded accounts, no single trading day can account for more than 35-40% of your total profit (varies by account type). This prevents you from hitting a massive winner, requesting a payout, then blowing the account.

Example: You're up $10,000 total. If your best day was $5,000, that's 50%—you can't request a payout yet. You need more trading days that spread out the profitability.

I've hit this once. Not a dealbreaker, just means you can't smash-and-grab. E8 wants to see consistency, not lottery tickets.

2. News Trading Restrictions (E8 One Only)

E8 One accounts restrict high-impact news trading on funded accounts (not during eval). There's a 5-minute window before and after major economic releases where you can't open or close trades.

If you violate it, profits from that window get removed—account doesn't breach, you just lose those gains.

E8 Signature accounts? No news restrictions at all, even after funding. That's one reason I prefer Signature for futures—I don't want to track NFP and FOMC schedules just to avoid rule violations.

3. Payout Buffer Requirement (Signature Accounts)

Signature accounts require you to leave a "buffer" equal to your EOD drawdown before requesting a payout. On a $50K account with 4% EOD, that's $2,000 that stays locked.

The buffer exists so you don't withdraw everything and immediately violate EOD with your next trade. It's logical but easy to overlook if you're not reading the fine print.

4. Futures Intraday Only Rule

E8 futures accounts force-close all positions at 3:10 PM CT daily. No overnight holds. If you trade ES or NQ and like holding into the next session—E8 futures isn't built for that.

This didn't bother me since I close everything by New York close anyway, but if you're a swing trader, stick to forex or crypto accounts.

Platforms & Assets: What Can You Trade with E8 Markets?

E8 supports different platforms depending on which market you're trading:

Forex

• cTrader (my preference for forex—clean execution, good charting)
• Match Trader
• TradeLocker
• Platform 5 (MT5 equivalent from Virtual Markets)

All forex accounts give you access to major pairs, minors, exotics, plus indices and commodities as CFDs. Spreads are raw with commission (you can add commission-free spreads for a fee if you prefer).

Futures

• E8 Futures Platform (proprietary)

This is E8's in-house platform. It's not NinjaTrader or Sierra Chart—it's their own build. Execution is clean, interface is straightforward, but if you're married to a specific futures platform, E8 won't work unless you're okay switching.

I adapted to it in about a week. Not as feature-rich as NT8, but it handles order entry, charts, and basic analysis without hiccups. For basic price action and session timing strategies, it's more than enough.

Available contracts: ES, NQ, YM, RTY, CL, GC, and a few others. Standard CME futures—nothing exotic.

Crypto

• TradeLocker

E8 Signature Crypto runs on TradeLocker exclusively. You're trading crypto CFDs (not actual coins), which means no wallet, no blockchain fees, just standard CFD execution.

Available coins: BTC, ETH, plus a handful of major altcoins. Spreads vary—BTC/USD typically runs 11-12 points, altcoins wider depending on liquidity.

Leverage is capped lower than forex (typically 1:10 or 1:20), which makes sense given crypto volatility.

Execution Quality

I've had zero major issues with execution on E8 Futures. Fills come through fast, no weird rejections, no slippage beyond what's normal during volatile sessions.

One thing: E8 uses Virtual Markets as their broker backbone for forex/crypto. Virtual Markets isn't a household name, but they're legit—regulated, decent liquidity. Just don't expect Tier-1 bank liquidity during major news events. Slippage happens, especially on minor pairs.

Payouts at E8 Markets: How They Work (and My Results)

This is where E8 shines. I've requested multiple payouts from my futures accounts over the past 12 months—total pulled is around $8k. Every single payout processed in 24-48 hours once approved.

Payout Structure by Account Type

Payout Methods

E8 uses two processors:

1. Plane.com — Bank transfers to 70+ countries. $50 minimum. No E8 fees (processor may charge).
2. Rise (Riseworks.io) — Crypto payouts. $250 minimum. Fast, but crypto volatility is your problem.

I use Plane for bank transfers. Simple KYC (passport + proof of address), then it's smooth. Money hits my account in 2-3 business days after E8 approves the payout.

My Personal Results

I've been trading E8 Signature Futures ($50K account) since early 2024. Here's the breakdown:

• Total payouts: ~$8,000 across 6 withdrawals
• Average payout time: 36 hours from request to approval
• Rejected payouts: Zero
• Payout-related support issues: One (first withdrawal took 5 days due to KYC verification—expected)

The consistency is what matters. Some prop firms pay out fast on your first withdrawal, then slow-walk subsequent ones. E8 hasn't done that. Request payout → wait a day → money shows up.

One thing to watch: if you're on a Signature account, you need 5 profitable days between payout requests. A "profitable day" means closing the day with +0.3% or more on your balance. It's not hard to hit, but if you're only trading 2-3 days per week, it stretches out your payout schedule.

Payout Caps (Model 1 Accounts)

If you have an older Model 1 futures account (purchased before April 2025), there are payout caps:

• $50K account: $1,200 per payout until you've withdrawn $6K total
• $100K account: $2,400 per payout until you've withdrawn $12K total
• $150K account: $3,600 per payout until you've withdrawn $18K total

After hitting those thresholds, caps lift and you can withdraw whatever you want per cycle. Newer accounts purchased after April 2025 don't have these caps.

Scaling & Account Growth

E8 offers account scaling for Classic and Track accounts (not E8 One). Every time you request a payout, your account balance increases by the amount you withdrew, and your drawdown limit increases by 1% (up to 14% max).

Example: Start with a $100K account at 8% max drawdown ($8K). Withdraw $5K. Your new balance is $105K, and your max drawdown increases to $9K (now 8.57% of the new balance). After multiple payouts, you can scale up to larger balances with more risk cushion.

This is useful if you want to grow capital over time without buying new evaluations. Not available on E8 One accounts—those stay fixed unless you buy a larger account.

Final Verdict: Is E8 Markets Worth It in 2026?

E8 Markets is worth it if:

• You trade multiple asset classes and don't want to manage accounts at three different firms
• You value customization—being able to dial in your drawdown tolerance and payout split matters to you
• You're okay with slightly different rule sets depending on which account type you choose
• You need fast, consistent payouts without drama (they deliver here)

Skip E8 if:

• You need instant funding with zero evaluation (E8 doesn't offer that)
• You're a futures swing trader who holds overnight (E8 futures force daily close)
• You hate navigating multiple account structures—E8's flexibility comes with complexity
• You're dead-set on using NinjaTrader or Sierra Chart for futures (E8 uses their own platform)

Who Is This Firm Actually For?

Best fit: Intermediate to advanced traders with a defined strategy who want flexibility across markets. If you're testing multiple strategies (scalping ES during NY open, swing trading EUR/USD, opportunistic crypto plays), E8 lets you do all three under one umbrella.

Not ideal for: Complete beginners who need hand-holding. E8's dashboard is clean, but figuring out which account model fits your strategy takes some homework. If you're still learning how prop trading works, start with a simpler firm (one account type, one market) before diving into E8's options.

My Take After a Year of Trading With Them

E8 Markets isn't flashy. They don't run discount campaigns every other week, they don't spam affiliates with crazy commissions, and they don't promise you'll be a millionaire in six months.

What they do: process payouts on time, maintain clean execution, and give you enough rope to either build a solid funded account or hang yourself with poor risk management.

I've pulled $8k from them. No payout denials, no random account breaches on technicalities, no support ghosting when I had questions. That's more than I can say for some of the bigger names in this space.

The multi-asset access is the standout feature. I'm primarily a futures trader, but having the option to test forex or crypto strategies without opening new accounts elsewhere saves time and mental overhead. One dashboard, one KYC, one payout process.

If you're shopping for a prop firm and you trade more than one market, E8 should be on your shortlist. If you only trade ES and want the absolute lowest-cost eval with the fewest rules, there might be cheaper options—but E8's payout reliability and platform stability make them a strong contender.

E8 Markets FAQ

Is E8 Markets legit?

Yes. Founded in 2021, based in the US (E8 Funding LLC), with a solid track record of paying out traders. I've personally withdrawn $8k+ over the past year with zero payout issues. Trustpilot shows 3,000+ reviews averaging 4+ stars. They're one of the more established multi-asset prop firms.

How long does it take to get funded at E8 Markets?

It depends on your strategy and how quickly you hit the profit target. I passed my E8 Signature Futures eval in about three weeks. No time limit on evaluations—you can take as long as needed. Once you pass, your funded account is typically activated within 24 hours.

What is the payout time at E8 Markets?

Payouts process in 1-2 business days after approval. I've tested this multiple times—requested payout, approved within 24-48 hours, money in my bank account 2-3 business days later via Plane. First payout may take longer due to KYC verification (mine took 5 days).

Can I trade news with E8 Markets?

Depends on the account. E8 Signature accounts (forex, futures, crypto) allow news trading at all stages. E8 One accounts allow news trading during evaluation but restrict high-impact news on funded accounts (5-minute window before/after major releases). If news trading is critical to your strategy, go with Signature.

Does E8 Markets allow automated trading (EAs)?

Yes, on most accounts. EAs are allowed on E8 One, E8 Classic, E8 Track, E8 Signature Forex, and E8 Signature Crypto—as long as they're not HFT, latency arbitrage, or copy trading systems. E8 Signature Futures does NOT allow EAs—manual trading only.

What platforms does E8 Markets support?

• Forex: cTrader, Match Trader, TradeLocker, Platform 5 (MT5 equivalent)
• Futures: E8 Futures Platform (proprietary—not NinjaTrader or Sierra Chart)
• Crypto: TradeLocker

If you're a futures trader attached to NT8 or Sierra, this might be a dealbreaker. I adapted to E8's futures platform in about a week—clean execution, basic but functional.

Can I scale my account at E8 Markets?

Yes, but only on E8 Classic and E8 Track accounts. Every payout increases your balance by the withdrawal amount, and your max drawdown limit increases by 1% (up to 14% max). E8 One and Signature accounts don't scale—you'd need to buy a larger account to increase capital.

What is the Best Day rule at E8 Markets?

The Best Day rule prevents you from relying on one massive winner for all your profit. On funded accounts, no single trading day can account for more than 35-40% (varies by account type) of your total profit. Example: If you're up $10,000 total and $5,000 came from one day (50%), you can't request a payout until you spread out profitability across more trading days.

Does E8 Markets have monthly fees?

Not anymore for new accounts. E8 eliminated monthly subscription fees for futures accounts purchased after December 4, 2024. Older accounts (purchased before that date) still have monthly fees. Forex and crypto accounts never had monthly fees—one-time evaluation cost only.

What happens if I fail the evaluation at E8 Markets?

Your account closes. On forex and crypto, you'd need to buy a new evaluation to try again. On older futures accounts (pre-Dec 2024), you technically paid a "monthly subscription," so failing meant restarting the eval without a new purchase—but that model is phased out for newer accounts.

Can US traders use E8 Markets?

Yes, E8 accepts US traders. However, US traders cannot use MT5 or cTrader due to US regulations—you'd need to use Match Trader, TradeLocker, or Platform 5 for forex. Futures and crypto are unaffected.

How much does it cost to start with E8 Markets?

Depends on account type and size. Examples:

• E8 Classic $5K (2-step): $33
• E8 One $50K (1-step): $288
• E8 Signature Futures $50K: $150/month (evaluation phase)
• E8 Signature Forex $50K: $279

Prices adjust based on account size, drawdown tolerance, and payout split. Use their account builder to see exact pricing for your preferred setup.