1. Introduction to AtmosFunded
In the proprietary trading industry, a silent war is often waged against automated trading systems. Many legacy prop firms actively restrict or outright ban the use of Expert Advisors (EAs), algorithmic bots, and trade copiers out of fear that traders might “game” the simulated environment. AtmosFunded was built specifically to solve this problem.
Founded by quantitative analysts and software developers, AtmosFunded embraces automation. They have engineered their backend infrastructure to support high-frequency execution, providing raw spreads and API access that algorithmic traders desperately need. While discretionary manual traders are perfectly welcome and will benefit from the tight spreads, the firm’s core mission is to provide a reliable, scalable home for algorithmic systems that actually work in real-world market conditions.
Key Highlight: AtmosFunded does not just “tolerate” EAs; they actively encourage them. You are allowed to run your proprietary algorithmic bots 24/5 on their virtual private servers (VPS) with near-zero latency execution.
2. Pros and Cons of AtmosFunded
Pros
- Algorithmic Freedom: Unrestricted use of proprietary Expert Advisors (EAs) and custom trading bots.
- Raw Spreads: Institutional-grade liquidity providers ensure incredibly tight spreads, crucial for scalping algorithms.
- Balance-Based Drawdowns: Drawdown metrics are calculated on daily starting balances, protecting floating profits.
- No Time Limits: Traders have unlimited time to pass evaluations, perfect for swing bots.
- High Profit Splits: Funded traders begin with a generous 85% profit split, scalable upwards.
- API Access: Advanced traders can easily request FIX API access for custom software integrations.
Cons
- Strict HFT Rules: High-Frequency Trading is allowed during evaluations but restricted on live accounts.
- Third-Party Restrictions: Cannot use commercially available, mass-market account passing bots or EAs.
- Limited Education: The firm assumes you are an experienced quant, offering little beginner education.
- Platform Options: Focused primarily on MetaTrader, lacking some newer modern web-based charting platforms.
3. The Algorithmic Trading Advantage
For an algorithmic trader, execution speed and spread width dictate the difference between a highly profitable strategy and a total failure. AtmosFunded understands this intimately.
They provide a ‘Raw Spread’ environment. Unlike standard retail brokers that mark up the spread to make a hidden profit on every trade, AtmosFunded passes the raw interbank spread directly to the trader and charges a transparent commission per lot. This means that during highly liquid sessions like the London/New York overlap, spreads on EUR/USD can drop to 0.0 pips. For algorithms that execute dozens of trades a day capturing micro-movements, this infrastructure is absolutely vital for success.
4. Evaluation Programs and Rules
AtmosFunded keeps their evaluation criteria simple, ensuring that their rules don’t inadvertently break the logic of your algorithmic systems.
- Phase 1 Target: 8% Profit
- Phase 2 Target: 5% Profit
- Daily Drawdown: 5% (Calculated based on daily balance)
- Maximum Drawdown: 10% (Static from initial balance)
There are no minimum trading days required. If your algorithm hits the 8% target on day one while managing risk properly, you immediately advance to Phase 2. There are also no maximum time limits, meaning algorithms that only take 2 or 3 highly selective trades a month will never fail due to an arbitrary 30-day countdown.
5. Account Sizes and Pricing Options
AtmosFunded offers a wide spectrum of account sizes to accommodate the varying capital requirements of different algorithmic strategies. Below is a breakdown of their standard 2-Step Evaluation pricing.
| Account Size | Phase 1 Target (8%) | Phase 2 Target (5%) | Max Drawdown (10%) | One-Time Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $800 | $500 | $1,000 | $95 |
| $25,000 | $2,000 | $1,250 | $2,500 | $175 |
| $50,000 | $4,000 | $2,500 | $5,000 | $285 |
| $100,000 | $8,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 | $485 |
| $200,000 | $16,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 | $950 |
(Note: The One-Time Fee is fully refundable and will be returned to you upon your first successful payout in the funded stage).
6. Allowed Platforms and Raw Spreads
Because AtmosFunded caters to the automated trading community, their platform offerings are centered around software that easily supports coding and third-party integrations.
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4): The undisputed king of automated forex trading. Millions of lines of MQL4 code exist for this platform, making it the default choice for EA developers.
- MetaTrader 5 (MT5): The modern upgrade, offering vastly superior multi-threaded backtesting capabilities, which is crucial for optimizing algorithmic strategies before deploying them live.
As mentioned, both platforms operate on raw feed data, ensuring your backtesting results closely match live execution.
7. Drawdown Rules Explained
One of the most attractive features of AtmosFunded is their use of Balance-Based Drawdowns.
Most prop firms use equity-based drawdowns. If your account spikes $3,000 in open profit and then retraces $2,000 before you close the trade, an equity-based firm will record a $2,000 drawdown against your daily limit.
At AtmosFunded, the daily 5% loss limit is calculated only against your closed balance at the start of the new trading day. This allows your algorithmic strategies to hold deep retracements on winning trades without artificially failing the evaluation due to floating equity fluctuations.
8. Supported Trading Instruments
Algorithmic traders require deep liquidity across diverse markets to find uncorrelated trading opportunities. AtmosFunded provides access to:
- Forex: Over 40 currency pairs including majors, minors, and exotics.
- Indices: Global equities such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, DAX 40, and FTSE 100.
- Commodities: Precious metals (Gold, Silver) and energies (WTI Crude, Brent).
- Crypto: Major cryptocurrencies traded as CFDs against the US Dollar.
9. Profit Splits and Withdrawal Process
Once your algorithm proves its worth and you navigate the evaluation phases, you are granted a funded account.
Traders start with a very generous 85% profit split. If your bot generates $10,000 in profits, you retain $8,500. Furthermore, AtmosFunded boasts an incredibly efficient payout infrastructure.
- First Payout: Can be requested 14 days after your first live trade.
- Subsequent Payouts: Eligible for bi-weekly requests.
- Payment Methods: Withdrawals are processed rapidly via cryptocurrency (USDT/USDC) or traditional bank wire via Deel.
10. The Capital Scaling Plan
For algorithmic traders, more capital equals more mathematical edge. AtmosFunded provides a clear, quantitative path to scaling your account size.
| Scaling Tier | Consistency Requirement | Capital Increase | Profit Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 10% total profit over 3 months | +25% of Base Capital | 85% |
| Tier 2 | Additional 10% over 3 months | +25% of New Capital | 90% |
| Tier 3 | Additional 10% over 3 months | +25% of New Capital | 90% |
| Institutional | Maintained profitability for 1 year | Custom limits up to $2M | 90% |
This structured scaling allows a $100K account to rapidly grow into institutional-sized buying power over the course of a single year.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Is AtmosFunded a legitimate company?
Yes, AtmosFunded is a fully legitimate proprietary trading firm. They utilize A-Book execution models for their live funded traders and have a verifiable track record of rapid crypto and bank wire payouts.
Can I use any Expert Advisor (EA)?
You are highly encouraged to use your own proprietary EAs. However, commercially available “mass-market” bots or EAs designed specifically to exploit demo servers via tick scalping or latency arbitrage are strictly prohibited.
Does the firm offer VPS services?
AtmosFunded does not provide a free VPS by default. However, they partner with several high-tier, low-latency VPS providers in London and New York, ensuring your algorithms execute with minimal delay.
Are there any restrictions on news trading?
No. Your algorithms are completely free to execute trades before, during, and after high-impact macroeconomic news events without fear of rule breaches.
How are commissions structured?
Because AtmosFunded offers Raw Spreads, they charge a flat commission fee per lot traded. This is typically standard industry pricing (e.g., $3 to $7 per round turn lot) depending on the asset class.
12. Final Verdict: Is AtmosFunded the Best for Algo Traders?
If you are a discretionary manual trader, AtmosFunded is still a very solid option due to their balance-based drawdowns and lack of time limits. However, if you are a quantitative, algorithmic trader, AtmosFunded is arguably the absolute best proprietary trading firm on the market today.
By specifically tailoring their infrastructure to support automated systems—providing raw spreads, MT5 backtesting capabilities, and a complete lack of restrictions on proprietary EAs—they have removed the friction that usually plagues bot developers. For those looking to deploy algorithms on institutional-sized capital, AtmosFunded is the premier destination.
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