When does an account go Live?
After the fifth payout on the simulated account, or earlier if the risk team decides so. At that point the account joins the Live review pool. All funded accounts in the pool with at least one payout move to Live together; funded accounts with zero payouts are closed and their evaluation fee is refunded.
Stream accounts have a second path: a single day that reaches the maximum daily profit ($6,000 on a 25K to $12,000 on a 150K) moves the account to Live at once, with the simulated profit above the buffer paid up to $15,000.
How does a Live account start?
At $0. Instead of a balance, you get a starting drawdown that equals the original Max Loss Limit of your size. The drawdown is computed at end of day, there is no Daily Loss Limit and no consistency rule. Payouts are daily.
| Account type | 25K | 50K | 100K | 150K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Clear | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Stream | None | None | None | None |
| Direct | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Original size | Live starting drawdown | Live Bonus goal |
|---|---|---|
| 25K | $1,000 | $1,100 |
| 50K | $2,000 | $2,100 |
| 100K | $3,000 | $3,100 |
| 150K | $4,500 | $4,600 |
When does the Live drawdown lock?
Once your Live profit equals the starting drawdown, the limit locks at $100 below your peak. From then on a full give-back cannot go below a $100 profit, so the capital at risk is StarTrading’s, never yours.
What are the Live rules?
- Flat by the platform flat time every weekday; no swing positions.
- Same prohibited practices as simulated accounts.
- A Live account that hits its drawdown is closed, followed by a two-week cooldown before a new evaluation.
Is there a tier beyond Live?
Yes, by invitation only: immediate Live, daily payouts with no cap, up to five accounts. Invitations come from the risk team based on the Live track record; there is nothing to apply for.
Common mistakes
- Sitting at four payouts to avoid the pool. Live is the goal: no caps, no consistency, daily payouts.
- Expecting the Live Bonus on a Stream account; Stream is not eligible.
- Treating the Live account like a fresh simulated account and holding into flat time.
Simulated accounts until Live. Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss.