City Traders Imperium review

City Traders Imperium (CTI) is a London-based forex prop firm founded in July 2018, giving it one of the longer operating histories among firms outside the FTMO/Topstep generation. It was built by former head traders and has maintained named, publicly identifiable leadership throughout — a detail that matters in a category where many competitors operate behind anonymous brand fronts.

The firm offers a tiered range of funding programs — one-step, two-step and instant options — with challenge sizes starting as low as $2,500, making it one of the more accessible entry points for cautious traders who don't want to commit to a $10k+ challenge on day one. Its evaluation structure uses a balance-based (rather than pure floating-equity) drawdown calculation, which independent reviews note requires careful reading since it behaves differently from the equity-trailing model used at many rivals.

CTI processes payouts on a bi-weekly cycle in line with the broader forex-firm norm, with the first withdrawal typically available 14 days after the funded account becomes active. Its multi-year operating history gives it a longer accumulation of independent trader payout reports than most 2022-onward firms.

Because CTI runs several distinct funding programs, payout terms — including any consistency expectations — can differ by plan. Check the terms for the specific program (one-step, two-step or instant) you purchase rather than assuming a single company-wide policy.

Entry pricing scales from very low levels for the smallest $2,500 accounts up into the low hundreds of dollars for the more commonly purchased $10k–$25k sizes, positioning CTI competitively against the mainstream forex-firm price range.

There is no confirmed permanent site-wide discount code; pricing is generally presented as a straightforward tiered fee schedule by account size and program type.