Prop firm minimum hold time rules
Some firms require trades to stay open for a minimum time, often a minute or two. Trades closed faster can be struck from the record along with the profit they made. Every rule below is quoted from the firm’s own pages, with a link to where we read it.
What can this rule do to you?
Kind of rule
Trade duration
Minimum hold times, and trades closed too fast being struck from the record.
Futures: every position must be flat by 4:10 p.m. ET
On FTMO Futures every position must be closed and every resting order cancelled before 4:10 p.m. ET, or the earlier market close on holidays. The platform liquidates what is left, but carrying exposure past the close is a forbidden practice, so relying on the auto-close can cost the account.
Scalping is allowed, but under two minutes draws a risk review
"We permit scalp trading with us. However, if trades are within two minutes or less, or if there are suspicious trades resembling Arbitrage activity prohibited by the company our Risk Team will take appropriate action. All trades are closely monitored by the Risk Team in this regard." There is no stated threshold and no stated penalty, which is the point: a scalper is permitted and simultaneously flagged, and what happens next is a judgement call.
Stay above starting balance at every 15 day check while funded
For the first 90 days funded your net PnL must be above the starting balance at the end of every 15 calendar days. Missing a checkpoint brings discretionary warnings and breaking funded rules risks termination.
Trades must stay open for at least 2 minutes
Positions closed in under 2 minutes break the minimum holding time. FunderBlu does not say whether shorter trades are voided or breach the account. Instant Live has no minimum duration.
This list is only as complete as our reading. 33 of the 83 firms we track have been through a rulebook pass; the rest are still to do, and a firm missing from here has not been cleared. It has not been checked. See which firms are next.