Country restrictions and KYC at prop firms

Sanctions. Topstep bases its country list on sanctions of the US agency OFAC and on restrictions from its partners^[2]. MyFundedFutures screens every applicant automatically against lists such as OFAC, UN, HMT, EU and DFAT, plus politically exposed persons and adverse media^[3]. Maven Trading excludes countries on UN sanctions lists^[4]; FundedNext also excludes countries on the FATF high-risk list^[5]. The5ers names the sanctions of the USA, the UN, the EU, the United Kingdom and Israel, plus those of other jurisdictions where its payment processors or entities are authorised^[1].

Since 1966 the UN Security Council has established 31 sanctions regimes^[6]. Since joining the UN in 2002, Switzerland has been bound under international law to implement its sanctions; it adopts EU sanctions only by a Federal Council decision, case by case^[7]. SECO lets you search for sanctioned people and companies^[8]; OFAC lists the US programmes^[9].

Partners, brokers, misuse. Next to sanctions and embargoes, MyFundedFutures names restrictions from its platforms, brokers and partners, and it also excludes countries with a high risk of credit card misuse and identity theft^[3]. At Topstep, brokerage restrictions block the "Live Funded Account" in some countries^[2]. Take Profit Trader cites regulatory requirements and CME guidelines^[10].

Business decisions. FTMO says openly that its list of excluded countries of residence rests on business decisions about risk management^[11]. BrightFunded names internal policies next to sanctions^[12].

So the lists hardly match, and Europe is not exempt: MyFundedFutures excludes, among others, Bulgaria, Croatia, Malta, Romania, Slovenia and Corsica^[13]; Alpha Futures excludes Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovenia^[14]; Tradeify excludes Bulgaria and Iceland^[15]. Read the list country by country.

Passport. FTMO excludes nationals and residents of Iran, Syria, Myanmar and North Korea. Nationals of Iran, Syria and Myanmar are accepted only with proof of residence in the EEA and an account at a traditional bank in the EEA^[11]. Topstep looks at citizenship and permanent residence; if you are a citizen of an ineligible country but live in an eligible one, you can submit a government-issued photo ID proving permanent residence there and a bank statement from that country, which the Trust team then reviews^[2].

Travel.

• Tradeify: per the help centre, residence counts and you keep trading while travelling^[15]. The agreement, however, also excludes people located in a restricted country^[16]. Ask in writing before you travel.
• MyFundedFutures: trading while travelling yes, buying and resetting no^[13].
• Topstep: do not trade from an ineligible country; even brief trading may trigger a review^[2].
• Alpha Futures: no trading even when visiting or passing through^[14].
• Take Profit Trader: a single access from a restricted country, even just to market data, gets the account restricted or blocked under CME rules^[10].
• Maven Trading: your IP address should stay in the same region; if you travel abroad, you may have to back up the change of location with a plane ticket or itinerary^[4].

VPN and payment. The5ers treats bypassing geographical restrictions, for example by VPN, as a fundamental breach and may close the account at once, even if it only comes to light during or after KYC^[1]. FundedNext prohibits VPNs and proxies used against geo and KYC controls^[5]; Alpha Futures prohibits VPN and VPS during KYC^[18]. Maven Trading allows VPN, per its FAQ, but wants a payment card in your own name; a third-party card may stop you completing KYC^[4].

PropCrab's profiles record what each firm says. "–" means the profile has no entry for that country.

• Accepted mostly means: not on the firm's restricted list. That is not a promise; The5ers calls its own list non-exhaustive^[1].
• Restricted at Topstep for Germany: Trading Combine and "Express Funded Accounts" with up to USD 200,000 in total payouts, but no "Live Funded Account"^[2].
• The next stage: at Tradeify, residents of certain jurisdictions stay on a simulated account for the whole contract^[16]. Which ones is not on the help centre's country page^[15].
• Via another entity: FTMO serves clients in the USA through the affiliated site ftmo.oanda.com^[11].

For futures firms such as Topstep and Tradeify, the profile shows the USA as accepted^[53][57]. For forex and CFD firms the profiles mostly show "restricted", for example at Goat Funded Trader and The5ers^[45][49], and the reason is the platform:

• E8 Markets: US clients get TradeLocker and Match-Trader only, no MT5, no cTrader^[20].
• BrightFunded: no MT5 for the US and the UAE, no cTrader for the US, "due to local regulations"^[21].
• FundedNext: US traders on Match-Trader only^[22].
• The5ers: US clients get TradingView only; cTrader is no longer offered for new US accounts^[23].
• Alpha Capital Group: cTrader for existing US customers only, plus DXtrade and TradeLocker; if you travel to the USA, do not use your MT5 account there^[17].
• Maven Trading: MetaTrader is not available for the USA or Canada^[4].

The firms rarely say why. The5ers writes that such limits are often set by the platform providers^[1]. Per a Finance Magnates report from February 2024, MetaQuotes, the maker of MetaTrader, was allegedly cracking down on prop firms without confirming it publicly; the report put active US clients at the centre^[24]. On 1 July 2026 the same outlet quoted a spokesperson for Spotware, the maker of cTrader: after an internal regulatory assessment in the first quarter of 2026, the company decided to restrict onboarding of US-based traders^[25]. The full overview is in the guide to platforms.

Maven Trading's profile has no documented timing yet. Per its FAQ, on the Standard 1 Step, 2 Step, 3 Step and 2 Step OMO challenges KYC comes after you pass, before you receive the simulated account; on Buy Now Pay Later, Instant Funding and Instant Mini Funding it comes only with the first payout request^[4].

The later the check, the more you have paid and traded before you know whether you get through. Alpha Futures lets you verify at any time, suggests doing it at or before your first purchase, and allows up to 48 hours for the review^[18]. At FundedNext submitting is not enough: the status must be "Approved", or no reward is paid; the renewal every 90 days is currently paused^[26]. Topstep processes no further purchases before you verify, resets included^[27].

Instant Funding also asks for financial information: bank account details or proof of income^[19].

Where it can go wrong even with valid papers:

• Name: at Goat Funded Trader it must match on the account, the ID and the payout account^[29].
• One profile per person: so at City Traders Imperium and MyFundedFutures^[28][3].
• Format: Topstep does not accept photocopies, images shown on another screen or expired IDs^[27]. City Traders Imperium wants original documents, not screenshots or edited images^[28].
• Video interview: The5ers may ask for one; if you do not schedule it within 5 business days, the account can be terminated^[1].
• Provider: Sumsub checks for City Traders Imperium and Instant Funding, Veriff for Alpha Futures and Goat Funded Trader^[28][18][29]. Instant Funding writes that it has no authority to make the final verification decision^[19].

More attempts. FundedNext gives 3 attempts, 5 for Iraq and Nigeria^[26]. City Traders Imperium emails the reason for a rejection and lets you upload new documents, but may limit further attempts for a while after several failures^[28]. Take Profit Trader reviews failed applications by hand^[30]. At Goat Funded Trader there is no payout without verification through Veriff or Rise^[29].

Your fee. Alpha Futures issues a full refund for your passed or active evaluation if you cannot pass the screening^[18]. FundedNext refunds nothing if you fail KYC, except where the law requires it^[5]. The5ers writes that even complete information does not mean you will pass; the firm may stop the check, and without a completed check there is no refund^[1].

False information. City Traders Imperium then suspends all accounts, refunds nothing and bans you permanently^[28]. Instant Funding adds legal action and reports to the authorities^[19].

1. 1The country list read name by name, for residence and citizenship, including the live account.
2. 2Rules on travel, VPN and payment methods read.
3. 3Living in the USA: is a platform open for your programme?
4. 4KYC timing known, done in advance where possible.
5. 5ID valid, proof of address at most 3 months old where required^[28][3]; the same name everywhere.
6. 6Clear whether the fee comes back if KYC fails; if not, ask in writing first.

More in the checklist before buying. Each firm's countries are in its profile under firms.