Shark Futures is a simulated futures prop firm offering two distinct tracks. The Basic Challenge is a 1-phase evaluation leading to a PRO account (funded). Instant PRO gives direct funded access with no evaluation required. Key differentiators include no daily loss limit on Basic Challenge and PRO accounts, EOD trailing drawdown that permanently locks at the starting balance, a 90/10 split on all funded accounts, a one-time fee model with no monthly subscription, unrestricted news trading, and auto-close at 4:15 PM EST. Maximum funding reaches $750,000 across five $150K accounts.
Platforms: Volumetrica (with mobile app), Quantower, and ATAS, all powered by Rithmic. Payments via Rise, bank transfer, or crypto. Standard non-promotional pricing listed; verify current pricing at sharkfutures.com.
Firm Overview
| Firm | Shark Futures |
| CEO | Ignas Bakanauskas |
| Type | Simulated futures prop trading. Two tracks: Basic + PRO and Instant PRO. |
| Tagline | Trader-First Futures Funding |
| Products | Basic Challenge to PRO (evaluation track) | Instant PRO (direct funded, no eval) |
| Fee Model | One-time fee, no monthly subscription. Basic: $99 to $382. Instant PRO: $399 to $899. |
| Activation Fee | $0 on all account types |
| Account Sizes | $25K / $50K / $100K / $150K |
| Max Funding | Up to $750,000 (5 accounts x $150K) |
| Profit Split | 90/10 on all funded accounts (PRO and Instant PRO) |
| Drawdown | EOD trailing on all accounts. Permanently locks at starting balance. |
| Daily Loss Limit | None on Basic Challenge / PRO. Soft DLL on Instant PRO $50K+ (pauses trading only). |
| Auto-Close | 4:15 PM EST. No overnight or weekend holding. |
| News Trading | Allowed at any time. No restrictions whatsoever. |
| Platforms | Volumetrica (mobile app) | Quantower | ATAS | DeepCharts Web (coming soon) |
| Payout Methods | Rise | Bank transfer | Crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC) |
| Processing | Within 24 hours of approval |
| Max Accounts | 5 simultaneously (PRO and Instant PRO combined) |
Full Account Type Comparison
| Feature | Basic Challenge | PRO (after passing) | Instant PRO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation required | Yes (1 phase) | N/A, earned after Basic | No, purchase direct |
| One-time fee | $99 to $382 | N/A | $399 to $899 |
| Profit target | Yes, fixed per size | No | Yes, per payout cycle |
| Consistency rule | 50% | 40% | 20% (strictest) |
| Min trading days | 2 to pass | 6 per payout cycle | 8 per payout cycle |
| Daily loss limit | None | None | Soft DLL ($50K+) |
| Max drawdown | EOD trailing | EOD trailing | EOD trailing |
| Profit split | N/A (eval) | 90/10 | 90/10 |
| Time limit | 30 days | None | None |
| Max accounts | Unlimited | 5 (PRO + Instant total) | 5 (PRO + Instant total) |
| Payouts available | No | Yes | Yes |
Basic Challenge: Pricing and Specifications
| Account | One-Time Fee* | Profit Target | Max DD (EOD) | Contracts | Consistency | Min Days | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | $99 | $1,500 | $1,000 | 2 minis (20 Micros) | 50% | 2 | 30 days |
| $50K | $132 | $3,000 | $2,000 | 5 minis (50 Micros) | 50% | 2 | 30 days |
| $100K | $265 | $6,000 | $3,000 | 10 minis (100 Micros) | 50% | 2 | 30 days |
| $150K | $382 | $9,000 | $4,500 | 15 minis (150 Micros) | 50% | 2 | 30 days |
* Standard non-promotional one-time fees. No monthly subscription. $0 activation fee. 30-day time limit. No daily loss limit on Basic Challenge. Once passed, activate the PRO account within 30 days.
PRO Account: After Passing the Basic
The PRO account is the funded phase earned after passing a Basic Challenge. There is no profit target, but 6 qualifying trading days are required per payout cycle, each closing with at least $150 in net profit. Consistency rule: 40%. Each payout is the lower of 50% of cycle profits or the progressive cap. Profit split is 90/10. Maximum of 5 PRO accounts active simultaneously.
| Account | 1st Payout | 2nd Payout | 3rd Payout | 4th+ Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $2,750 |
| $100K | $2,000 | $2,750 | $3,250 | $3,750 |
| $150K | $2,500 | $3,250 | $3,750 | $4,250 |
The 50% rule: your payout is the lower of 50% of cycle profits or the progressive cap. Example on PRO $100K 1st payout: cycle profit $3,000, 50% equals $1,500, cap is $2,000, approved amount is $1,500 (50% rule applies). If cycle profit is $4,500, 50% equals $2,250 which exceeds the $2,000 cap, so the approved amount is $2,000 (cap applies).
Instant PRO: Direct Funded, No Evaluation
| Account | One-Time Fee* | Hard DD (EOD) | Soft DLL | Contracts | Consistency | Min Days / Payout | 1st Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | $399 | $1,250 | None | 1 mini (10 Micros) | 20% | 8 days | $1,500 |
| $50K | $599 | $2,000 | $1,500 | 2 minis (20 Micros) | 20% | 8 days | $3,000 |
| $100K | $799 | $4,000 | $3,000 | 4 minis (40 Micros) | 20% | 8 days | $5,000 |
| $150K | $899 | $6,000 | $4,500 | 7 minis (70 Micros) | 20% | 8 days | $8,000 |
Instant PRO provides direct funded account access without an evaluation challenge. It carries the strictest consistency rule of any Shark Futures account (20%) and requires 8 qualifying days per payout cycle. A profit target must be met before each payout, with the first target higher than subsequent ones.
Instant PRO Payout Caps and Targets
| Account | Payouts 1 to 3 Cap | 4th+ Cap | 1st Payout Target | Subsequent Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25K | $1,000 | $1,250 | $1,500 | $1,000 |
| $50K | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,000 | $2,000 |
| $100K | $2,500 | $3,000 | $5,000 | $3,500 |
| $150K | $3,000 | $3,500 | $8,000 | $5,000 |
Maximum potential with 5 Instant PRO $150K accounts at the 4th+ payout level: 5 x $3,500 equals $17,500 per cycle. Each account operates independently and must meet its own eligibility requirements before a withdrawal can be requested.
* Standard non-promotional one-time fees. No monthly subscription. $0 activation fee. Soft DLL on $50K+ accounts pauses trading only; it does not close the account.
Drawdown System: Soft Breach vs Hard Breach
| Account | Soft DLL (Pause Only) | Hard DD (Closes Account) | Floor Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic $25K to $150K | None | $1,000 / $2,000 / $3,000 / $4,500 | $24K / $48K / $97K / $145.5K |
| PRO $25K to $150K | None | Same as Basic (EOD trailing) | Same as Basic, locks at start |
| Instant PRO $25K | None | $1,250 | $23,750 |
| Instant PRO $50K | $1,500 (soft) | $2,000 | $48,000 |
| Instant PRO $100K | $3,000 (soft) | $4,000 | $96,000 |
| Instant PRO $150K | $4,500 (soft) | $6,000 | $144,000 |
Critical distinction: a Soft Breach (DLL exceeded on Instant PRO $50K+) pauses trading for the day only. The account stays active. A Hard Breach (equity falling below the EOD trailing floor, enforced intraday) permanently closes the account. Basic and PRO accounts have no DLL; only the Hard Breach applies. The EOD trailing drawdown permanently locks at the starting balance and never moves above it.
Trading Rules
- Auto-close at 4:15 PM EST. No overnight or weekend holding.
- News trading is fully unrestricted with no blackout windows whatsoever.
- EOD trailing drawdown locks permanently at the starting balance and never exceeds it.
- Hard breach: live equity falling below the trailing floor intraday results in permanent account closure.
- Soft breach (Instant PRO $50K+): trading is paused until the next day; the account remains active.
- $250 minimum payout. $100 buffer required in the account after any withdrawal on Instant PRO.
- KYC required via Rise before the first payout. Complete early to avoid delays.
- No monthly subscription. One-time fee at purchase.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- ✓ No daily loss limit on Basic Challenge and PRO accounts, maximum intraday freedom
- ✓ EOD trailing drawdown locks at the starting balance, no trailing risk once profitable enough
- ✓ Instant PRO: skip evaluation entirely, direct funded trading from day 1
- ✓ 90/10 profit split on all funded accounts (Basic PRO and Instant PRO)
- ✓ No activation fee on any account type
- ✓ One-time fee model, no recurring monthly subscription
- ✓ News trading allowed at any time with no restrictions of any kind
- ✓ No monthly payout limits on Instant PRO, multiple payouts per month possible
- ✓ Up to $750,000 total funding (5 accounts x $150K)
- ✓ Basic Challenge: only 2 minimum trading days to pass evaluation
- ✓ Instant PRO $25K: no daily loss limit, true maximum freedom account
- ✓ Instant PRO soft daily loss limit pauses trading only, it does not close the account
- ✓ Volumetrica mobile app available, trade anywhere
- ✓ Platforms: Volumetrica, Quantower, ATAS, a professional order-flow suite
- ✓ Payment via Rise, bank transfer, or crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC)
- ✓ Processed within 24 hours of approval
- ✓ PRO payout cap grows with each consecutive payout (progressive cap table)
- ✓ Instant PRO payout caps also grow from the 4th payout onward
CONS
- ✗ 30-day time limit on Basic Challenge, must reach the target within 30 days
- ✗ No overnight or weekend holding, all positions closed at 4:15 PM EST
- ✗ PRO payout rule: only 50% of cycle profits can be withdrawn per payout, limited by the cap
- ✗ PRO requires 6 qualifying trading days per payout cycle, each must close with $150+ profit
- ✗ Instant PRO requires 8 qualifying days per payout cycle, stricter than PRO's 6
- ✗ Instant PRO profit targets must be met before each payout; the first payout target is higher
- ✗ Instant PRO $50K+ accounts have a soft daily loss limit; trading pauses when exceeded
- ✗ 20% consistency rule on Instant PRO is the strictest of any account type reviewed
- ✗ PRO 40% consistency rule applies per payout cycle; outsized single days delay payouts
- ✗ Basic Challenge 50% consistency: a single day exceeding 50% of total profit fails the consistency check
- ✗ Instant PRO one-time fee is higher than Basic Challenge (e.g. $599 versus $132 for 50K)
- ✗ Payout caps mean large profits may take multiple payout cycles to fully withdraw
- ✗ No publicly available information on the firm's founding year or track record length
- ✗ Platforms (Volumetrica, Quantower, ATAS) carry a learning curve for new users
Verdict
Shark Futures stands out through two strong structural features: no daily loss limit on Basic Challenge and PRO accounts, and EOD trailing drawdown that permanently locks at the starting balance. Combined, these give traders maximum intraday freedom with growing protection as the account becomes profitable. Instant PRO is the best option for experienced traders who want to skip evaluation, despite the stricter 20% consistency requirement. The one-time fee model with no monthly subscription is a genuine economic advantage. Unrestricted news trading is a rare differentiator in the futures prop space.
Recommended entry: Basic Challenge $50K ($132 one-time) for the lowest-cost path. Instant PRO $50K ($599 one-time) for direct funded access without evaluation. All accounts share a 90/10 split and EOD drawdown protection. Verify current pricing at sharkfutures.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two product types at Shark Futures?
Shark Futures offers two distinct product tracks. The first is the Basic Challenge + PRO path: traders pay a one-time fee to access a Basic Challenge (evaluation), and upon passing are promoted to a PRO Account (funded phase). PRO accounts have no profit target, use a 40% consistency rule, and require 6 qualifying trading days per payout cycle. The second track is Instant PRO: traders purchase a funded account directly with no evaluation required. Instant PRO accounts require 8 qualifying trading days per payout cycle, a stricter 20% consistency rule, and profit targets that must be met before each payout. Both tracks offer 90/10 splits and EOD trailing drawdown. Basic Challenge and PRO accounts have no daily loss limit. Instant PRO accounts at $50K and above have a soft daily loss limit that pauses trading for the day without closing the account.
How does the EOD trailing drawdown work and when does it lock?
The trailing max drawdown at Shark Futures updates only at End of Day, not intraday. It trails the highest EOD closing balance upward, so the floor rises as profits accumulate over daily closes. The drawdown never moves above the starting account balance. Once the trailing floor reaches the starting balance, it permanently stops trailing. From that point, the account will hard breach if live equity drops below the starting balance at any time intraday. For example, on a $50K Basic Challenge account with a $2,000 drawdown, the floor starts at $48,000. After profitable days, the floor rises until it reaches $50,000 and permanently locks. Any live equity dip below $50,000 at any point during the trading day then triggers a hard breach and permanent account closure.
What is the difference between a soft breach and a hard breach?
A soft breach occurs when intraday losses exceed the soft daily loss limit on Instant PRO accounts at $50K and above. When triggered, trading is paused for the rest of that trading day. The account remains fully active, the soft breach does not close the account, does not automatically disqualify payouts, and does not affect the max drawdown floor. It is a risk management guideline, not a hard stop. A hard breach is permanent: it occurs when live equity drops below the trailing max drawdown floor at any point intraday. A hard breach immediately closes the account, forfeits all remaining profits, and ends that funded account permanently. Basic Challenge and PRO accounts have no daily loss limit and no soft breach mechanism; only the trailing drawdown hard breach applies.
What are the consistency rules across different account types?
Shark Futures uses three different consistency thresholds depending on account type. For Basic Challenge accounts, no single profitable day may exceed 50% of total profit earned in the challenge. If it does, the trader must continue trading and add more profit across additional days until the concentration drops below 50%. For PRO accounts, the threshold tightens to 40%: no single day in the payout cycle may exceed 40% of total cycle profit. For Instant PRO accounts, the strictest threshold of 20% applies: no single profitable day may exceed 20% of total net profits across the 8 qualifying trading days. All consistency checks use the formula: highest profitable day divided by total profit equals concentration percentage.
How does the PRO payout system work?
PRO accounts are funded accounts earned after passing a Basic Challenge. Payouts require 6 qualifying trading days (each closing with at least $150 net profit), the 40% consistency rule, no hard breach, and a minimum $250 payout request. The payout amount is the lower of two limits: 50% of total cycle profits, or the progressive payout cap for the current payout number. The cap starts lower and increases with each consecutive payout. For a $50K PRO account, caps are $1,500 (1st), $2,000 (2nd), $2,500 (3rd), and $2,750 (4th+). For a $100K PRO account: $2,000 / $2,750 / $3,250 / $3,750. For a $150K PRO account: $2,500 / $3,250 / $3,750 / $4,250. Payout cycles reset after every payout, requiring 6 new qualifying days before the next request.
How does the Instant PRO payout system work?
Instant PRO payouts require 8 qualifying trading days per cycle (each closing with $150+ net profit), the 20% consistency rule, no hard breach, a $100 minimum account buffer remaining after withdrawal, and profit targets that must be reached before the first and subsequent payouts. First payout targets by account size: $25K is $1,500, $50K is $3,000, $100K is $5,000, and $150K is $8,000. Subsequent payout targets are lower: $25K is $1,000, $50K is $2,000, $100K is $3,500, and $150K is $5,000. Progressive payout caps apply per account size and grow from the 4th payout onward. There are no monthly payout limits; multiple payouts per month are possible as long as each 8-day cycle is completed. Payout cycles reset after every withdrawal.
What are the trading rules on hours, news, and positions?
Permitted hours: all positions must be closed by 4:15 PM EST each trading day. No overnight or weekend holding is permitted, and the auto-close applies to both Basic Challenge and all funded accounts. News trading is fully permitted with no restrictions whatsoever; traders may open, close, or hold positions through any news event, including high-impact releases. This is an explicit differentiator from firms that enforce news blackout windows. Position limits are fixed per account size and apply identically across both evaluation and funded phases.
What platforms does Shark Futures support?
Shark Futures supports three active trading platforms. Volumetrica is the primary platform, offering advanced charting, real-time market data, and a mobile app available on app stores. Quantower is a multi-market professional platform with advanced order management, customizable workspaces, and low-latency execution. ATAS provides advanced order flow analysis including volume profile, market profile, cluster charts, footprint analysis, Smart DOM, and trading ladder tools for market microstructure analysis. DeepCharts Web is listed as coming soon. All platforms are powered by Rithmic data infrastructure. Verify current platform availability via the Shark Futures help center.
Can I have multiple funded accounts and what is the maximum funding?
Shark Futures allows up to 5 funded accounts simultaneously across PRO and Instant PRO combined. The total of PRO plus Instant PRO accounts cannot exceed 5. With five $150K funded accounts of either type, total capital access reaches $750,000. Each account has its own independent payout cycle, drawdown, and compliance tracking. Withdrawals from multiple accounts can be combined only when each account independently meets all payout eligibility requirements for that cycle. When graduating to Live Trading, traders are limited to 1 Live Account.
What is the Basic Challenge structure and how do I pass it?
The Basic Challenge is a one-phase evaluation with a 30-day time limit. To pass: reach the profit target for the account size ($1,500 for $25K, $3,000 for $50K, $6,000 for $100K, $9,000 for $150K), trade on at least 2 minimum trading days, maintain the 50% consistency rule (no single day exceeds 50% of total profit), and do not exceed the trailing max drawdown. There is no daily loss limit during the Basic Challenge. All positions must be closed by 4:15 PM EST and news trading is unrestricted. There is no activation fee; the one-time fee paid covers the evaluation. Upon passing, the PRO account must be activated within 30 days. If the challenge is not passed within 30 days, a reset is available.
