Interview with Apex Owner and Chairman Darrell Martin regarding Apex Updates, Eval limitations, Probations and following rules, Live Prop Trading and reaching HALF A BILLION IN PAYOUTS!!
An Entertaining Review:
This is an informal video message that was sent to Apex Affiliates to help answer questions in their groups regarding why a user may not be able to add in more Simulated Evaluation Tests right now:
05/26/2025:
APEX Memorial Day Sale- 90% OFF!
Apex Announcement Regarding SRO's and Regulation (SEE BELOW)
Apex 90% Off Starts at 5PM ET on May 26th --- Ends May 28th at 11:59 PM ET
90% Off All Size Evals - 90% off FIRST month AND 50% Off RECURRING Months
ONE Day To Pass
$40 Resets- across the board!
LIFETIME PA Activation FEE SPECIAL PRICING:
| Lifetime PA Fees: | |
| 25k | 130 |
| 50k | 140 |
| 100k | 150 |
| 150k | 170 |
| 250k | 200 |
| 300k | 200 |
Ends May 28th at 11:59 PM ET
Use your normal code from the person or group that referred you to Apex or use Coupon Code
"SAVENOW" at checkout for 90% Off First Month for Any Size Evaluation Account
APEX ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT SRO's:
A Message from Apex Trader Funding
The prop trading landscape has experienced rapid change in recent months. Firms have come and gone, and many have updated or completely revised their rules—some multiple times in just the last few weeks.
Across the industry, firms are grappling with mounting challenges that threaten long-term sustainability: tightening risk management, evolving program requirements, and refining payout structures. These are all part of normal operations, but as the industry has grown, so too has a more concerning issue, the rise of bad actors exploiting the simulated trading environment.
As prop firm rules have matured, so too have the tactics used to game them. All firms, including Apex—have seen a sharp increase in exploitative behavior, often from coordinated groups. These abuses span a range of strategies, including hedging schemes, extreme DCA, automated bots, high-risk gambling approaches, and particularly, copy-trade signal services.
The financial toll is significant. These activities have cost Apex millions of dollars each month—and the impact continues to escalate.
To counter these threats, many firms have begun adjusting rules and policies, especially around payouts. In fact, the problem has grown so widespread that discussions have emerged about firms joining forces to combat abuse through data sharing and joint enforcement. One such concept is the formation of a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO), a collective of prop firms agreeing to shared standards and collaborating to identify and penalize bad actors.
While this may sound like an attractive solution for collective protection, Apex will not be joining this SRO.
We've received many inquiries about our stance. To be clear: Apex supports the idea of industry regulation and believes that compliance frameworks are necessary. However, we believe this oversight should come from formal regulatory bodies—not from private, self-governed consortiums.
While we champion transparency and internal accountability, we are not comfortable participating in any group that involves cross-firm data sharing without explicit regulatory structure and safeguards.
Even if these groups attempt to protect sensitive data, the lack of concrete, enforceable guidelines make participation too risky. Our commitment to safeguarding customer privacy is firm. We are not willing to compromise our traders' rights—even in exchange for access to shared intelligence that could help identify bad actors more quickly.
Instead, Apex has chosen to invest heavily in our own tools and infrastructure. We've analyzed years of account and trading data to build a sophisticated monitoring system that proactively flags abusive patterns and suspicious behavior. This system will continue to evolve with further data, but several key types of misconduct have already been identified and are actively tracked.
Depending on the severity of an infraction, responses may range from warnings or account notes to probationary measures, verification checks, or—in extreme cases—account termination, forfeiture of gains, and permanent bans from the platform.
Some of the key abuse types we are monitoring include:
• Hedging within Apex accounts
• Hedging between Apex and external platforms
• Cycling/churning simulated accounts
• Violations of risk management or scaling rules
• Use of automated "set-and-forget" bots
• Holding trades over the market close or through weekends
• Participation in trade-following or signal services
One particularly abusive behavior involves exploiting Apex’s 8-day payout requirement, where five of those days must include $50+ in profit. For example, some traders intentionally break scaling and risk rules on new PA accounts—going all-in with max contracts, risking the full balance—often blowing several accounts before hitting a lucky windfall. Once successful, they meet the $50 trading day requirement, request a maximum payout, and repeat the cycle. These traders expect their first request to be denied and treat it as part of the strategy.
This violates the spirit and the letter of the Apex PA Contract, which clearly states that trading must be based on real strategies with defined entries, stops, and targets. Gambling and windfall-seeking are not allowed.
To address this, Apex may place offending accounts under probation, including:
• Temporary limitations on contract usage (e.g., 50% cap)
• Payouts restricted to profit earned since the last request
• Disqualification of previously accrued “windfall” profits for withdrawal over the next two payout cycles
For example, if a trader under probation requests $2,000, they must show $2,000 in profits earned since the previous request, regardless of whether that request was approved. Traders cannot draw from old windfall balances to meet payout thresholds.
Continued abuse of these systems may result in permanent account closure.
While these behaviors occur in only a small percentage of Apex accounts, their impact is substantial. As we roll out stricter enforcement, those most affected may become vocal on social media or in community channels. That’s to be expected. Apex remains focused on protecting the integrity of the platform, our honest traders, and the sustainability of our business.
To reiterate: Apex will not join any SRO or participate in data-sharing agreements with other firms. While we understand the appeal of collective action, we believe internal controls and responsible oversight offer a more secure path forward.
Looking ahead, we are working to reduce extended activity in simulated trading and to help traders transition toward live trading environments. Every prop firm must ultimately focus on this goal—supporting traders in becoming fully funded, real-market participants.
We’re excited about what’s coming. Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll be rolling out new programs, products, features, and tools—plus expanded pathways into live prop trading. The best is yet to come.
Sincerely,
Apex Trader Funding
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APEX FLASH SALE and Guide To Laptop Trading Computers!!!!
What’s the Best Laptop for Trading Apex?
I'm thrilled to share that Eddie Z from EZ Trading Computers has just released an UPDATED edition of “The Complete Guide to Laptop Trading Computers.”
This guide is a must-read! This guide is packed with everything you need to optimize the laptop you use for trading Apex and improve your trading experience.
Get the Complete Guide to Laptop Trading Computers here.
Plus, EZ Trading Computers has a fantastic deal exclusively for Apex Trader Funding!
John & I trust Eddie Z at EZ Trading Computers for all our computer needs. He builds them himself, and we wouldn't go to anyone else.
To see this exclusive deal, click the link below, enter your email and you will see the Apex optimized configuration on the next page. He’ll also send a copy of the guide.
See Exclusive Apex deal and get the guide.
I pushed Eddie to arrange this one-of-a-kind deal exclusively for Apex Traders. Apex Traders won’t find a better offer!
Make 2025 your best trading year ever!
To your trading success!
Darrell Martin
Apex Trader Funding
02/04/2025-FLASH SALE ENDS TOMORROW:
Apex 80% Off Flash Sale Starts Now
Now until Wednesday Feb 5th at 11:59 PM ET
80% Off All Size Evals - 80% off first month AND recurring months
ONE Day To Pass
Half Priced Resets
$100 One Time / Lifetime PA Fees- across the board- Any Size!
The $150k-$250k- $300k Eval are all priced the same at $297!! Then take off 80%!!!!
Use your normal code from the person or group that referred you to Apex or use Coupon Code " SAVENOW" at checkout for 80% Off Evaluation Accounts
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10/20/2024:
APEX 3.0- New Apex Program- Guidelines- Rules- Payouts:+
Apex 3.0 New Payouts and Guidelines:
3.0 Payouts- Denials- Probations:
Rule Clarifications and The Apex Edge!
10/19/2024:
This is an Interview with John Skelton covering multiple issues, questions, updates and walking through the "WHY" of the new changes and updates to Apex rules, guidelines, and payout policies! This interview was almost 3.5 hours long, so is broken up in sections below, or the first video here is the long full version but with Time Stamps for subject and material so you can go exactly to the category you are interested in! BUT I suggest you check out the whole thing when you can!
****** OR SCROLL DOWN FOR 5 Part Series Break Down******
0:00- Introduction
1:16 -John Introduction - Hints at The Future
2:22 -Why Did Apex Have More Issues with Scammers
27:33- New Firms
28:44- Cap On The New Shiny Thing
32:36- Bonds and Treasuries - Are They Coming Back
42:52 -Apex takes accountability for past mistakes
44:12 -Video requests for payouts - whats the latest
59:48 -New Tool To Show Your Exact Trades
1:01:41 People Prohibited from buying new accounts
1:32:28 Moving to Live Trading
1:47:20 The Original Idea - Providing Capital to Profitable Traders
1:53:04 Apex 3.0 - Payouts Overview
1:59:47 No More Payout Request Periods
2:00:31 No More 10 Trading Days - Now 8
2:02:25 How Did Payouts Become So Fast
2:05:04 Payout Teams - Speeding Up The Process
2:15:06 30% Consistency Rule
2:18:42 No More Flipping Rule
2:20:02 Safety Net Requirement
2:24:03 Scaling - Half Contracts During Safety Net Buildup
2:33:40 Overview of Changes Discussed So Far
2:34:57 Traders Goal Should Be Long Term
2:41:56 Risk to Reward now 5 to 1
2:43:00 30% of Starting Profits Can't Be Risked On 1 Trade
2:49:22 Have a Defined System
2:51:18 Inconsistent Contract Sizing Clarification
2:57:23 New Tradeviz Trade Journaling For Free
2:58:47 Tradeviz Demo - Charting of Past Trades
3:01:45 MAE Example
3:09:00 100% After Withdraw 6
3:10:58 New Rules Effective Oct 21st, 2024
3:12:36 Apex Will Release More Details In Their FAQ
3:14:16 Interview Wrap Up
3:15:37 Apex 3.0 Phase 1 - More Good To Come!
3:17:05 CFT Final Wrap Up And Thoughts
****** OR BROKEN DOWN SECTIONS HERE BELOW******
John Skelton Interview - Part 1 - Scammers, Bonds, New Firms, Accountability:
John Skelton Interview - Part 2 - Video Requests, Prohibited New Eval Purchases, Moving to Live:
John Skelton Interview - Part 3 - Payouts, Requests, 8 Days, Payout Teams
John Skelton Interview - Part 4 - Consistency, No More Flipping Rule, Safety Net, Scaling:
John Skelton Interview - Part 5 - Apex 3.0 Consistency, Tradeviz Software, Inconsistent
Trading:
10/18/2024:
This is a follow up video from an interview posted below on 10/05/2024
Addressing the truth behind social media "noise" with Apex and offering some GREAT advice on risk management and trading!
10/14/2024:
Check out this Interview and QA Session with Apex Trader Funding CEO Darrell Martin:
10/13/2024:
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS Coming!
This payout request period of the 15th-20th will be the LAST payout request period! Starting on November 1st there will be NO MORE request periods! Stay tuned for AWESOME announcements coming over the next few days about the NEW Apex rules, programs, payout program! NO MORE request periods- 8 trading days, then can request payout- no more waiting!!! Stay Tuned!
10/08/2024
Addressing Confusion About Payout Request Probation:
Whether you got the original communication or not, just show us 5 days on track and Good To Go!
10/05/2024:
Inside Apex Trader Funding: Exclusive Interview:
10/03/2024:
https://x.com/apextradefund/status/1841826116404679041?s=46&t=TrPHpF06CSsjs-ad8GHDKA
10/01/2024:
https://x.com/ApexTradeFund/status/1841105542955118637
09/26/2024:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAZJCBNIU_6/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAZTRzzyYKQ/?img_index=1
09/25/2024:
CHECK OUT THE NEW SUPER FAST PAYOUT PROCESS:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_tOGBqocEF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
https://x.com/ApexTradeFund/status/1836116127228862666
https://x.com/ApexTradeFund/status/1836819665303261447
https://x.com/ApexTradeFund/status/1836880089910497370
https://x.com/ApexTradeFund/status/1837163487115546672
09/23/2024: Back in July our CEO Darrell Martin made this video message for the Apex Community addressing some growing pains that Apex went through! He outlined what Apex was working on and what plans we had to grow and improve!
Darrell and Apex KEPT THEIR WORD and you can now see the results in action:
- Months of system stability and no major outages
- Friendly and Professional Customer Support
- Much faster response to Help Desk Tickets- most tickets are answered same day or within hours for the main support group
- FAST PAYOUTS---- these last payout periods have seen huge changes!
- Tons of SAME DAY approvals, next day deposits!
- The quickest payout period EVER for Apex!
- Fastest payout delivery in the Industry!
CHECK OUT DARREL MARTIN's message here:
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