"Leveraging Tens of Dollars for Tens of Thousands of Dollars? Crypto 'Exam Account' Gameplay and a Comparison with Six Major Platforms" Recently, contract trading in the cryptocurrency world has stirred up again. From Kraken's introduction of "exam accounts" for traders to OKX's recent launch of "contract pooling," major trading platforms are exploring new contract trading methods. Among them, "exam accounts" have attracted considerable attention from traders: for a few tens of dollars, one has the opportunity to obtain trading volume of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, earn profits that meet certain conditions, and receive a percentage of the profits. So, which mainstream platforms are currently available? How much account volume can a few tens of dollars actually obtain? How should users with different trading habits choose? This article summarizes the rules and fees of six trader assessment platforms How do exam accounts work? Simply put, an exam account involves purchasing a demo trading account and completing an assessment based on trading performance. For example, buying a 5K account with a profit target of 10% and a maximum loss of 6%. You need to grow your account from $5,000 to $5,500, while keeping it below $4,700. Passing the assessment does not guarantee immediate withdrawal. The platform will provide a new withdrawal account. Users need to continue trading and meet withdrawal conditions before receiving real rewards according to the agreed-upon ratio. For example, an 80/20 split: if the new account generates $1,000 in qualified profits, the user will receive $800. It's important to note that all trading is on a demo account, and rewards are paid by the platform. The platform primarily generates revenue through registration fees and reset fees; some platforms also utilize trader data for real trading. Six Major Exam Number Platforms: Which One is Worth Considering? 1. Kraken: Official Exchange Exam Number, Starting at $20 Kraken currently offers two types of exam numbers: Kraken Funded and Kraken Prop, both supporting trading in crypto assets such as BTC and ETH. Kraken Funded is primarily aimed at beginners, operating directly within the Kraken App. The minimum investment is $20, and leverage is not supported. Users need to achieve a specified profit target through demo trading while adhering to loss limits. After passing the assessment, qualified profits from continued trading are shared at 80%. Kraken Prop is for users with some trading experience, using the Kraken Pro trading interface. It supports over 60 cryptocurrency trading pairs, with up to 5x leverage for BTC and ETH. The assessment has no time limit, minimum trading days, or consistency requirements. Upon passing, a demo withdrawal account is provided, and profits meeting withdrawal conditions are shared at up to 90%. 2. Breakout: Acquired by Kraken, focusing on cryptocurrency trading. Breakout was a proprietary trading firm specifically for crypto traders, acquired by Kraken in September 2025. It supports over 60 cryptocurrency trading pairs, including BTC and ETH, and also covers some traditional financial instruments such as stock indices and commodities. The platform offers assessment pathways such as Classic, Pro, and Turbo, primarily differing in profit targets, maximum loss limits, and registration fees. A fixed maximum loss limit is used, which does not increase with profits, and there are no exam deadlines, minimum trading days, or consistency requirements. Upon passing, a default 80% commission is awarded, which can be upgraded to 90% for a fee. USDC withdrawals are supported. The minimum withdrawal amount is $50 after commission; eligible applicants can apply. 3. Crypto Fund Trader: Supports Bybit, Covers a Large Number of Altcoins Crypto Fund Trader is a native crypto assessment platform that supports trading through Bybit, Match-Trader, MT5, and other trading interfaces, covering BTC, ETH, SOL, and a large number of altcoin trading pairs. The platform offers various pathways including One Phase, Two Phases, and Instant exemption, with account sizes up to 200K and leverage up to 100x for some products. For example, in a single-stage assessment, some packages have a profit target of 10%, a maximum daily loss of 4%, and a maximum overall loss of 6%, with no assessment deadline. Weekend trading and overnight holding are supported, but high-frequency arbitrage and abnormal trading are restricted. 4. HyroTrader: Supports Bybit and BloFin, offering multiple assessment modes. HyroTrader is a pro-firm specializing in crypto perpetual contracts. Assessments can be completed through demo accounts on exchanges like Bybit and BloFin, primarily trading USDT perpetual contracts. The platform offers Hyro Core, One-Step, Two-Step, and Instant routes, starting from a minimum of $9. For example, the One-Step route has a profit target of 10%, a maximum daily loss of 4%, and a maximum overall loss of 8%, with minimum trading days and consistency requirements. After passing the assessment, profit sharing starts at 80%, and can reach up to 90% for qualified candidates. Withdrawals in USDT and USDC are supported. The platform also has certain limitations on cross-account hedging and Martingale strategies. 5. FTMO: A well-established Prop Firm supporting Crypto, Gold, and Forex Founded in 2015, FTMO is a well-known comprehensive Prop Firm. It supports CFDs for crypto assets such as BTC and ETH, while also covering traditional financial instruments such as forex, gold, crude oil, and the Nasdaq. The platform offers single-stage and dual-stage assessments. Account size, profit targets, and loss limits vary depending on the package. The standard dual-stage assessment has profit targets of 10% and 5% respectively, with daily and overall maximum loss limits. Upon successful completion, the profit share for a single-stage account is typically 90%, while the initial share for a dual-stage account is 80%, which can increase to 90% upon meeting growth plan requirements. Bank transfers and some cryptocurrency withdrawals are supported. 6. Topstep: A well-known traditional futures platform, suitable for Nasdaq and gold trading. Topstep is a proprietary firm specializing in CME futures, primarily covering traditional futures such as the Nasdaq, S&P 500, gold, and crude oil, using its own TopstepX trading platform. The platform offers three account types: 50K, 100K, and 150K. For example, the 50K Standard account has a monthly fee of $49, with an additional $149 activation fee after passing the assessment; the activation-free version has a monthly fee of $95. After passing the assessment, withdrawals must meet specified profit-making days or consistency requirements. Profit sharing is typically 90%. Unlike crypto perpetual contracts, Topstep trades CME standardized futures, suitable for users who want to experience the traditional futures market. First-time test account holder: How to choose? For users new to test accounts, it is recommended to consider the registration fee, account size, and trading instruments comprehensively, rather than simply pursuing higher leverage. 1. Overall Cost-Effectiveness: Kraken Prop Starter While Kraken Prop Advanced costs only $20, its initial loss margin is only $150. In contrast, the Starter program costs $45, increasing the loss margin to $300. For users primarily trading BTC and ETH, the Starter offers a better balance between cost and risk tolerance. 2. Low-Cost Experience: HyroTrader Core For users new to trading assessments, a lower-priced option is recommended. HyroTrader Core starts at $9 for a 2.5K account, with a nominal account size approximately 278 times the initial investment. Even if the assessment is failed, the initial investment is relatively limited. 3. Multi-Currency Trading: Crypto Fund Trader 1 Phase For users accustomed to trading altcoins, this program offers a wide range of trading instruments. CFT starts at $40 for a 5K account, supports trading through the Bybit interface, and covers a large number of crypto perpetual contracts, suitable for users who wish to maintain their existing trading strategies and habits. In conclusion The popularity of exam registration numbers reflects a shift in trading demand in the cryptocurrency market: rather than investing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars upfront, many traders are willing to spend tens of dollars to try and gain access to larger-scale trading opportunities. For platforms, this has become a new revenue stream. Besides traditional transaction fees, they can generate income through registration fees, account reset fees, and subscription fees. However, low registration fees can easily lead to overlooking the cumulative costs. A few tens of dollars may seem insignificant at first, but if you fail, you can simply buy another one, and repeated attempts could result in hundreds or even thousands of dollars being spent.