Hidden Rules Database

We read the full terms of service, operating procedures, and FAQ pages of every firm we track. We also monitor community forums (Reddit, Discord, Trustpilot reviews) for trader reports of unexpected rule enforcement. When a trader reports a breach they didn't expect, we investigate and add it to our database if confirmed.

We check for rule changes weekly and publish updates within 24–48 hours of any confirmed change. Major events (like a firm suddenly banning news trading or changing drawdown type) are reflected immediately with a dated changelog note.

Unfortunately, yes — most firms reserve the right to update their terms at any time. This is why checking hidden rules BEFORE purchasing a challenge is critical. Some firms (like FTMO) are more transparent about rule changes, while others have been known to enforce rules that weren't clearly disclosed.

The top 5 surprise rules are: (1) Minimum trading day requirements — some firms require you to trade a minimum number of days, (2) Consistency rules — some firms cap your best day's profit at 30–40% of total gains, (3) Weekend holding restrictions — even some 'swing' accounts disallow weekend holds, (4) lot size limits relative to account size, (5) copy trading detection across multiple accounts.

Yes. Many traders pass their challenge only to find surprise payout conditions — like minimum profit thresholds before withdrawal, waiting periods after the first funded trade, KYC processing times, or profit split reductions for early withdrawals. We track all of these in our database.