Established in 2022 by a group of highly experienced traders, Bulenox is a prop trading firm from Wilmington, Delaware, in the United States. They’ve quickly garnered a reputation for their competitive fees and variety of account sizes. This analysis will explore all the details of Bulenox and compare it to another prominent prop firm, Apex Trader Funding, to assist you in selecting the platform that will best match for your needs.
One of Bulenox’s most attractive features is its zero initial capital requirement, making futures trading accessible to individuals regardless of how much money they have. They also offer a high degree of flexibility, giving traders the autonomy to employ their preferred strategies and set their own trading schedule – all from within a secure environment. Bulenox’s profit-sharing structure is notably generous, and the firm is completely committed to its regulations and contractual agreements, fostering a climate of trust with its traders.
As well as funding successful futures day traders who pass their evaluation process, Bulenox prioritises reliable payout processing and dedicated customer support. They also distinguish themselves by the absence of consistency rules and the ability to trade Micro Bitcoin futures. Setting out a clear path to becoming a profitable funded futures trader, Bulenox is a pretty good option.
Apex Trader Funding, or ATF for short, is another prominent US prop trading firm. Established just two years ago with headquarters in Austin, Texas, ATF has been praised for its unique business model, concentrating on providing an excellent service for its traders. In doing so, the CEO Darrel Martin aims to address a gap in the market, which he felt was too full of firms putting their own interests above those of their traders.
Partnering with ATF provides traders access to industry-leading trading platforms: Rithmic and Tradovate. Both platforms boast exceptional trade execution capabilities and reliable data feeds, ensuring a smooth trading experience. To cater to a diverse range of traders, ATF offers a comprehensive selection of account sizes, ranging from $25,000 to a substantial $300,000.
For experienced traders seeking to expedite the process of gaining access to funding, ATF’s streamlined evaluation process is a significant advantage: the single-stage evaluation significantly reduces the time required to qualify for funding. Profit targets are tiered, starting from a base of $1,500 and increasing to $2,000 depending on the chosen account size. Maximum drawdowns are also proportionate to account size, ranging from $625 to $1,500.
ATF fosters a flexible trading environment – traders get to manage up to 20 funded accounts simultaneously. What’s more, trading isn’t restricted during holidays or news events, allowing traders to capitalise on potential opportunities. The range of instruments offered is remarkably diverse, including a wide range of futures contracts like currencies, interest rates, and even agricultural commodities.
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Bulenox is best for:
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Apex Trader Funding is best for:
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Traders who prefer a degree of flexibility in how they manage risk |
Traders appreciating a methodical approach |
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Those who will benefit from lots of different educational resources. |
Futures traders after a realistic trading simulation. |
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Those valuing reduced rules and restrictions |
Traders looking for clearcut guidelines and a reasonable degree of adaptability |
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Traders seeking versatile trading conditions |
Traders who prefer the discipline of stricter risk management limits |
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Users who prioritise efficient customer service |
Traders who benefit from a systematic trading environment with distinct parameters |
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Traders with less experience who will benefit from a supportive trading environment in which to develop their careers. |
Those who want to trade with substantial amounts of capital |
The table below lays out the key characteristics of Bulenox and Apex Trader Funding – both excellent firms, the choice between which might seem a bit intimidating without some help!
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Feature
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Bulenox
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Apex Trader Funding
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Instruments |
Futures contracts (Equity, Forex, Agricultural, Energy, Interest Rate, Metals) |
Equity Futures, Foreign Exchange Futures, Agricultural Futures, Energy Futures, Interest Rate Futures, Metals Futures, Cryptocurrency Futures |
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Challenge Types |
One-Step Evaluation Process |
One-Step Evaluation Process |
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Challenge Account Sizes |
$10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $250,000 |
Full: $25,000, up to $300,000 Static: $100,000 |
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Challenge Cost |
$115 to $535/month |
Rithmic: Full $147 to $657 month, Static $137 month. Tradovate: Full $167 to $677 month, Static $157 month. |
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Minimum Trading Days |
5 days |
7 days |
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Profit Target |
$,1000 to $15,000 |
$1,500 to $20,000 |
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Maximum Position Size |
5 to 15 contracts |
4 to 35 contracts |
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Payout Split |
90/10 (trader/firm) Keep 100% on first $10,000 profits |
Receive 100% of the first $25,000 per Account and 90/10 (trader/firm) Beyond That |
Additional Points:
Our next table compares the rules of the two firms in greater detail.
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Rule Category
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Bulenox
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Apex
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Scalping |
Allowed |
Allowed |
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Day Trading |
Allowed |
Allowed |
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Swing Trading |
Not Allowed |
Allowed |
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Holding Positions Overnight |
Allowed |
Allowed |
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Holding Positions Over Weekends |
Not Allowed |
Allowed |
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News Trading |
Not Allowed |
Allowed |
Bulenox Max Daily Loss:
To manage risk and protect account capital, Bulenox implements a daily loss limit. This limit represents the maximum allowable loss for a trading day, encompassing both realised and unrealised profits and losses, along with any associated commissions. The daily trading session at Bulenox starts at 5.00pm CST and finishes at 4.00pm CST the following day. The RTrader platform effectively monitors and enforces this daily loss limit.
Apex Trader Funding Trailing Threshold:
The initial capital and maximum tradable contracts vary depending on the chosen plan. Micro contracts are also tradable up to the maximum contract size stipulated for the specific plan you choose.
No daily maximum drawdown is imposed, and maximum loss drawdown varies according to plan. For FULL accounts, the trailing drawdown ceases once the liquidation threshold reaches €100 above the initial plan balance (such as €50,1000 for a €50,000 account).
For STATIC accounts, as the name suggests, the drawdown doesn’t fluctuate. For example, a €100,000 STATIC account has a set drawdown of $99,375, and this won’t change.
Bulenox Trailing drawdown and end-of-day drawdown:
There are two options: the first is an account with no scaling, but with a trailing drawdown tied to your current balance, which is equal to your profit. Real-time tracking also takes into account commissions during the trading day. If your balance falls, this won’t impact the allowable drawdown. Should you exceed your allowed drawdown, your account will be blocked by the administrator. You can then either reset your account, or simply create a new one.
The second option is an end-of-day drawdown account. End-of-day drawdown for both Qualification and Master Accounts is calculated using profits made by the close of each day, and adjusts accordingly whenever your account balance reaches a new peak. The end-of-day trailing drawdown always matches the closing account balance, reflecting your earned profit. Upon qualifying for a Master Account, these end-of-day adjustments stop once the initial balance is achieved.
Withdrawal:
Bulenox: Bulenox offers payout options through ACH, PayPal, cryptocurrencies, or Venmo. Traders can request withdrawals anytime during the month, with processing occurring every Wednesday. To qualify for a payout, you’ll need to have completed at least 10 trading days.
Apex Trader Funding: Apex Trader Funding processes payouts twice a month, on the 15th and the last business day. Traders keep the entire initial €25,000 in profit, with a 90/10 profit split thereafter. Payouts are managed by Plane and can be made via wire transfer, ACH, cryptocurrencies, PayPal, and other methods.
Similarly to Bulenox, you need to complete 10 trading days before qualifying for your first payout. For subsequent payouts, there must be 10 trading days between each request. All withdrawals have a minimum limit of €1,000. The maximum withdrawal amount varies depending on the account size for the first three withdrawals. From the fourth withdrawal onwards, there’s no maximum limit.
Given the more complex withdrawal structure of ATF compared to other prop firms, it makes sense to review their full set of rules on the website.
Leverage:
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Leverage Futures
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Bulenox
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Apex Trader Funding
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Futures |
1:1 |
1:1 |
Additional Points:
Apex Funding Trader: Traders have the flexibility to trade 23 hours a day, including during holidays and news events. Trading hours are 6.00pm to 4.59pm ET the following day. All trades must be closed, and pending orders cancelled, before 4.59pm.
Apex Trader Funding and Bulenox are both premier prop trading firms, each offering unique advantages. Bulenox stands out for its variety of funding account sizes, making it easy to find one that fits your needs. They also offer lots of flexibility, with options for trailing drawdown versus end-of-day drawdown with scaling.
Apex Trader Funding excels with its payout structure, giving traders a large share of their profits. They also support trading larger contract sizes, which is great for those using more complex trading strategies. Plus, their strong focus on data security and risk management ensures a safe and reliable trading environment.
Choosing between the two ultimately comes down to what you need as a trader. Think about your trading strategies, budget, risk tolerance, and whether you prefer a more structured or flexible approach. These factors will help you decide which firm is the best fit for you.
