3.7: Independent Trading Rules

1. Independent Trade Execution Requirement

All trades placed on any FFN account must reflect the independent decision-making of the registered account holder. This means trade signals must originate from your own market analysis, and entry and exit decisions must be made without real-time coordination with other traders, accounts, or external services designed to synchronize execution across multiple FFN accounts simultaneously.

What is permitted

Using your own technical analysis, chart patterns, or proprietary strategy.
Following a published trading methodology you apply individually, using your own timing and position sizing.
Using automated tools (EAs or algorithms) that execute your own strategy on your own accounts only.
Copy trading your own accounts — see Section 4 below for the applicable limits.

💡 Note on Automated Trading: FFN permits automated strategies provided they execute the registered account holder's own strategy. Automation tools may not be used to synchronize execution timing across accounts belonging to different users or to replicate another trader's positions in real time.

2. IP Address Integrity

One trader, one consistent IP environment

Each FFN account must be accessed from a consistent and identifiable IP environment. FFN monitors login and execution data across all accounts to detect patterns that indicate coordinated or non-independent activity.

The following IP-related behaviors are prohibited:

Accessing an FFN account using an IP address shared with another trader's FFN accounts.
Logging into accounts registered to different users from the same IP address without prior authorization from FFN.
Frequently switching IP addresses in a pattern that suggests deliberate identity concealment or location masking.
Using shared hosting environments, shared VPS services, or managed account services where a third party accesses your account.

VPS usage

VPS usage is permitted for individual traders running their own automated strategies or maintaining a stable trading environment, subject to the following conditions:

The VPS must be used exclusively by the registered account holder.
You may not share VPS access with other traders or allow any third party to place trades on your behalf via VPS.
If FFN contacts you during a review, you must be able to demonstrate the VPS is used solely for your own accounts.

VPN usage

VPN usage is permitted for personal privacy, provided it does not cause your IP to match or closely resemble another FFN account holder's IP environment. VPN usage is prohibited when its purpose is to obscure account relationships, bypass geographic restrictions, or mask coordinated trading activity.

Traveling or changing locations

FFN recognizes that traders may legitimately access their accounts from different locations. If you anticipate accessing your account from a significantly different geographic location or IP range, contact FFN support in advance. Proactive notification will be considered favorably during any review triggered by an IP change.

⚠️ Important: IP address data is one of several signals used to detect coordinated trading. A matching IP alone does not automatically constitute a violation. However, when IP overlap is combined with trade correlation or behavioral signals, it significantly increases the likelihood of a review and enforcement action.

3. Coordinated and Linked Trading — Prohibited

Coordinated trading refers to any arrangement in which two or more accounts — whether owned by the same person or by different people — place trades in a manner that is synchronized, mirrored, or otherwise linked. This is prohibited at FFN regardless of the method used.

Examples of prohibited coordinated trading

Two or more accounts entering the same trade (same instrument, same direction, near-identical timing) as part of a deliberate group strategy.
Using a signal service, group chat, Discord server, or Telegram channel to broadcast specific entries, exits, or sizing in real time for simultaneous execution across multiple accounts.
Running a trade copier tool to replicate another trader's positions on your own account, or allowing your trades to be copied to accounts registered to other people.
Providing your Rithmic credentials or platform login to another person, service, or company for the purpose of placing trades on your behalf.
Participating in any arrangement where accounts intentionally take opposing positions to hedge risk across accounts belonging to different traders.
Structured group arrangements where one account is designated to pass an evaluation while others absorb losses — also referred to as account farming or challenge churning.

Signal services and third-party alerts

Using a third-party signal service is not automatically prohibited. The manner of execution determines compliance.

4. Third-Party Account Access — Prohibited

The FFN trader agreement requires that each account be operated solely by the registered account holder. Allowing any third party to access or trade your account is a violation. This includes:

Sharing your Rithmic login credentials with another person.
Using an account management service or challenge-passing service.
Allowing a friend, colleague, or family member to place trades on your account.
Granting access to any automated system or API controlled by a third party rather than by you.

FFN is not liable for any rule violations, losses, or account actions that result from third-party access. All responsibility for account activity rests with the registered account holder.

5. Detection and Enforcement

How FFN detects violations

FFN monitors account activity on an ongoing basis. Signals that may trigger a review include:

Near-identical trade entries (same instrument, direction, lot size, and timestamp) across accounts registered to different users.
IP address overlap between accounts registered to different individuals.
Statistically improbable trade correlation across accounts, particularly around high-impact news events.
Login or session data suggesting simultaneous or sequential access from a shared device or environment.
Copy-trading activity involving more than 5 accounts.

Consequences of confirmed violations

Violation	Consequence
Copy trading more than 5 accounts simultaneously	All accounts in the copy arrangement are disqualified from funding. All affected accounts must be reset.
Coordinated trading between different users	All involved accounts are terminated. Payouts are withheld. Account holders are banned from future FFN participation.
Third-party account access	Account is immediately terminated. Subscription fees are non-refundable. Pending payouts are forfeited.
IP manipulation to conceal coordination	All accounts associated with the IP environment are reviewed. Accounts confirmed to be connected to coordinated activity are terminated.
Signal service resulting in simultaneous multi-account execution	Accounts are reviewed and may be terminated. Payouts from the affected period are withheld pending investigation.

🚫 No Warnings Issued for Serious Violations: FFN does not issue warnings before terminating accounts in confirmed cases of coordinated trading, third-party access, or IP manipulation intended to conceal account relationships. These violations are treated as immediate and material breaches of the trader agreement.

7. Definitions

Term	Definition
Independent Trade Execution	Trade decisions made solely by the registered account holder, based on their own analysis, without real-time coordination with other traders or accounts.
Coordinated Trading	Any arrangement where two or more accounts place trades in a synchronized, mirrored, or linked manner, regardless of method or intent.
Copy Trading (own accounts)	Replicating trades across multiple accounts owned and registered by the same individual. Permitted up to a maximum of 5 accounts. Any trade taken at the same times on the ENTRY OR EXIT across multiple accounts, is considered COPIED. Meaning, if a trade is entered across more than 5 accounts at the same time, same product, same direction and then exited at different times, this is still considered a copy trade due to FFN's risk tolerance.
Signal Service	A third-party provider that broadcasts trade recommendations or specific entry/exit signals. Use is permitted only under independent execution conditions.
IP Switching	Deliberately changing IP addresses to obscure the relationship between accounts or to mask coordinated trading activity or bots. Prohibited.
VPS	Virtual Private Server — a remote computing environment used to host trading platforms. Permitted for solo use; prohibited when shared or managed by a third party.
VPN	Virtual Private Network — a privacy tool that masks the user's IP address. Permitted for personal privacy; prohibited when used to conceal account relationships.
Third-Party Access	Any instance where a person other than the registered account holder places, modifies, or cancels trades on an FFN account. Strictly prohibited.
Account Farming / Challenge Churning	A prohibited group strategy in which one account is designated to pass an evaluation while others absorb losses, to gain funded accounts without genuine individual trading performance.