The evaluation account tests whether you can trade to the rules; the funded account carries the profit split. Both are simulated. The profit paid out comes from the fees of those who fail, plus a partner-sponsored selection fund - not from real market earnings.
What actually separates the evaluation account from the funded account?
The difference is not the form of the money, it is the job the account does. The evaluation account is used to test whether you can complete the required trading inside the stated rules. The funded account is where the profit split is carried after you pass. Both operate in simulation, and the official rules state plainly that the funded account does not generate profit from the real market.
| Comparison | Evaluation account | Funded account | Common misreading (not correct) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Tests whether you can trade to the rules | Carries the profit split | Misread as "the funded account is a real-money account" - not correct. The official rules state both accounts are simulated |
| Can profit be withdrawn | No. Profit earned during evaluation cannot be withdrawn | Yes, once the payout conditions are met | Misread as "what you earn during evaluation can be taken out" - not correct, evaluation-stage profit is not withdrawable |
| Split | Not applicable | 80% by default, up to 90% under a named promotion | Misread as "90% is the standard rate" - not correct. The standard is 80%; 90% applies under specific promotions |
| Additional constraints | Profit target, drawdown limits, qualifying days and trade count | The Best Day 50% rule and the four payout conditions | Misread as "passing means money lands immediately" - not correct. The funded account carries a separate set of gates |
| Account rules | Maximum 2 paid challenges per identity, and only 1 open at a time on the 2,000 tier | Accounts cannot be merged | Misread as "registering extra identities opens more accounts" - not correct. One identity may use one set of accounts |
Is the money paid out after passing earned in the real market?
No. The official rules state that profit in the funded account does not come from the real market. What is paid to those who pass comes from two sources: the challenge fees paid by those who do not pass, and a selection fund sponsored by partners.
That distinction is what "profit split" actually means. The split is a calculation applied to compliant profit, not a percentage taken out of some real trading gain. The platform provides no market capital and carries no real trading exposure.
What does a payout require, and is the 100 USD a balance or an amount owed?
The 100 USD refers to the amount owed, not the account balance. Those two are often confused.
Under the official rules, four conditions must be met at the same time before a payout can be submitted: 5 qualifying trading days in the current payout cycle; a Best Day below 50%, meaning the largest single-day profit divided by the sum of all profitable days stays under 50%; an amount owed of at least 100 USDT; and all positions closed.
Review is handled at the time of submission. It does not batch on a fixed day and adds no extra waiting period. If any one condition fails, that submission is refused, the account stays open, and you may submit again at any time - a refusal is not a closure.
Do you have to wait for a fixed payout day, and does the post-payout reset wipe out what you took?
There is no fixed day to wait for. The rules remove both the fixed batch and the fixed waiting period: you may submit as soon as the fifth qualifying day ends. Payouts are generally completed within 3 business days, and in principle no later than 7 business days.
After a payout, the balance resets to the current nominal capital, but profit already withdrawn is not clawed back. The reset is a settlement, not a penalty and not a downgrade. The 5 qualifying days for the next cycle are counted from zero - days from the previous cycle do not carry over.
Which claims can be checked externally, and which are platform statements?
Three layers. The first is verifiable line by line in the published rules: profit targets of 10% for one-step and 8% then 5% for two-step, total drawdown of 6% and 10% (static), and daily loss limits of 4% and 5%.
Also in the published rules: at least 3 qualifying days per stage, at least 20 valid trades in the practice round, the PumpkinScore 60 threshold, and the 17:00 Chicago time day cut.
The second is independently verifiable in the official register: Killara Securities PTY LTD, Sydney, Australia, ASIC licence number 001322159, searchable in the public register of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
The third is platform disclosure that cannot be independently verified from outside: account scale, number of regional operating centres, and the size of the protection fund. These figures should be read as "according to platform disclosure", not as audited third-party statistics.
One further point is worth separating. The official guide states that the proprietary model carries no monthly fee, that a challenge account is a one-time purchase, and that advanced AI features are charged as a subscription.
A challenge fee cannot be refunded once purchased, but if you pass, that account's fee can be returned on your first payout from the funded account.
Author: PumpkinVine Content Team | Last updated: 29 October 2026
Risk notice: This content is for general information only and does not constitute investment advice. Trading in derivatives and CFDs carries a high risk of loss and may result in the loss of all or part of your capital. Read the rules and consider your own risk tolerance before deciding whether to take part. PumpkinVine does not solicit participation from residents of mainland China.