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What Is Individual Use

The individual use policy refers to a rule enforced by nearly all prop firms that prohibits account sharing or trading by more than one person. When a trader signs up for an evaluation or funded account, it is issued for their personal use only and must be operated solely by the individual listed on the account. Trading activity, decision-making, and execution are expected to come from one person. Any instance of multiple users accessing or trading the same account is considered a violation of this rule and can result in serious consequences.

Why This Rule Exists

Prop firms rely on the assumption that the account holder is the one actively responsible for the trading behavior. This is central to the evaluation process, where the goal is to assess a trader’s consistency, discipline, and ability to manage risk independently. If multiple people are trading the same account, the results no longer reflect the skill of a single trader. It also complicates review, risk management, and data integrity on the firm’s side.

Account sharing introduces added risk for the firm and undermines the structure of their funding model. In some cases, traders attempt to circumvent rules by having one person pass evaluations for others or by using a team to trade more frequently than an individual reasonably could. These behaviors are considered a violation of the firm’s trust and directly breach the terms of use.

What Happens If Violated

If a firm detects account sharing or suspects that multiple users are operating the same account, it may result in immediate disqualification, termination of the account, or restriction of future access to the platform. This rule applies to both evaluation and funded accounts. In the funded stage, it can also result in forfeiture of payouts, reversal of profit claims, or bans from future funding opportunities.

Detection is typically based on login data, IP address tracking, trading behavior patterns, or manual investigation. A firm may flag an account if logins are coming from multiple regions, devices, or time zones that are inconsistent with one person’s typical activity. Once flagged, firms usually have the right to take action without prior warning.

Best Practices to Stay Compliant

To remain in compliance, traders should never share their login credentials, allow others to place trades, or use collaborative trade management tools that permit multiple users to access the account. All trading should be done from the account holder’s own devices and within their usual location and schedule. If a trader changes locations or devices, it is helpful to notify the firm to prevent false flags during automated monitoring.

Additionally, traders who work in groups or trade with partners should maintain completely separate accounts and evaluation processes. Attempting to combine strategies or execution across a single login is likely to be flagged. Firms have the right to verify user identity and may request documentation or conduct reviews if individual use is questioned.

Summary

The individual use policy prohibits trading or account management by more than one person. Evaluation and funded accounts are issued for personal use only and must be operated by the account holder alone. Violating this rule can lead to account termination, payout denial, and permanent bans. Firms monitor for signs of account sharing and may take action based on login history, device data, or behavioral patterns. To avoid issues, all trading should be done solely by the registered user with no shared access or outside involvement.