FundedNext Stellar Challenge Explained
The FundedNext Stellar Challenge comes as a two phase 2 Step and a single phase 1 Step, both leading to a FundedNext Account with an 80% reward share.
The FundedNext Stellar Challenge is the firm’s family of paid evaluations for CFD traders. Its two core versions are the Stellar 2 Step, which asks for 8% and then 5% with a 5% daily loss limit and a 10% static maximum loss, and the Stellar 1 Step, which asks for 10% in one phase with limits of 3% and 6%. Both lead to a FundedNext Account with an 80% reward share, and list prices run from $59.99 for a $6,000 account to $1,099.99 for $200,000.
How the Stellar Challenge works
The Stellar range has four models: 2 Step, 1 Step, Lite and Instant. Lite and Instant are covered separately in FundedNext Lite and Instant accounts explained. The 2 Step and 1 Step share the same structure. There is no time limit. The maximum loss is static, measured from the initial balance, so the floor never moves. The daily loss limit is a fixed share of the initial balance that resets at 00:00 server time, and swaps, commissions and fees count towards it. Profit closed earlier in the same day adds to that day’s allowance, but not to the next day’s.
| Rule | Stellar 2 Step | Stellar 1 Step |
|---|---|---|
| Profit target | 8% in phase 1, 5% in phase 2 | 10% |
| Daily loss limit | 5% | 3% |
| Maximum loss limit | 10% static | 6% static |
| Minimum trading days | 5 in each phase | 2 |
| Reward share when funded | 80% on the standard option | 80% |
| Reward timing | After 21 days, then every 14 days | Every 5 business days |
| Fee refund | With the first reward | With the third reward |
Rules that start on the FundedNext Account
Three rules shape funded trading. First, news: only 40% of the profit from trades opened or closed in the ten minutes around a listed high impact release on a correlated instrument counts, while losses count in full. Holding a position through the release is unrestricted, and the challenge phases are not affected. Second, risk: open risk across all trades, based on stop loss placement and floating losses, may not exceed 3% of the initial balance at any time. A first breach brings a warning and the loss of the profit from those trades; a second cuts the limit permanently to 1%. Third, Quick Strike: FundedNext tracks profit from trades closed within 30 seconds, and a share of 30% or more in a cycle leads to that profit being removed, or to the account being closed if it persists to the end of the cycle.
Payout options on the 2 Step
The 2 Step asks buyers to choose a payout option at checkout. The standard option pays 80%, first after 21 days and then every 14 days. The three day option pays 60% every three days, provided the cycle has at least three profitable days of 1% or more. The on demand option pays 90% whenever the account is at least 2% up and the best day is no more than 40% of total profit. A paid Lifetime Reward add on lifts any option to 95%. On 1 October 2026 the price was the same whichever option was selected.
Worked example
The figures below describe a made up $100,000 Stellar 2 Step account on the standard payout option. They illustrate the rules only.
| Item | Rule | In dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 target | 8% | $8,000 |
| Phase 2 target | 5% | $5,000 |
| Daily loss limit | 5% of the initial balance, plus closed profit that day | $5,000 |
| Maximum loss floor | 10% static | $90,000 |
| Funded open risk cap | 3% at any time | $3,000 |
| 15% reward from the challenge | 15% of the 13% combined target | $1,950 |
In phase 1 the trader is up $2,000 in closed trades by midday. Under FundedNext’s method, the allowance for the rest of that day becomes $7,000, the $5,000 limit plus the $2,000 already banked, but the next day it returns to $5,000. After passing both phases, the trader makes $6,000 of closed profit in the first 21 day funded cycle, of which $2,000 came from EURUSD trades closed within five minutes of a US inflation release. Only 40% of that $2,000, or $800, counts, so the counted profit is $4,800 and the 80% reward is $3,840. The $549.99 fee is refunded with that first reward, and the payment provider may take a processing fee of up to 3.5%.
Had the trader chosen the on demand option, the same $4,800 would pay $4,320 at 90%, but only once the best day was no more than 40% of total profit. With a best day of $2,400, the trader would need total profit of at least $6,000 before requesting. The consistency rule calculator and payout calculator run these checks for other figures. On the risk side, three open positions each risking $1,200 would total $3,600, above the $3,000 cap, even though each trade on its own looks modest.
Costs and payout terms
List prices shown on fundednext.com on 1 October 2026 were as follows. Prices for US clients differ, swap free accounts cost more, and cTrader or Match Trader add a $25 platform fee that is not refunded.
| Account size | Stellar 2 Step | Stellar 1 Step |
|---|---|---|
| $6,000 | $59.99 | $65.99 |
| $15,000 | $119.99 | $129.99 |
| $25,000 | $199.99 | $219.99 |
| $50,000 | $299.99 | $329.99 |
| $100,000 | $549.99 | $569.99 |
| $200,000 | $1,099.99 | $1,099.99 |
FundedNext says rewards are processed within 24 hours and adds $1,000 if an eligible request runs late; bank transfers and requests held for manual review are excluded. Crypto payouts start at $20, RiseWorks at $50 and bank transfers at $1,000. Both Stellar models also carry a 15% reward on the challenge profit target, which becomes payable when the FundedNext Account qualifies for scaling. It is not offered to US clients.
For challenges bought or reset from 12 January 2026, scaling runs through FundedNext Pro. The first scale up needs four performance rewards, each from a cycle with at least 4% growth, and at least two months of activity. It is applied automatically and brings a 25% larger account, a 90% reward share, a free $100,000 Stellar Lite challenge and 12% off new purchases, with a ceiling of $4 million. Merged accounts are not eligible. Firms change their terms often, so confirm the current version before buying.
How it compares with FundedNext’s other models
| Model | Targets | Daily and maximum loss | Starting share | $50,000 price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stellar 2 Step | 8%, then 5% | 5% and 10% static | 80%, or 60% or 90% by payout option | $299.99 |
| Stellar 1 Step | 10% | 3% and 6% static | 80% | $329.99 |
| Stellar Lite | 8%, then 4% | 4% and 8% static | 80%, or 60% or 90% by payout option | $229.99 |
| Stellar Instant | None | None and 6% trailing | Up to 80% | Largest size $20,000 at $599.99 |
The 2 Step gives the most room: its 10% floor is larger than its 8% first target. The 1 Step is a single phase with faster rewards, but its 6% maximum loss is smaller than its 10% target, so a losing run early on leaves little margin. Lite is cheaper and has tighter limits, no 15% challenge reward and a different scaling plan. For how FundedNext stands against other firms, see FTMO vs FundedNext, FundedNext vs Funding Pips and the FundedNext review.
Common mistakes
- Counting news profits in full. On the funded account only 40% of profit from trades in the news window counts.
- Stacking positions. The 3% cap covers all open risk together, including several orders on the same idea.
- Treating yesterday’s profit as extra room. The daily limit resets to a share of the initial balance at 00:00 server time.
- Scalping in seconds. Profit from trades closed within 30 seconds must stay below 30% of the cycle’s profit.
- Choosing a payout option without a plan. The option is set at checkout and fixes the reward share.
Checklist
- Choose 2 Step or 1 Step based on how much room the maximum loss leaves against the target.
- Pick the payout option before paying, and check the price for it.
- Note the server time for the daily reset.
- Keep combined open risk below 3% of the initial balance once funded.
- Check the high impact news list for the instruments you trade.
- Track rewards and growth per cycle if you plan to reach FundedNext Pro.
The wider rules are covered in prop firm news trading rules and maximum risk per trade rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FundedNext Stellar Challenge?
It is FundedNext's range of paid CFD evaluations. The Stellar 2 Step has targets of 8% and 5%, and the Stellar 1 Step a single 10% target. Both have static maximum losses, no time limit and lead to a FundedNext Account with an 80% reward share. The range also includes Stellar Lite, a cheaper two phase model, and Stellar Instant, which has no evaluation.
How long do I have to pass the Stellar Challenge?
There is no time limit on either model. The 2 Step requires at least five trading days in each phase, with at least one trade on each day, and the 1 Step requires at least two. The days do not need to be consecutive. Reaching the target early does not end the phase until the minimum days are also met.
When does FundedNext refund the Stellar fee?
On the Stellar 2 Step, the fee is refunded with the first reward from the FundedNext Account, and the trader has to select it when requesting the withdrawal. On the Stellar 1 Step bought or reset from 12 January 2026, the refund comes with the third reward. After a reset, the refund equals the most recent reset fee rather than the original price.
What is the 15% reward from the challenge?
Stellar 2 Step and 1 Step traders earn 15% of the challenge profit target, which FundedNext's site showed as $1,950 on a $100,000 2 Step and FundedNext's help centre gives as $1,500 on a $100,000 1 Step. For challenges bought from 12 January 2026 it is paid once the FundedNext Account qualifies for scaling. It is not available on Stellar Lite or to US clients.
Can I trade news on a FundedNext Stellar account?
Yes. News trading is allowed in the challenge phases without limits. On the FundedNext Account, only 40% of the profit from trades opened or closed from five minutes before to five minutes after a listed high impact release on a correlated instrument counts, while losses count in full. Holding a position through the release is unrestricted.
