Why a 2-Step Evaluation Exists
Proprietary trading firms fund talented traders, but they need a reliable way to separate disciplined operators from reckless gamblers. A single-phase evaluation can be passed with one lucky week. A two-phase structure is different: it forces you to demonstrate consistency across two distinct performance windows, each with its own profit target and identical risk guardrails. That is exactly the model Dolvero uses — and it is one of the fairest in the industry.
At its core, the Dolvero 2-Step evaluation answers two questions. First: can you generate meaningful returns without blowing up? Second: can you do it again under slightly different conditions? If the answer to both is yes, you get funded. If not, you can reset and try again — there is no time limit on either phase.
The Structure at a Glance
Before diving into strategy, here is the complete rule set. Every number matters, so read carefully:
- Phase 1 profit target: 10% of starting balance
- Phase 2 profit target: 5% of starting balance
- Maximum daily loss: 5% of starting balance (hard breach)
- Maximum overall drawdown: 10% static (hard breach)
- Minimum trading days: 5 calendar days per phase
- Time limit: None — take as long as you need
- Maximum risk per trade: 2% of account balance
- News restriction: No new positions ±30 minutes around high-impact news
- Weekend holding: Not permitted by default (available as a paid add-on)
- Prohibited strategies: Hedging, martingale, grid trading
- Platform: MetaTrader 5
For the full, legally binding version of these parameters, visit the Dolvero Rules page. For pricing across all account sizes from $5,000 to $200,000, see Pricing.
Phase 1: Proving You Can Generate Alpha
Phase 1 is the more demanding half. You need to grow your account by 10% while staying within a 5% daily loss limit and a 10% overall static drawdown. On a $50,000 account, that means reaching $55,000 in equity without ever dropping below $45,000 from your starting balance or losing more than $2,500 in a single trading day.
What "static drawdown" really means
This is critical. Dolvero uses a static drawdown model, not a trailing one. Your maximum drawdown threshold is fixed at 10% below your initial starting balance — it never moves up as your account grows. On a $50K account, your absolute floor is always $45,000 regardless of whether your equity peaks at $52,000 or $54,000 along the way. This is significantly more forgiving than trailing drawdown models used by many competitors, where every new equity high ratchets up your liquidation level.
The minimum 5-day requirement
Even if you hit 10% on day one, you must trade on at least five separate calendar days before Phase 1 is considered complete. This is not a formality — it is a consistency filter. Dolvero wants to see that your edge is repeatable, not the result of a single leveraged gamble. Use those remaining days wisely: trade smaller, refine your process, build the habits you will need in Phase 2 and beyond.
Practical Phase 1 strategy
The most common mistake in Phase 1 is trying to hit 10% in the first week. Traders who do this typically size too aggressively, violate the 2% per-trade risk cap, and blow the daily loss limit on a single bad session. A more sustainable approach:
- Target 2% per week over five weeks — that gives you a comfortable path to 10% with room for drawdowns
- Never risk more than 1.5% on any single trade in the first two weeks while you calibrate to the account size
- Front-load your best setups — trade only your highest-probability patterns until you have a buffer above the drawdown floor
- Avoid trading during the ±30 minute news blackout window; violations result in an immediate breach
Phase 2: Confirming Consistency
Phase 2 is structurally identical to Phase 1 with one key difference: the profit target drops to 5%. The daily loss limit (5%) and static drawdown (10%) remain exactly the same. You still need a minimum of five trading days. There is still no time limit.
Why the lower target? Because Phase 2 is not about proving you can make money — you already did that. It is about proving you can do it with discipline intact. Many traders who pass Phase 1 with an aggressive approach flame out in Phase 2 because they cannot downshift. The 5% target is explicitly designed to reward controlled, methodical trading.
Common Phase 2 mistakes
- Overconfidence from Phase 1: You passed the hard part, so you increase size. This is backwards — Phase 2 is where you should trade most conservatively.
- Trying to finish fast: With only a 5% target, it is tempting to swing for a 5% day and be done. One bad trade can put you 2% in the hole, and suddenly you are chasing.
- Ignoring the news ban: The ±30 minute restriction applies identically in Phase 2. Do not get complacent.
- Weekend holding without the add-on: Positions must be flat before market close on Friday unless you have purchased the weekend holding add-on. An open position over the weekend is a breach.
What Happens After You Pass
Once both phases are complete, your account is reviewed by the Dolvero risk team. Assuming no rule violations are found, you receive a funded account with the same balance as your evaluation. Here is what changes:
- Profit split: 80% to you, 20% to Dolvero. An add-on is available to increase this to 90/10.
- Fee refund: Your evaluation fee is refunded with your second payout — not the first, the second. This incentivizes you to stay consistent rather than withdrawing everything immediately.
- Same risk rules: The 5% daily loss limit and 10% static drawdown still apply on the funded account. Do not assume the rules relax once you are funded.
Payouts are processed regularly, and every single one is recorded on the Public Payout Ledger — a transparency measure that is still rare in the prop trading industry.
Choosing Your Account Size
Dolvero offers evaluation accounts from $5,000 to $200,000. The rules are identical across all sizes — only the dollar values of the targets and drawdown limits change. Here is a quick reference:
- $5,000 account: Phase 1 target $500, Phase 2 target $250, daily loss limit $250, max drawdown floor $4,500
- $10,000 account: Phase 1 target $1,000, Phase 2 target $500, daily loss limit $500, max drawdown floor $9,000
- $25,000 account: Phase 1 target $2,500, Phase 2 target $1,250, daily loss limit $1,250, max drawdown floor $22,500
- $50,000 account: Phase 1 target $5,000, Phase 2 target $2,500, daily loss limit $2,500, max drawdown floor $45,000
- $100,000 account: Phase 1 target $10,000, Phase 2 target $5,000, daily loss limit $5,000, max drawdown floor $90,000
- $200,000 account: Phase 1 target $20,000, Phase 2 target $10,000, daily loss limit $10,000, max drawdown floor $180,000
If you are new to prop trading, starting with a $10K or $25K account is sensible. The fees are lower, the psychological pressure is manageable, and you can scale up once you have a proven process. Check Pricing for current fees and add-on options.
The No-Time-Limit Advantage
Many prop firms impose 30-day or 60-day deadlines on their evaluation phases. Dolvero does not. You can take six months to pass Phase 1 if that is what your strategy requires. This is not just a marketing bullet point — it fundamentally changes how you should approach the evaluation.
Without a deadline, there is zero incentive to force trades. You can sit out volatile weeks, skip low-probability setups, and wait for the market conditions that suit your edge. The only cost of waiting is time. The cost of forcing a trade is a blown account.
How to Get Started
The process is straightforward. Visit app.dolvero.com/start, choose your account size, complete payment, and you will receive MT5 credentials within minutes. Before you take your first trade, read the Rules page in full, familiarize yourself with How It Works, and bookmark the Changelog so you are always aware of any rule updates.
The 2-Step evaluation is not designed to trick you. It is designed to find traders who can manage risk, generate consistent returns, and follow a clear set of rules. If that describes you, the path to a funded account is straightforward.
Add-Ons and Customization
Dolvero recognizes that not every trading strategy fits neatly into a single rule set. That is why several optional add-ons are available at purchase or during your evaluation:
- Weekend holding: If your strategy involves swing trades that span Friday close to Monday open, this add-on removes the default restriction. Be aware that gap risk is real — you are accepting the possibility of slippage beyond your stop loss when the market reopens.
- 90% profit split: The standard 80/20 split is already competitive, but if you want to keep a larger share of your funded profits, the 90/10 upgrade is available. Over a year of consistent trading, the difference compounds significantly.
All add-on pricing is transparently listed on the Pricing page. There are no hidden fees and no recurring charges beyond the initial evaluation cost.
Transparency: The Public Payout Ledger
One of the most significant differentiators at Dolvero is the Public Payout Ledger. Every single payout made to a funded trader is recorded and publicly visible. You can see the date, the amount, and the account size. This is not a curated highlight reel — it is a complete, unfiltered record.
Why does this matter? Because the prop trading industry has a trust problem. Too many firms promise payouts they never deliver. Too many "success stories" are fabricated. The public ledger eliminates that ambiguity entirely. Before you buy an evaluation, you can verify that real traders are receiving real money. That level of transparency should be the industry standard, but it is not — which is precisely why Dolvero publishes it.
What Makes Dolvero Different
The prop trading space is crowded. Dozens of firms offer evaluation programs with similar structures. Here is what sets Dolvero apart beyond the evaluation mechanics:
- Dubai DMCC incorporation: Dolvero is incorporated in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, one of the most reputable free zones for financial services in the Middle East. This is not a virtual office or a mailbox — it is a real, regulated business entity.
- Divitae Group backing: Dolvero is part of the Divitae Group, providing institutional infrastructure and operational stability that standalone prop firms cannot match.
- Public changelog: Every rule change, platform update, and policy modification is documented in the Changelog. You will never be surprised by a rule you did not know existed.
- MetaTrader 5: Not a proprietary platform with questionable execution. MT5 is the industry standard, with transparent order routing, reliable data feeds, and a vast ecosystem of third-party tools.
- Fee refund on second payout: Your evaluation fee is returned with your second funded payout, reducing the net cost of entry to zero for traders who stay consistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade any instrument on MT5?
You can trade any instrument available on your MT5 account, including forex pairs, commodities, indices, and metals. The same risk rules apply regardless of instrument. Be sure to check the contract specifications in MT5 for each instrument, as pip values and lot sizes vary significantly.
What happens if I breach a rule during off-market hours?
The rules are monitored continuously. If a gap at market open causes your equity to breach the daily loss or overall drawdown limit, the breach is valid. This is one reason weekend holding is restricted by default — it protects you from events you cannot control.
Can I hold trades overnight during the week?
Yes. The weekend holding restriction only applies from Friday close to Monday open. Overnight positions during the trading week (Monday through Thursday) are fully permitted, though you should be mindful of overnight swap costs and potential gap risk around major economic releases.
Is there a maximum number of trades per day?
No. You can execute as many trades as your strategy requires. However, the 5% daily loss limit and the 2% per-trade risk cap still apply to every position. High-frequency scalping strategies are permitted as long as all rules are followed.
For any questions not covered here, review the comprehensive How It Works page or contact the Dolvero support team directly through the platform.
