A new choice, not a new price.
Halcyon Trader Funding has added a second way to pay for its Lite and Prime evaluations: a lower upfront fee followed by a one-time activation charge once you pass, alongside the existing all-in price this site previously reported on 11 August 2026. The existing price hasn't changed. What's new is the option itself, and running the numbers on both paths turns up one exception worth knowing before choosing.
Traders can now choose between two payment structures on Halcyon Lite and Halcyon Prime accounts. The Activation Fee Model charges a lower amount upfront for the evaluation, followed by a separate activation fee only if the evaluation is passed. The No-Activation Model is the existing all-in price, unchanged from what Halcyon introduced on 11 August: $117, $173, and $324 for Lite at 25K, 50K, and 150K, and $129, $205, and $358 for Prime at the same sizes.
The new Activation Fee Model prices: Lite 25K is $53 upfront plus $59 on passing; Lite 50K is $68 plus $79; Lite 150K is $138 plus $163. Prime 25K is $62 plus $69; Prime 50K is $77 plus $89; Prime 150K is $147 plus $173. Both payment paths lead to identical Reward Account rules and conditions once the evaluation is complete; the choice only affects what you pay and when.
Comparing payment structures across firms before choosing one is worth doing anywhere. Apex Trader Funding is another established futures firm worth comparing on documented terms, currently running a discount on evaluation fees.
What is confirmed.
Both payment options, and every figure above, are confirmed directly in TheGodFunded's report, dated 18 August 2026. The No-Activation prices are independently confirmed as unchanged by our own prior coverage of Halcyon's 11 August pricing update.
What remains uncertain.
We could not locate a direct statement from Halcyon Trader Funding itself confirming this specific addition, beyond the report we're relying on. Nothing about the underlying reason for offering a second payment structure was stated by either source.
Why this matters.
Running the numbers changes the picture from "two equal options" to something more specific. In every combination except one, the Activation Fee Model costs less than the No-Activation Model, both if the evaluation fails and if it passes.
| Account | If you fail | If you pass | No-Activation (flat) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite 25K | $53 | $112 | $117 |
| Lite 50K | $68 | $147 | $173 |
| Lite 150K | $138 | $301 | $324 |
| Prime 25K | $62 | $131 | $129 |
| Prime 50K | $77 | $166 | $205 |
| Prime 150K | $147 | $320 | $358 |
Every row shows the Activation Fee Model costing the same or less than the flat price, with one exception: Prime 25K, where passing under the Activation Fee Model totals $131, two dollars more than the $129 flat price. It's a small gap, but it's a genuine exception to an otherwise consistent pattern, and it's the one case where a trader choosing based on "lower number now" without checking the total would end up paying slightly more than the alternative.
What happens next.
We will update this piece if Halcyon Trader Funding addresses the reasoning behind the new option directly, or if further pricing adjustments follow.
If you're comparing futures firms on documented, verifiable pricing before choosing one, our full Apex Trader Funding review breaks down rules, payouts, and platform support in one place.
Questions, answered.
Sources
- TheGodFunded, HalcyonTraderFunding Reintroduces Activation Fee Model for Lite and Prime Accounts, August 18, 2026.
- Trader Payout, Halcyon Trader Funding Removes Its Payout Buffer, Cuts Prices, and Relocates a Rule Most Traders Will Miss, August 11, 2026 (prior reporting, for the unchanged No-Activation baseline).
