Reported event or release: Oct 15, 2026. 3 linked sources · Reviewed Oct 25, 2026
At a glance
Topstep’s October 15 Labs release introduces two limited $3K Challenge variants. Both are simulated experiments with a fixed reward structure, rather than a continuing live-funded account.
Two versions of an October release
Topstep announced its Undead and Slasher Labs challenges on October 15, 2026. Both require a trader to reach a $3,000 profit target in a challenge round and then repeat the target in a payout round. The company advertises a fixed $3,000 payout after successful completion, with no profit split, minimum trading days or consistency target. The release is a specific new product update, separate from the firm’s standard Trading Combine and funded-account programs. [1]
Different prices and loss allowances
The published Undead price is $199 plus tax, with a $1,000 static maximum loss limit and a ceiling of five mini or 50 micro contracts. Slasher costs $65 plus tax, permits two minis or 20 micros and has a $500 static limit. Both retain the same $3,000 target in each round. Those differences mean the lower purchase price does not buy the same trading conditions, and the larger position ceiling should not be mistaken for a proportionately larger loss allowance. [1]
How the payout sequence works
Topstep’s help center describes two separate accounts: completing the first round unlocks activation of the payout round in the dashboard. After the second target is reached, the trader can request the fixed reward. The account then closes, with no continuing balance. The firm specifically states that these challenges do not lead to a Live Funded Account and do not contribute to eligibility for a live call-up. That makes the intended outcome different from an ongoing funded-trading arrangement. [2]
Limited supply and additional conditions
The help center describes the drops as first-come, first-served, with up to five purchases of each variant; closed accounts still count toward that drop’s limit. It also lists product-specific position restrictions and reduced limits during designated major news events. Purchases are one-time rather than subscriptions, and the programs have inactivity and expiration conditions. As of this review, the public documentation describes the offer, but it does not guarantee that inventory remains available for an individual user. [2]
Simulation changes what results demonstrate
Topstep identifies Labs as part of its simulated trading services. Its risk disclosure explains that simulated outcomes are not records of actual market execution and may reflect liquidity and behavioral conditions differently from live trading. Successful completion therefore demonstrates compliance with the experiment’s requirements, rather than proving a durable live-market edge. This distinction also prevents a fixed reward headline from being read as evidence that a trader has been allocated a continuing portfolio of exchange-executed positions. [1][3]
The comparison that matters
Our assessment is that the most useful comparison is between each round’s target, the available loss room and the trader’s normal position size. Increasing maximum contracts can accelerate both gains and losses without improving a strategy’s underlying performance. The two products consequently suit different exposure constraints even though the reward headline is identical. The announcement supplies no verified participant success rate for these new drops, so their relative difficulty or expected financial return cannot be established from the marketing terms alone.
- Revenge of the Topstep Labs $3K Challenge: Undead & Slasher Topstep · 2026-10-15
- Topstep Labs Topstep Help Center
- Risk Disclosure Topstep · 2025-09-25
Sources checked for this edition on Oct 25, 2026. Program terms and market data can change after publication.
For education and information only. This article is not a recommendation to buy, sell or trade. Prices and events are tied to the dates stated.
