Affiliate disclosure: PropFirmElite may earn a commission if you buy through our links. That does not change this status note. We are summarizing Topstep's own Labs pages — not inventing a checkout URL, a promo code, or a payout number beyond the official fixed $3,000.
On August 2026, Topstep documented Labs Drop #003, the $3K Challenge, on its official help center. It is a two-round, $49 one-time experiment: hit $3,000 in the Challenge Round, do it again in the Payout Round, then take a fixed $3,000 payout and the account closes. It is not the standing Trading Combine.
Live catalog: Topstep firm page. Standing Combine sizes on that page stay $50K / $100K / $150K. We did not add a $3,000 account-size row.
Availability caveat (PENDING / confirm-on-official-page): as of 2026-08-27, topstep.com/labs (republished ~7:50 AM PT) markets with / CTAs (one targets dashboard.topstep.com/labs). There is LAB IS CLOSED copy on that page HTML this pass — still dashboard inventory before treating any Labs drop as buyable. The remains — official $3K params below stay in the . Do treat the $3K Challenge as currently buyable from /labs. Confirm on the official Labs page before you pay. There is no Drop #004.
Official Labs copy: "Make $3,000. Do it again. Keep $3,000." Help-center language: "2 round challenge for $49, one time." Clear the Challenge Round to unlock the Payout Round. Pass the Payout Round and request a fixed $3,000 paid one time. Then the account closes.
This is not a Combine → Express Funded (XFA) → Live ladder. Official FAQ: you cannot be called up to Live solely from trading Challenges. There is no 90/10 split on this payout. The $3,000 is a set amount — not tied to leftover account balance.
Trade the Challenge Round until you hit the $3,000 profit target.
Trading locks; status is passed.
In the dashboard, activate the Payout Round as a new, separate account.
Trade that account the same way, same rules.
Hit $3,000 again. Trading locks. Request the $3,000 payout in the dashboard.
Account closes. There is no remaining balance to scale.
If you are already in a Live Funded Account, official copy says you can still buy and trade the Challenge Round, but you cannot activate the Payout Round while in an LFA. If you are already in a Pro Account, you can still purchase and trade the Challenge Round without giving up Pro.
The same Labs help article already lists two earlier limited drops. Mentioned here only because we are discussing Labs — these are not standing catalog SKUs either:
Drop
Official name
Launch (article table)
One-time fee (article)
#001
$25K Static Trading Combine
June 2026
$75
#002
$250K Freedom Trading Combine
July 2026
$499
#003
$3K Challenge
August 2026
$49
As of 2026-08-26, topstep.com/labs is closed (0 accounts; next drop TBD). It does not feature a live $250K Claim Yours Now. Official $3K numbers stay in the help article. We are not reprinting a full #001 / #002 rule table here. If you want those historical drop tables, use the official Labs article.
The standing Trading Combine is still the $50K / $100K / $150K path: monthly Combine subscription economics, end-of-day trailing MLL, 50% best-day consistency target, then XFA Standard vs Consistency payouts at a 90/10 split. We did not change Combine evaluationRules or XFA payoutInfo for this update. Topstep still has no PropFirmElite promo code on file — we will not invent one or an affiliate checkout URL.
Is the $3K Challenge still for sale?
PENDING. Official $3K params remain in the help article. As of 2026-08-26, topstep.com/labs is closed (0 accounts; next drop TBD), not a live $250K or $3K checkout. Do not invent $3K buyability. Confirm on that Labs page before you budget $49.
Is the $3,000 payout a 90/10 split?
No. Official: fixed $3,000, paid one time, no 90/10 split. Then the account closes.
Does this replace the $50K Combine?
No. Official Labs language treats drops as limited experiments. Some may graduate; that is not guaranteed.
Can I reset if I hit the $1,000 MLL?
Official: no resets. One-time purchase.
Where should I start? Topstep on PropFirmElite, then Topstep's own Labs page. Do not buy from a recap screenshot.
