Trade Smarter, Not Harder
This is not a standard trading competition. The ApeX x Taco AutoPilot Competition rewards the quality of your strategy as much as the size of your returns. Participants connect their ApeX account through Taco, configure an AutoPilot strategy, and let execution run on ApeX's infrastructure across perpetuals, prediction markets, and US stock perps. The leaderboard measures four things at once: how much you made, how consistently you won, how well you managed drawdown, and how much volume you moved.
The competition runs from April 14, 2026 at 8:00 AM UTC to April 28, 2026 at 8:00 AM UTC.
How the Scoring Works
Every participant is ranked by a composite score that balances returns with risk discipline. No single dimension dominates, which means a trader with a modest PNL but exceptional drawdown control can outrank someone swinging for pure upside.
The scoring formula: Total Score = PNL% × 40% + Win Rate × 20% + (1 - Max Drawdown) × 20% + Volume Factor × 20%
Parameter | What It Measures | Score Contribution |
PNL% | Perpetual contract account return (must be positive) | PNL% × 40% |
Win Rate | Percentage of profitable trades | Win Rate × 20% |
Max Drawdown | Peak-to-trough loss control | (1 - Max Drawdown) × 20% |
Trading Volume | Total volume across perps, prediction, and US stock perps | Volume × 20% |
Note: PNL percentage is calculated from the perpetual contract account only, due to platform account structure. All four scoring dimensions have no upper cap.
How the Prize Pool Unlocks
The total prize pool scales dynamically based on how many eligible participants join. The more traders compete, the bigger the pool for everyone.
Participants | Prize Pool Unlocked |
30 or more | $3,000 USDT |
50 or more | $5,000 USDT |
100 or more | $10,000 USDT |
Prize distribution by tier at each pool level:
Rank | 30+ Participants | 50+ Participants | 100+ Participants |
1st | $700 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
2nd | $550 | $850 | $1,700 |
3rd | $400 | $600 | $1,200 |
4th | $340 | $500 | $1,000 |
5th | $310 | $450 | $900 |
6th to 10th | $140 each | $320 each | $640 each |
Special Awards: Mac Mini Up for Grabs
Three additional awards are on offer, each recognizing a distinct dimension of trading performance. Every special award winner receives a Mac Mini (valued at $599, paid out in USDT equivalent).
Best Strategy Award
Awarded to the participant with the highest PNL% across the competition period. Rankings update hourly. The leaderboard shows the current leader live during the event, and the final winner is determined by the highest value recorded throughout the full two weeks.
Best Risk Management Award
Awarded to the participant with the lowest maximum drawdown while maintaining a positive return. Both conditions must be met simultaneously. Same hourly update and display logic applies.
Best AI Execution Award
Awarded based on execution performance score, calculated as: Order Count × 50% + Trading Volume × 50%. This award specifically recognizes efficient, high-activity AutoPilot deployment rather than just directional returns.
How to Enter
Participation requires three things:
An ApeX account with a total asset balance of 100 USDT or more
A Taco account connected to your ApeX account
An active AutoPilot strategy configured through Taco, with trade execution running on ApeX
The competition is open to all platform users. To qualify for any reward, including both leaderboard prizes and special awards, participants must accumulate a minimum of 10,000 USDT in total trading volume during the event period.
Terms and Conditions
This competition is co-hosted by ApeX Protocol and Taco.
All participants must connect their ApeX account through Taco, configure an AutoPilot strategy, and maintain an ApeX account balance of at least 100 USDT.
The prize pool unlocks dynamically based on eligible participant count: $3,000 at 30 participants, $5,000 at 50 participants, and $10,000 at 100 participants.
All participants are ranked by the composite score formula: PNL% × 40% + Win Rate × 20% + (1 - Max Drawdown) × 20% + Volume Factor × 20%.
A minimum cumulative trading volume of 10,000 USDT during the event period is required to claim any reward.
Rewards will be distributed within 7 days of the competition end, or within 30 days in the event of technical delays. Physical prizes are paid out in USDT equivalent for all global participants.
All Taco Stars and Taco Credits rewards will be distributed directly by the Taco team.
Wash trading, self-dealing, and any form of artificial volume inflation will not be counted. Users flagged by risk control will be disqualified from reward distribution.
ApeX and its affiliates reserve the right to disqualify any user found engaging in malicious behavior, including wash trading, bot manipulation, multi-account abuse, or any form of cheating.
ApeX reserves the right to modify or cancel this competition and its terms at any time without prior notice, particularly in the event of unforeseen circumstances.