ThinkCapital
United Kingdomthinkcapital.com
ThinkCapital is a UK-based CFD prop trading firm established in June 2024, operating through the ThinkTrader platform with ThinkMarkets identified as the broker. The firm offers four distinct programs: Bolt Instant Funding, Lightning 1-Step, Dual Step (available in Intraday and Swing variants, both 2-Step), and Nexus 3-Step, across Forex, metals, indices, energy, and cryptocurrencies. Lightning, Dual Step, and Nexus carry an 80% standard profit split (up to 90% through scaling or an add-on) and pay out bi-weekly (weekly available via add-on), while Bolt also runs at 80% but requires a 6% profit goal before the first payout and has its own $100 minimum payout. The firm's rules differ substantially by program: Bolt prohibits news trading and weekend holding entirely and excludes cryptocurrency; Dual Step Intraday restricts news trading within a 2-minute window and limits weekend holding on funded accounts; Dual Step Swing permits unrestricted news trading and full overnight/weekend holding; and Lightning/Nexus restrict news trading within a 2-minute window (removable via a News Trading Add-On) while allowing overnight and weekend holding. ThinkCapital lists zero commission across all five supported asset classes, supports Expert Advisors on all account types when ThinkTrader-compatible (subject to notification and possible strategy review), and permits copy trading under defined ownership/master-account conditions. A scaling plan increases account capital by 20% of the original starting balance after traders achieve 10% profit over three months and complete three withdrawals during the review cycle, with a stated maximum scaling path to $1.5 million. Traders from Malaysia, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Indonesia are restricted to Bolt Instant Funding only. The supplied information does not independently establish ThinkCapital's regulatory authorization or licensing status, so it should not be described as a regulated financial institution unless separately verified.
Challenge Programs
Lightning Challenge (1-Step)
| Account | Steps | Target | Daily loss | Max Loss | Split | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | 1 Step | 10% | 3% | 6% (Trailing Balance) | 80% | $59.00$47.20 | Buy |
| $10,000 | 1 Step | 10% | 3% | 6% (Trailing Balance) | 80% | $99.00$79.20 | Buy |
| $25,000 | 1 Step | 10% | 3% | 6% (Trailing Balance) | 80% | $199.00$159.20 | Buy |
| $50,000 | 1 Step | 10% | 3% | 6% (Trailing Balance) | 80% | $299.00$239.20 | Buy |
| $100,000 | 1 Step | 10% | 3% | 6% (Trailing Balance) | 80% | $499.00 | Buy |
Dual Step Intraday Challenge (2-Step)
| Account | Steps | Target | Daily loss | Max Loss | Split | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $59.00$47.20 | Buy |
| $10,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $99.00$79.20 | Buy |
| $25,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $199.00$159.20 | Buy |
| $50,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $299.00$239.20 | Buy |
| $100,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $499.00 | Buy |
Dual Step Swing Challenge (2-Step)
| Account | Steps | Target | Daily loss | Max Loss | Split | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $82.00$65.60 | Buy |
| $10,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $138.00$110.40 | Buy |
| $25,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $278.00$222.40 | Buy |
| $50,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $418.00$334.40 | Buy |
| $100,000 | 2 Steps | 9% (Phase 1) / 5% (Phase 2) | 4% | 7% (Static) | 80% | $698.00 | Buy |
Bolt (Instant Funding)
| Account | Steps | Target | Daily loss | Max Loss | Split | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | Instant | None | 3% | 6% (Trailing Equity) | 80% | $49.00$39.20 | Buy |
| $5,000 | Instant | None | 3% | 6% (Trailing Equity) | 80% | $89.00$71.20 | Buy |
| $10,000 | Instant | None | 3% | 6% (Trailing Equity) | 80% | $159.00$127.20 | Buy |
| $25,000 | Instant | None | 3% | 6% (Trailing Equity) | 80% | $349.00$279.20 | Buy |
| $50,000 | Instant | None | 3% | 6% (Trailing Equity) | 80% | $599.00$479.20 | Buy |
Nexus Challenge (3-Step)
| Account | Steps | Target | Daily loss | Max Loss | Split | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | 3 Steps | 7% (Stage 1) / 6% (Stage 2) / 5% (Stage 3) | 4% | 8% (Static) | 80% | $39.00$31.20 | Buy |
| $10,000 | 3 Steps | 7% (Stage 1) / 6% (Stage 2) / 5% (Stage 3) | 4% | 8% (Static) | 80% | $79.00$63.20 | Buy |
| $25,000 | 3 Steps | 7% (Stage 1) / 6% (Stage 2) / 5% (Stage 3) | 4% | 8% (Static) | 80% | $139.00$111.20 | Buy |
| $50,000 | 3 Steps | 7% (Stage 1) / 6% (Stage 2) / 5% (Stage 3) | 4% | 8% (Static) | 80% | $199.00$159.20 | Buy |
| $100,000 | 3 Steps | 7% (Stage 1) / 6% (Stage 2) / 5% (Stage 3) | 4% | 8% (Static) | 80% | $349.00 | Buy |
Payment Methods
- Credit/Debit Card
- Cryptocurrency
Payout methods are a separate set: Cryptocurrency, RiseWorks, and a possible ThinkMarkets Live Account arrangement. Availability may vary by trader location and payment provider.
Pros & Cons
CREDITS12
- Multiple funding structures, including 1-Step, 2-Step (Intraday and Swing), 3-Step, and Instant Funding
- ThinkTrader platform with ThinkMarkets integration
- No commission listed across Forex, metals, indices, energy, and crypto
- Expert Advisors are permitted on all account types when compliant
- Copy trading is allowed under defined ownership/master-account conditions
- Several programs permit overnight and/or weekend holding
- Dual Step Swing permits unrestricted news trading according to the supplied rules
- Bolt provides relatively low-cost Instant Funding entry points
- Up to 90% profit split available through scaling or add-ons on applicable programs
- Scaling can increase capital by 20% of the original starting balance at each qualifying review
- Stated scaling path reaches $1.5 million
- Multiple payout options, including RiseWorks and cryptocurrency
DEBITS11
- The firm operates on ThinkTrader only, limiting platform choice compared with prop firms offering MT5, cTrader, DXTrade, or Match-Trader
- News trading restrictions vary considerably between programs
- Bolt prohibits weekend holding and does not offer cryptocurrency trading
- EAs require compatibility with ThinkTrader and notification to support
- VPN use is generally prohibited
- Extensive restrictions apply to HFT, arbitrage, grid trading, Martingale, hedging, account rolling, and other strategies
- A 30-day inactivity rule applies
- Certain regions are restricted to the Bolt program only
- Bolt requires a 6% profit goal before the first payout
- Weekly payouts require an add-on on the applicable programs
- Insufficient information in the supplied data to independently establish regulatory authorization or licensing status
Trading Rules
- Four program formats: Bolt Instant Funding, Lightning 1-Step, Dual Step (Intraday and Swing variants, both 2-Step), and Nexus 3-Step
- Minimum trading days vary by program: Lightning, Dual Step, and Nexus require 3 evaluation trading days and 3 profitable funded days (0.5%+); Bolt requires 5 profitable funded days (0.5%+)
- Expert Advisors are supported on all account types when compatible with ThinkTrader; traders must notify support when using third-party software and may be subject to strategy review
- Copy trading is permitted between ThinkCapital accounts; copying between personal/other prop-firm accounts is allowed when the ThinkCapital account is the master account and compatible trade-copying software is used
- At least one trade must be placed every 30 days to maintain the account
- The overall maximum drawdown locks at the initial account balance once the account grows by 6%; withdrawals then reduce the available relative drawdown by the amount withdrawn
- VPN usage is generally prohibited; a VPS from ForexVPS is permitted for running EAs and algorithms, provided the trader remains compliant with the firm's Terms and Conditions
- Traders from Malaysia, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Indonesia are only eligible to purchase Bolt Instant Funding accounts; Dual Step, Lightning, and Nexus are unavailable to them
- Scaling: 10% profit over three months plus three withdrawals during the review cycle increases account capital by 20% of the original starting balance, up to a stated maximum of $1.5 million
Restricted strategies
ThinkCapital groups its prohibited practices into a gambling/reckless-trading category (overleveraging, all-in trades, Martingale, excessive scalping, punting, coin-flip trading, correlated overexposure, account rolling) and a separate exploitative-practices category (HFT, latency arbitrage, delayed-data exploitation, grid trading, cross-account hedging, account sharing, unauthorized EAs, challenge-passing services, order layering, account churning, and platform/data-error abuse).
News trading
- Bolt (Instant Funding)Restricted
News trading prohibited entirely: no trading activity, including pending orders, SL, or TP, within 5 minutes before/after high-impact news. Violation results in immediate termination and profit forfeiture.
Window: 5 minutes before/after high-impact news - Lightning (1-Step) & Nexus (3-Step)Restricted
News trading prohibited on challenge and funded accounts within the restricted window; existing positions may remain open, but no opening, closing, SL, or TP activity may occur during that window. A News Trading Add-On provides an exception.
Window: 2 minutes before/after high-impact news - Dual Step IntradayRestricted
News trading prohibited within the restricted window; overnight holding allowed, weekend holding restricted on funded accounts.
Window: 2 minutes before/after high-impact news - Dual Step SwingAllowed
News trading allowed without restrictions; overnight and weekend holding are allowed.
Payouts & Trading Costs
- Payout frequency
- Lightning, Dual Step (Intraday/Swing), and Nexus: bi-weekly, with a weekly option via add-on. Bolt: bi-weekly.
- Processing time
- Within 3 business days; payout may arrive 24–48h later. Bank transfers can take up to 5 business days.
- Profit split
- Up to 90% — Lightning, Dual Step, and Nexus run at 80% standard, up to 90% through scaling or an add-on. Bolt runs at a flat 80%.
- Payout routing
- USDT (TRC20/ERC20), Rise, or ThinkMarkets personal live account
- Minimum withdrawal
- $100
- Trading costs
- $0 commission; standard spreads apply
Trust & Safety
ThinkCapital is a UK-based CFD prop trading firm established in June 2024, operating through the ThinkTrader platform with ThinkMarkets identified as the broker. The firm publishes detailed rules covering trading strategies, news events, minimum trading days, payout requirements, leverage, account eligibility, and prohibited practices, giving traders substantial program-specific information before selecting an account. Its scaling system and payout rules are also clearly documented, including the three-month review cycle, required withdrawals, scaling increments, and the stated $1.5 million maximum.
- Legal entity
- TFG (PAYMENTS) LIMITED, UK — 85 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7LT.
- Regulated
- No
Trading carries risk. Evaluation programs like this one involve simulated accounts and non-refundable fees; review the firm’s current terms directly before purchasing. This page is informational and not financial advice.