Five routes to funding — Lightning, Dual Step Intraday, Dual Step Swing, Nexus and Bolt. Zero commission on every asset, and a drawdown that stops moving once you are up 6%.
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RiseworksAbout ThinkCapital
ThinkCapital began trading in June 2024 out of the United Kingdom under Faizan Anees. Two years is short next to the firms that have been through a full market cycle, and that is the fair caveat. What it has built in the time is broader than most manage in five. Everything runs on ThinkTrader, the only platform offered, and payouts go out by broker transfer, crypto or Riseworks.
Five routes, and they are not just the same account at five prices. Lightning is a single 10% step. Dual Step Intraday and Dual Step Swing share targets and risk limits at 9% then 5%, differing only in what you are allowed to do. Nexus spreads three phases at 7%, 6% then 5% and is the cheapest way in at $33.15. Bolt skips the evaluation entirely.
Zero commission is the quiet headline. Most firms charge per lot on forex and metals, and a trader running decent volume pays more in commission over a year than the gap between an 80% and a 90% split is worth. ThinkCapital charges nothing on forex, metals, indices, energy or crypto, on any of the five programs.
The drawdown lock is the other genuinely different feature. Lightning trails your closed-balance high watermark and Bolt trails your equity high, but on both, the moment the account is up 6%, the floor fixes at your starting balance and never moves again. You get the upside of a trailing drawdown early on and the safety of a static one once you have built a buffer.
Choosing between the two Dual Step programs is about how you trade, not what you can afford. Intraday closes everything before Friday 21:00 UTC and blocks news with no way around it — the News Trading add-on is not even offered on it. Swing holds through the weekend and trades news unrestricted. On a $100,000 account that freedom costs $169.15 more.
Bolt reads like the shortcut and is the most restricted account on the firm. It carries the only consistency rule at 20%, needs five profitable days rather than three, blocks all activity within five minutes either side of high-impact news — pending orders and stop-losses included — has no crypto, and no add-ons at all. Its first payout also waits until the account is up 6%.
Leverage splits four ways rather than by program family. Lightning runs 1:30 on forex, Bolt 1:50, and the Dual Step programs and Nexus go up to 1:100 dynamically. Metals sit at 1:10 on Lightning against 1:30 elsewhere, and indices at 1:5 against 1:20. Margin can also be multiplied around selected economic events, though only on positions opened inside the window.
Two administrative points worth planning for. Scaling is quarterly and manual: 10% profit over three months plus three withdrawals, adding 20% of your original balance each time you qualify, up to $1.5 million — and you have to email support to start it. And traders in Malaysia, Pakistan, Cambodia and Indonesia can only buy Bolt; the three evaluation routes are closed to them.
Programs & Modes
Lightning
One 10% step and the fastest evaluation here. Its drawdown trails your closed-balance high until the account is up 6%, then fixes at your starting balance for good. News is blocked unless you buy the add-on. Sizes 5K through 100K, from $50.15 with code GUIDE.
Profit Split: 80% → 90% with the add-on
Target 10% | Max Loss 6% (EOD Trailing) | Daily 3% | Leverage 1:30 | Min 3 days | Payouts 14 Days
Dual Step Intraday
Two phases at 9% then 5% on the highest leverage ThinkCapital offers, at 7% max loss in the challenge and 8% funded. Built for day traders: weekends are closed and news is blocked with no add-on available. Sizes 5K through 100K, from $50.15 with code GUIDE.
Profit Split: 80% → 90% with the add-on
Target 9% - 5% | Max Loss 7% (Static) | Daily 4% | Leverage 1:100 | Min 3 days | Payouts 14 Days
Dual Step Swing
The same targets and limits as Intraday, priced higher for two freedoms — hold through the weekend, and trade news with no restrictions at all. The only program here without a news rule. Sizes 5K through 100K, from $69.70 with code GUIDE.
Profit Split: 80% → 90% with the add-on
Target 9% - 5% | Max Loss 7% (Static) | Daily 4% | Leverage 1:100 | Min 3 days | Payouts 14 Days
Nexus
Three phases at 7%, 6% then 5% under an 8% max loss. The cheapest way in, with the longest road to a funded account, and the news add-on is available. Sizes 5K through 100K, from $33.15 with code GUIDE.
Profit Split: 80% → 90% with the add-on
Target 7% - 6% - 5% | Max Loss 8% (Static) | Daily 4% | Leverage 1:100 | Min 3 days | Payouts 14 Days
Bolt
Funded on purchase with an equity-trailing drawdown that fixes at your starting balance once you are up 6%. The trade-offs are real: a 20% consistency rule, five profitable days, the strictest news block on the firm, no crypto and no add-ons. Sizes 2.5K through 50K, from $41.65 with code GUIDE.
Profit Split: 80% flat
No Target | Max Loss 6% (Equity Trailing) | Daily 3% | Leverage 1:50 | Min 5 days | Payouts 14 Days
Profit Split & Payouts
Payouts run every 14 days as standard, or every 7 with the Weekly Payouts add-on, needing $100 minimum profit and carrying no maximum. The split is 80% on every program, climbing to 90% through the scaling plan or an add-on. On the four evaluation routes the challenge fee also comes back with your 3rd payout, automatically — though never earlier, and not at all if you stop short of three. Scaling is quarterly and takes work: 10% profit over three months plus three withdrawals in the review cycle, each qualifying event adding 20% of your original balance up to $1.5 million. Bolt is the exception on timing — it runs the 14-day cycle only, and its first payout waits until the account is up 6% on its starting balance. Withdrawals go out by broker transfer, crypto or Riseworks, and there are no commissions on any asset class.
Platforms & Leverage
Trade on ThinkTrader, the only platform ThinkCapital offers. Leverage splits by path: Lightning runs 1:30 on forex with 1:10 metals and energy, 1:5 indices and 1:1 crypto. Bolt runs 1:50 on forex, 1:30 metals and 1:20 indices with no crypto access, while Dual Step and Nexus run dynamic leverage up to 1:100 on forex, 1:30 metals and 1:20 indices. Margin can be multiplied around selected economic events, though only on new positions opened inside the window. Allocation scales to $1.5 million.
| Asset | Instant | 1-Step | 2-Step | 3-Step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FX | ||||
| Metals | ||||
| Indices | ||||
| Energy | ||||
| Crypto |
Bolt is the Instant column and has no crypto access. Leverage on the 2-Step and 3-Step programs is dynamic and can tighten around news events.
Commissions
| Instrument | Commission |
|---|---|
| FX | No commission |
| Metals | No commission |
| Indices | No commission |
| Energy | No commission |
| Crypto | No commission |
Restricted Countries
| Size | Program | Profit Target | Max Loss | Daily Loss | Drawdown | Profit Split | Payout | Loyalty | Activation Fee | Price |
|---|
GUIDE — 15% Off All Accounts
15% off every ThinkCapital account — Lightning, both Dual Step programs, Nexus and Bolt, in every size.
Zero Commissions Allowed
No commission on any asset class, on any program.
Add-Ons Allowed
Three add-ons exist and availability differs by program. 90% Profit Split and Weekly Payouts are offered on Lightning, both Dual Step programs and Nexus. Allow News Trading is offered on Lightning and Nexus only — Dual Step Intraday cannot buy its way out of the news block, and Dual Step Swing does not need to. Bolt has no add-ons at all, so its split stays at 80% and its payout cycle at 14 days.
No Time Limit Allowed
Every evaluation runs unlimited time.
No Consistency Rule — four of five programs Allowed
Lightning, Dual Step Intraday, Dual Step Swing and Nexus carry none. Bolt is the only one with a consistency requirement.
News Trading — Dual Step Swing Allowed
Swing trades news with no restrictions at all. Every other program blocks it, and this is the main reason Swing costs more than Intraday.
Expert Advisors (EAs) Allowed
Automated trading runs on every account type provided it works with ThinkTrader. Email support first to flag a third-party tool, since your strategy may be reviewed for compliance.
Overnight & Weekend Holding Allowed
Lightning, Nexus and Dual Step Swing allow both, crypto included. Dual Step Intraday and Bolt allow overnight but close everything before Friday 21:00 UTC.
Drawdown Types by Program Restricted
Lightning uses a balance trailing drawdown that follows your closed-balance high watermark. Bolt uses an equity trailing drawdown, so open profit moves the floor too. On both, it locks to your starting balance once the account grows 6% and never moves again. Dual Step Intraday, Dual Step Swing and Nexus all run a static drawdown fixed from the starting balance. The daily limit resets on balance for Lightning, Dual Step Swing and Nexus, and on equity for Dual Step Intraday and Bolt.
Regional Account Eligibility Restricted
Traders based in Malaysia, Pakistan, Cambodia and Indonesia can only buy Bolt. Lightning, both Dual Step programs and Nexus are not available to them at all — worth checking before you plan around an evaluation route.
Challenge Fee Refund Restricted
On Lightning, Dual Step Intraday, Dual Step Swing and Nexus the fee comes back with your 3rd payout, automatically and without a request. It is not issued with the 1st or 2nd, and if you never reach a 3rd payout you do not get it at all. Bolt has no evaluation fee to refund.
Drawdown Lock — Lightning and Bolt Restricted
Once the account grows 6%, the maximum drawdown locks to your starting balance and your floor stays there for the life of the account.
Consistency Rule — Bolt Restricted
Your single best day cannot make up more than 20% of total profit.
News Trading Restricted
Lightning and Nexus block all activity within 2 minutes either side of a red-folder event on ForexFactory, on challenge and funded accounts — no trades, executions, stop-loss hits or take-profit hits. A violation is an immediate breach, terminates the funded agreement and forfeits all profits. The News Trading add-on is the only exception. Dual Step Intraday carries the identical rule and penalty with no add-on exception. Bolt is strictest: nothing within 5 minutes either side, pending orders, stop-losses and take-profits included, and any activity in that window terminates the account immediately with profits forfeited.
Minimum Trading Days Restricted
Lightning, Dual Step and Nexus need 3 trading days in the evaluation, then 3 profitable days once funded. Bolt needs 5. A profitable day means at least 0.5% gain on that day’s starting balance with the account above where it opened, and you must hit the count inside every payout window.
Copy Trading Restricted
Allowed between your own ThinkCapital accounts. To copy across other prop firms or personal accounts, the ThinkCapital account has to be the master. Any ThinkTrader-compatible copier works, though ThinkTrader handles them differently from MT5.
Dynamic Leverage & News Event Multiplier Restricted
Margin requirements can be multiplied on affected instruments around selected economic events. It applies only to new positions opened inside the window — anything already open keeps its original margin, and leverage returns to normal afterwards.
Bolt Has No Crypto Restricted
Bolt traders are limited to forex, commodities and indices. Every other program includes crypto.
VPN / VPS Policy Restricted
VPNs are generally not allowed, nor are multiple users on one account or unapproved automation. Using a VPN or VPS during KYC/AML checks can get an account denied or breached. The one exception is a ForexVPS instance to keep algos running, within the terms.
Inactivity Restricted
Place at least one trade every 30 days. Miss it and the account closes — no refund on challenges, no payouts on funded accounts.
Gambling & Reckless Trading Prohibited
Overleveraging, all-in trades, Martingale, loading up on correlated assets, excessive high-frequency scalping, punting on a few high-risk trades, coinflip-style patterns and account rolling. Depending on severity ThinkCapital can warn you, deduct profit, reset, suspend or close the account, sometimes without notice.
Prohibited Practices Prohibited
Copy trading accounts you do not own, grid trading, hedging or group hedging across accounts, collusion, account sharing, management or sale, latency arbitrage, high-frequency trading, abusing a delayed data feed or the simulated environment, trading on delayed charts, unauthorised EAs, challenge-passing services, gaming limit-order guarantees, trading from sanctioned countries, exploiting platform or data freezes, news trading inside the restricted window, and order layering.
Restricted Countries
Live On-Chain Payouts — Last 30 Days
Loading…RISEPAY on-chain data only. Some firms also pay via wire or other crypto — figures are a partial view.
80% profit split, climbing to 90% • Minimum $100 profit with no maximum • Every 14 days, or 7 with the add-on
Profit Split
80% on every program, climbing to 90% through the scaling plan or an add-on.
Payout Frequency
Every 14 days as standard, or every 7 with the Weekly Payouts add-on. Bolt runs the 14-day cycle only.
Add-Ons
90% Profit Split and Weekly Payouts are available on Lightning, Dual Step Intraday, Dual Step Swing and Nexus. Allow News Trading is available on Lightning and Nexus only. Bolt has no add-ons.
Payout Limits
$100 minimum profit required, with no maximum.
Bolt First Payout
The first Bolt payout only unlocks once the account is up 6% on its starting balance. After that it settles into the standard 14-day cycle.
Challenge Fee Refund
Returned with your 3rd payout on Lightning, Dual Step and Nexus — automatic, with no request needed. Nothing is refunded on the 1st or 2nd payout, and reaching a 3rd is the only way to receive it.
Scaling Plan
Make 10% profit over 3 months — about 3.33% a month — and take 3 withdrawals in the review cycle. Each qualifying event adds 20% of your original starting balance, reviewed quarterly, scaling as far as $1.5 million. You have to email support to start the process.
Commissions
None, on any asset class.
Available Markets & Leverage
FX
Metals
Indices
Energy
Crypto
Commissions
FX
No commission
Metals
No commission
Indices
No commission
Energy
No commission
Crypto
No commission
Trader Reviews 0
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ThinkCapital Reviews & Ratings
Rated by our community & expert team
ThinkCapital opened in June 2024 from the United Kingdom under Faizan Anees, and for a two-year-old firm the menu is unusually wide. Lightning is one step, Dual Step Intraday and Dual Step Swing are two, Nexus is three, and Bolt funds you on purchase. Two things separate it from the pack. There is no commission on any asset, which over a year of active trading is worth more than most split upgrades. And on Lightning and Bolt the drawdown stops trailing and fixes at your starting balance once the account grows 6%, so you cannot fall below break-even after that. Splits run 80% to 90%, allocation scales to $1.5 million, and the challenge fee comes back with your third payout.
Summary
A UK firm trading since June 2024 under Faizan Anees. Five programs from $2,500 to $100,000 on ThinkTrader, with allocation scaling to $1.5 million and splits from 80% to 90%.
Entry is $33.15 with code GUIDE, which takes 15% off everything. No commission on any asset class, payouts every 14 days or every 7 with the add-on, and the challenge fee back with your third payout on all four evaluation routes.
The drawdown lock is the reason to look here: on Lightning and Bolt your floor fixes at the starting balance once you are up 6%. Against that, the firm is two years old and ThinkTrader is the only platform, so there is no MT5, cTrader or TradingView.
Deep Dive
More About ThinkCapital
Is ThinkCapital Legit?
ThinkCapital is a real operation trading from the United Kingdom since June 2024 under Faizan Anees, with an on-chain payout record you can check on our tracker rather than take on trust. The caveat is age. Two years means it has not yet been through the kind of market stress that has finished off better-known names, and there is simply less history to judge it on.
What the rulebook does well is quantify itself. News windows are given in minutes and scoped to individual programs. The drawdown lock has a specific trigger. Scaling requirements come with the percentages attached. There is very little of the vague language about unacceptable trading that gives a risk team room to improvise after you have made money.
Zero commission across every asset is the strongest commercial case. It is easy to overlook next to a headline split, but a trader running a few lots a day pays more in commission at a typical firm over twelve months than the difference between 80% and 90% returns. ThinkCapital charges nothing, on all five programs, with no exceptions.
The drawdown lock deserves the attention it gets. Lightning trails your closed-balance high and Bolt trails your equity high, but on both the floor fixes at your starting balance once the account grows 6% and stops moving permanently. Most firms give you one or the other. Getting the trailing benefit while you build the buffer and a fixed floor afterwards is a genuinely better shape for a trader.
Bolt is the one to read carefully. It is marketed as the fast route and carries every restriction the firm has: the only consistency rule at 20%, five profitable days instead of three, no crypto, no add-ons, and a news block covering five minutes either side of high-impact events that includes pending orders, stop-losses and take-profits. Any activity in that window terminates the account with profits forfeited — and a stop-loss filling on its own counts.
The VPN policy catches more people than any trading rule. VPNs are generally prohibited, and using one during KYC or AML verification can get an account denied or breached outright. The only exception is a ForexVPS instance for running algos. If you route your connection through a VPN by habit, sort that out before you buy rather than at verification.
The rest to plan around: ThinkTrader is the only platform, so MT5 tooling and TradingView charts are out. Accounts close after 30 days without a trade, forfeiting challenges and payouts alike. Thirty countries are restricted, Australia and Cyprus among them. And traders in Malaysia, Pakistan, Cambodia and Indonesia can buy Bolt and nothing else.
ThinkCapital vs Other Forex Prop Firms
ThinkCapital vs BrightFunded: Two European firms of similar vintage that both grow the split rather than start high. BrightFunded climbs from 80% to a full 100% through its scaling plan, pays every 7 days as standard and lets you copy trades in from other firms entirely. ThinkCapital stops at 90% and scales quarterly by hand, but charges no commission on any asset class and refunds the challenge fee with your third payout — neither of which BrightFunded offers.
ThinkCapital vs FXIFY: Both build the account from add-ons rather than selling one fixed rule set. FXIFY spreads eight routes across MT5, DXtrade and TradingView and pays up to 90% from the first withdrawal. ThinkCapital runs five routes on ThinkTrader alone, which is the real trade-off here — one platform, no choice. What it returns is zero commission on every asset and a drawdown that locks static once you are 6% up, so the buffer you build cannot be taken back.
ThinkCapital vs Instant Funding: Both sell instant accounts. Instant Funding pays as fast as one day; Bolt runs a 14-day cycle and gates the first payout at 6% growth. ThinkCapital gives you four evaluation routes alongside its instant account and charges no commission, but taken on its own Bolt is the more restrictive of the two instant products by some margin.
ThinkCapital Frequently Asked Questions
What programs does ThinkCapital offer?
Five. Lightning is a single 10% step. Dual Step Intraday and Dual Step Swing both run 9% then 5%, with Swing costing more for weekend holding and unrestricted news. Nexus spreads three phases at 7%, 6% then 5% and is the cheapest entry. Bolt funds you on purchase with no evaluation. Sizes run $2,500 to $100,000.
Does ThinkCapital charge commissions?
No, on any asset class or any program. Forex, metals, indices, energy and crypto all trade commission-free. For anyone running real volume that is usually worth more over a year than upgrading from an 80% to a 90% split.
What is the ThinkCapital drawdown lock?
On Lightning and Bolt, the maximum drawdown fixes at your starting balance once the account grows 6% and never moves again. Before that it trails — Lightning follows your closed-balance high, Bolt follows your equity high. Dual Step and Nexus use a conventional static drawdown throughout.
What profit split does ThinkCapital pay?
80% as standard, or 90% with the Profit Split add-on. Scaling reaches the same 90%: hit 10% profit over three months and take three withdrawals, and each qualifying quarter adds 20% of your original balance, up to $1.5 million. Bolt is fixed at 80% and has no add-ons.
How much does a ThinkCapital account cost?
From $33.15 for a $5,000 Nexus account with code GUIDE, which takes 15% off everything. A $100,000 Lightning runs $424.15 and a $100,000 Dual Step Swing $593.30.
Does ThinkCapital refund the challenge fee?
Yes, on Lightning, Dual Step Intraday, Dual Step Swing and Nexus — included automatically with your third payout, never earlier. If you do not reach a third payout you do not receive it. Bolt has no evaluation fee to refund.
How fast does ThinkCapital pay out?
Every 14 days as standard, or every 7 with the Weekly Payouts add-on, which is available on all four evaluation programs. You need $100 minimum profit and there is no maximum. Bolt runs the 14-day cycle only, and its first payout waits until the account is up 6%.
Can I trade news at ThinkCapital?
Only on Dual Step Swing, which is unrestricted. Lightning and Nexus block two minutes either side of red-folder events unless you buy the News Trading add-on. Dual Step Intraday has the same block and the add-on is not offered on it. Bolt blocks five minutes either side, including pending orders and stop-losses, and any activity in that window terminates the account.
What add-ons does ThinkCapital offer?
Three: 90% Profit Split, Weekly Payouts, and Allow News Trading. Profit Split and Weekly Payouts are available on Lightning, both Dual Step programs and Nexus. News Trading is available on Lightning and Nexus only. Bolt has no add-ons at all.
Does ThinkCapital have a consistency rule?
Only on Bolt, where your single best day cannot exceed 20% of total profit. Lightning, Dual Step Intraday, Dual Step Swing and Nexus have none at any stage.
Can I hold trades over the weekend at ThinkCapital?
On Lightning, Nexus and Dual Step Swing, crypto included. Dual Step Intraday and Bolt allow overnight positions but require everything closed before Friday 21:00 UTC, and Bolt has no crypto access at all.
Is ThinkCapital available in my country?
Thirty countries and regions are restricted outright, including Australia, Cyprus, Ukraine and Russia. Separately, traders based in Malaysia, Pakistan, Cambodia and Indonesia can only purchase Bolt — Lightning, Dual Step Intraday, Dual Step Swing and Nexus are closed to them.
What leverage does ThinkCapital offer?
Lightning runs 1:30 on forex, 1:10 metals and energy, 1:5 indices and 1:1 crypto. Bolt runs 1:50 on forex, 1:30 metals, 1:20 indices and energy, with no crypto. Dual Step and Nexus run dynamic leverage up to 1:100 on forex, 1:30 metals, 1:20 indices and energy, and 1:2 crypto.
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