ThinkCapital
A prop firm backed by the broker ThinkMarkets. Trade on ThinkTrader or TradingView across four plans: Lightning (1-step), Dual Step (2-step), Nexus (3-step), and Bolt (instant). The fee is refunded on your 3rd payout (confirmed on the official site September 27, 2026).
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All plans
Plans compared
Lightning (1-step)
Dual Step Intraday (2-step)
Dual Step Swing (2-step)
Nexus (3-step)
Bolt (instant)
Pros and cons
+Pros
- ✓Trade directly from TradingView
- ✓Nexus is cheap: $5K for $39, even $100K is $349
- ✓Pass evaluation and the fee is refunded alongside your 3rd payout
- ✓Dual Step and Nexus have a static max loss line based on the initial balance
- ✓No consistency rule (except Bolt)
-Cons
- ✗No MT4/MT5 support (ThinkTrader only; EAs must be declared to support in advance)
- ✗Lightning's 6% max loss tracks your highest balance, and its 3% daily loss makes for a tight envelope
- ✗Dual Step's max loss is 7% during evaluation and 8% once funded
- ✗Dual Step Intraday and Lightning can't trade ±4 minutes around news on funded accounts. Intraday also can't hold over the weekend
- ✗Sizes cap out at $100K (Bolt caps at $50K)
- ✗Withdrawing via Rise carries a $50/month fee. Transferring to a ThinkMarkets account isn't available to Japan-based residents
- ✗Gambling-style trading such as martingale (doubling up after a loss) is banned
Trading rules
!Prohibited
- ✗Gambling-style trading such as martingale (doubling up after a loss) or all-or-nothing bets
- ✗Arbitrage
- ✗Copy trading
- ✗Excessive high-frequency scalping
- ✗Trading ±4 minutes around news (Dual Step Intraday, Lightning funded accounts, and Bolt)
✓Allowed
Platforms
FAQ
Can I change strategy mid-challenge or after passing?
We couldn't find a clear rule on consistency or strategy changes in the published materials. The absence of a written rule doesn't mean there's no restriction, so if you're planning to swap EAs or make a major change in method, check directly with support before buying. In particular, it's worth confirming "do I need to keep the same strategy before and after passing?" — firms handle this in opposite ways from each other.
How many accounts can I hold at once?
There's no limit on how many challenges you can buy — you can run as many in parallel as you want. The cap only kicks in once you reach the funded stage, and the amount varies by platform. This makes it well suited to running a lot of challenges at once.
What is TradingView integration?
You can place orders directly from the TradingView chart screen, using your favorite indicators and layouts as they are.
What's the difference between the plans?
Lightning is a 1-step plan (10% target, 3% daily loss, 6% max loss that tracks your highest balance). Dual Step is a 2-step plan (9%→5% target, 4% daily loss, static max loss of 7% during evaluation / 8% funded), split into Intraday for day trading and Swing, which allows news trading and weekend holds. Nexus is a 3-step plan (7%→6%→5%, 4% daily loss, 8% max loss) and the cheapest plan. Bolt is an instant account with no evaluation (confirmed on the official site September 27, 2026).
Is the fee refunded?
If you pass evaluation, the fee is automatically refunded alongside your 3rd payout (there's no refund on the 1st or 2nd payout, and none at all if you never reach a 3rd). The official FAQ notes that a $20 processing fee may be deducted per refund.
When can I start withdrawing?
The standard cycle is every 2 weeks, counted from your first trade on the funded account. An add-on lets you go weekly. Payout methods are crypto (USDT), Rise ($50/month fee), or transfer to a personal ThinkMarkets account — but since ThinkMarkets doesn't accept account openings from Japan-based residents, traders in Japan would use crypto or Rise.
What's the expected value?
We ran the same one-year simulation, summarized in ThinkCapital's expected value. At 1% per trade and a 55% win rate, Dual Step Intraday came out on top.
Are there any coupons?
Yes — WELCOME20JP gets you 20% off (first-time only).