ThinkCapital Rules Explained (2026): Daily Loss, Drawdown, News & Payouts

Overview: Lightning, Dual Step, Nexus and Bolt

ThinkCapital runs four programs on simulated accounts. Lightning is one step with a 10% target. Dual Step has two phases (9% then 5%) and comes in a Swing version and an Intraday version. Nexus has three phases (7%, 6%, 5%). Bolt is instant funding with no evaluation.

Lightning, Dual Step and Nexus need at least 3 trading days and have no time limit. Sizes run from $5,000 to $100,000; Bolt adds a $2,500 size. The program pages print only entry prices: Lightning from $59, Dual Step $59 (Intraday) or $82 (Swing) on $5,000, Nexus from $39 and Bolt $39 on $2,500. Check the order form for other sizes.

The default split is 80% on every program, with 90% through scaling or a paid add-on. Payouts run every 14 days, or every 7 days with an add-on.

Rules that end the account

Both loss limits are hard breaches: touching either level closes all positions and terminates the account.

Daily loss

Lightning and Bolt 3%, Dual Step and Nexus 4%, always a fixed amount based on the starting size. The level is the end-of-day balance at 5pm New York time (4pm CT) minus that amount. Dual Step Intraday uses end-of-day equity instead, so open profit or loss at the reset moves the next day's level. Bolt is equity-based; its reset time is not printed.

Max loss

Dual Step: 7% in the challenge and 8% funded, fixed to the starting balance. Nexus: 8% fixed. Lightning: 6% below your peak closed balance, checked on equity at all times, locking at the starting balance once balance reaches +6%. Bolt: 6% trailing on equity, including floating profit, locking at the starting balance once equity reaches 106%.

Consistency

None on Lightning, Dual Step or Nexus. Bolt has a 20% best-day cap.

Inactivity

At least one trade every 30 days on every program.

Prohibited

Copy trading, reverse trading and latency arbitrage terminate the account. A chargeback without contacting support cancels the account and forfeits pending profit.

Payout rules

Cycle: every 14 days on all programs; the program pages do not print a separate first-payout date.
Bolt first payout: the Bolt FAQ says a 6% profit is needed for the first payout only, with no target after that. The Bolt sales page does not mention it, so confirm in your dashboard.
Bolt consistency: no single day may be more than 20% of total profit.
Close everything first: withdrawals can only be requested with all trades closed. On Lightning a withdrawal does not move the trailing level, so it cuts your room; withdrawing $6,000 from a $106,000 peak terminates the account.

News and weekend

On funded Lightning, Dual Step Intraday and Nexus accounts, no trade, order, close or SL/TP fill may happen from 2 minutes before to 2 minutes after a high-impact red folder event, on any pair. Trades opened before the window may be held through it. Any activity in the window terminates the account and forfeits profit. The News Trading add-on for Lightning and Nexus removes the rule. Bolt uses a 5-minute window on each side with no add-on. Dual Step Swing allows news trading.

Weekend holding is allowed on Lightning, Dual Step Swing and Nexus. Dual Step Intraday does not allow weekend trading or holding. Bolt needs the Weekend Holding add-on.

Worked example: $100,000 Lightning

The daily limit is $3,000 and the trailing limit is $6,000. On day one both floors sit at $97,000 and $94,000. Close the day at $102,000 and tomorrow's daily floor is $99,000, while the trailing floor is $96,000. If you end a day at $102,000 with a trade floating $2,000 in profit, the daily floor stays at $99,000 because only closed balance counts.

Close a $4,000 winner from $102,000 and balance reaches $106,000. The trailing floor locks at $100,000 for good. The target of $10,000 needs a balance of $110,000 over at least 3 trading days.

How Proof tracks it

Choose the ThinkCapital preset for your program. Proof sets the 4pm CT reset, applies the balance or equity base for the daily floor, keeps the static, peak-balance or equity trail with its lock, and marks the 2-minute or 5-minute news windows on funded accounts. On Bolt it checks your best day against 20% of total profit. The drawdown calculator and payout date calculator work the same numbers by hand.

In Proof

Proof tracks every ThinkCapital rule for you

The ThinkCapital presets carry the 4pm CT reset, the balance or equity daily base, each program's static or locking trail, the funded news windows and Bolt's 20% best-day check.

See how Proof does it

Frequently asked questions

What is the ThinkCapital daily drawdown?

3% on Lightning and Bolt and 4% on Dual Step and Nexus, as a fixed amount based on the starting size. It is subtracted from the end-of-day balance at 5pm New York time; Dual Step Intraday uses end-of-day equity.

Is the ThinkCapital max drawdown trailing?

On Lightning and Bolt, yes: 6% trailing that locks at the starting balance after a 6% gain. Dual Step and Nexus use a fixed floor from the starting balance.

Can I trade news on ThinkCapital?

On Dual Step Swing, yes. On funded Lightning, Intraday and Nexus accounts there is a 2-minute window on each side of red folder events unless you bought the add-on. Bolt has a 5-minute window.

Can I hold trades over the weekend?

Yes on Lightning, Swing and Nexus. No on Dual Step Intraday. Bolt needs the Weekend Holding add-on.

How often does ThinkCapital pay?

Every 14 days by default, or weekly with an add-on, at an 80% split.

Sources checked October 2026: ThinkCapital Lightning · ThinkCapital Dual Step · ThinkCapital Nexus · ThinkCapital Bolt (Instant Funding) · ThinkCapital FAQ: Bolt Plan · ThinkCapital FAQ: Lightning daily drawdown · ThinkCapital FAQ: Lightning maximum drawdown · ThinkCapital FAQ: News trading policy · ThinkCapital FAQ: Penalties