Capex
5 minute read

Understanding This Broker: A Beginner's Guide

A practical first-timer's guide on Capex for Indian traders. How leverage works, real costs, and what to verify before you start.

Understanding This Broker: A Beginner's Guide

Capex is not a regulated entity in India. They don't hold a license from SEBI. Their licensing page shows they operate offshore, specifically under the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) with license number SD020. For a trader in India, that is the single most important fact to understand, because it sets the stage for everything else, from how you fund the account to how your money is protected.

Under RBI and FEMA rules, trading margin FX (like CFDs) with offshore brokers isn't permitted for residents. The funds you'd remit for that purpose aren't allowed under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). After their merger with the NAGA Group in August 2024, Capex redirected new clients to NAGA, and their onboarding from India closed. Opening a fresh account with them from India isn't on the table any longer.

On exchanges like NSE, BSE, and MSE, you can trade INR currency derivatives. The margin system works on SPAN and exposure margins, which usually works out to around 3-5%, giving you effective leverage of roughly 20-30 times. You can trade pairs like USD/INR, EUR/INR, GBP/INR, and JPY/INR.

The licence, in plain terms
Licence it holdsNo SEBI authorization
What it covers hereNot SEBI-regulated
What it does not coverCapex is not positioned like a fully top-tier broker because the reviews show a mixed regulatory profile with offshore oversight alongside only some
Where to checkcapex.com/en/licenses-and-regulations; sebi.gov.in; fxnewsgroup.com

Offshore platforms advertising leverage of 100x–1000x to Indian residents operate outside the legal framework. The RBI maintains an 'Alert List' of unauthorized forex trading platforms. As of November 2025, that list had 95 entities. Binary options and offshore CFDs are effectively off-limits for residents.

Account structure and deposit tiers

If access were available, Capex's account structure would be straightforward, with three main tiers based on deposit size. There is no INR account-all deposits and settlements are in USD or EUR.

Account TypeMinimum DepositBest For
Essential$100Getting started, testing the platform
Original$1,000Active traders seeking lower spreads
Signature$25,000High-volume traders seeking tightest spreads

The cost structure is spread-based. On the Essential account, spreads are around 1.4 pips on GBP/USD. On the Original account, spreads drop to as low as 0.3 pips. There is no commission on standard CFDs.

Trading Platforms and Instruments

Capex offers its proprietary CapexTrader (WebTrader) plus MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You'd get access to over 2,100 instruments, including FX, shares, ETFs, indices, commodities, and crypto CFDs.

PlatformTypeKey Feature
CapexTraderWebTraderProprietary interface, intuitive for beginners
MetaTrader 5Desktop/MobileAdvanced charting, automation via Expert Advisors

Funding and Payment Methods

Capex accepts cards, bank wire, and e-wallets. Indian payment rails like UPI are not verified. However, remitting funds abroad for margin trading is not a permitted LRS purpose, so funding this account would create a compliance issue.

The minimum deposit is USD 100 (Essential tier). Processing timelines typically run as follows:

StepTypical TimelineNotes
Registration & KYC24-48 hoursRequires PAN card, Aadhaar, and proof of address
Initial Deposit1-5 business daysBank wire is slowest; cards are faster
Withdrawal Processing1-3 business daysThe broker's processing time
Funds in Bank Account2-7 business daysDepends on your Indian bank
Currency conversion fees, international wire charges, and trading spreads all reduce your net returns.

Taxes and Compliance

You must declare all global income and foreign assets (Schedule FA) in your income tax return. Exchange-traded currency futures profits are generally treated as non-speculative business income and taxed at your income-tax slab rate. Intraday speculative positions are speculative business income-losses offset only against speculative income and carry forward 4 years (non-speculative losses carry forward 8 years).

What you can actually trade here
+Forex / CFDsavailable
–Local stocksnot available
–US stocksnot available
+Cryptoavailable
+Commoditiesavailable
Proprietary CapexTrader (WebTrader) + MT5

A 20% Tax Collected at Source (TCS) applies on LRS foreign remittances above Rs 10 lakh per financial year (threshold raised from Rs 7 lakh, effective 1 April 2025). TCS is an advance-tax credit.

Crypto is taxed at a flat 30% plus 4% cess separately.

Tax authority: Income Tax Department (Central Board of Direct Taxes, CBDT) - https://incometax.gov.in.

Regulatory Overview

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulates exchange-traded currency derivatives. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governs foreign exchange under FEMA 1999 and authorises Electronic Trading Platforms (ETPs). Currency derivatives trade on SEBI-recognised exchanges: NSE (National Stock Exchange), BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange), and MSE (Metropolitan Stock Exchange).

Who this account fits
Suits
Essential ($100), Original ($1,000), Signature ($25,000)
Swap-free
Yes, swap-free available
Does not suit
Capex is not positioned like a fully top-tier broker because the reviews show a mixed regulatory profile with offshore oversight
Currency note
USD/EUR

To verify a broker's regulation, check SEBI (https://www.sebi.gov.in) and RBI (https://www.rbi.org.in).

Islamic/Swap-Free Accounts

Capex does offer swap-free accounts. However, since onboarding for Indian residents is closed, this is not accessible to you.

Company Background

CAPEX.com was launched in 2016 by Key Way Group. In August 2024, it merged into the NAGA Group (approximately 1.5 million users across 100+ countries). After the merger, onboarding in India was redirected to NAGA.

Why This Matters for You

The door has closed. With onboarding redirected to NAGA and no SEBI license, Capex is not a viable option for Indian residents. The regulatory framework restricts offshore CFD/margin FX trading for residents, and funds remitted for that purpose are not permitted under LRS.

How money moves in and out
Cards
Deposit arrives: instant · Withdrawal takes: 2-5 business days
Bank wire
Deposit arrives: 1-3 business days · Withdrawal takes: 3-5 business days
E-wallets
Deposit arrives: instant · Withdrawal takes: within 24 hours
USD/EUR · Min USD 100 (Essential)

If you are determined to trade, your compliant options are SEBI-recognised exchanges offering INR currency derivatives. If you consider international brokers, prioritize those with top-tier FCA, CySEC, or ASIC licenses, segregated client funds, transparent fee disclosures, and (ideally) INR settlement or tradeable pairs linked to legal Indian exchanges.

What happens if I registered with Capex before onboarding closed? If you have an existing account, it has been redirected to the NAGA platform. Treat this as a completely separate application. Verify NAGA's regulation and legal entity before continuing.

Can I trade on NSE or BSE from MetaTrader 5?

No. Private international platforms are not linked to Indian exchanges. To trade currency derivatives compliantly, open an account with a SEBI-registered stockbroker offering access to NSE, BSE, or MSE.

Path of the money
You sendCards / Bank wireBroker accountUSD/EUROpen positionSpreads from 0.3 pip EUR/USDYou withdraw2-5 business days

Is the 0.3 pip GBP/USD spread available to Indian traders on Capex? That spread applies to higher-tier accounts (Original or Signature), which require larger minimum deposits. It is not the standard rate for the Essential account. More importantly, onboarding for Indian residents is closed.

What is the margin requirement for trading on an Indian exchange? Expect to put up roughly 3-5% of the notional trade value as margin, giving effective leverage of 20-30 times. This is the standard for INR currency derivatives on SEBI-recognised exchanges.

Where can I find the RBI Alert List of unauthorised brokers?

GOOD TO KNOW
Check RBI press releases at https://www.rbi.org.in. The list is updated regularly and is not exhaustive.
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Answers to common questions

Is Capex regulated in India?

Capex operates not sebi-regulated in India. CFD/margin FX trading on offshore platforms is restricted for residents under FEMA/RBI. Post-NAGA merger onboarding closed, redirected to NAGA. Check the entity on the regulator's register before depositing.

Which account types are available?

Account types: Essential ($100), Original ($1,000), Signature ($25,000).

Which trading platforms are supported?

Available platforms: Proprietary CapexTrader (WebTrader) + MT5.

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