IC Markets Broker Review: The King of ECN Trading
🏆 IC Markets is the world's largest True ECN broker for automated traders and scalpers. With over $2.05 Trillion in trading volume (Oct 2025), it offers the tightest spreads in the industry (avg 0.02 pips on EURUSD) and ultra-low latency execution (under 40ms). Perfect for Expert Advisors (EAs) and high-volume trading.
Min Deposit
$200
Withdrawal Fee
0
Deposit Fee
0
Countries
Broker Overview
🏆 Why is IC Markets the King of ECN?
Founded in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, IC Markets was built with one goal: to provide retail traders with access to institutional-grade liquidity. It connects you directly to the market without a Dealing Desk intervention.
📉 1. True ECN Spreads (0.0 Pips)
IC Markets is famous for its "Raw Spread" accounts. Unlike other brokers, they don't mark up the spread. You get the raw price from over 25 liquidity providers, often seeing 0.0 pips on EURUSD 24/5.
🤖 2. Best for Auto-Trading (EAs)
With execution speeds under 40ms and servers located in the Equinix NY4 data center (New York), IC Markets is the #1 choice for algorithmic traders and scalpers using MT4/MT5.
🛡️ Safety & Regulation
IC Markets is heavily regulated across multiple continents:
✅ ASIC (Australia) & CySEC (Europe) - Tier 1 Protection.
✅ FSA (Seychelles) & SCB (Bahamas) - For global clients with high leverage (1:500).
✅ Segregated Funds - Funds are held in AA-rated Australian banks (Westpac, NAB).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- True ECN Execution (No Dealing Desk)
- Spreads from 0.0 pips (Raw)
- Extremely Low Latency (<40ms)
- High Volume ($2 Trillion+ Monthly)
- Free Deposits and Withdrawals
- Excellent for Scalping & EAs
- Free VPS (for volume traders)
- 24/7 Customer Support
- 2100+ Stocks & ETFs
- Segregated Accounts with AA Banks
Cons
- Does not accept US/Canada clients
- High Minimum Deposit ($200) compared to competitors
- Account opening process is strict (KYC)
- No "Cent" accounts for beginners
- Limited educational videos
General Information
Max Leverage
Spreads From
Execution Models
Deposit Currencies
Support Languages
Auto Trading
Contact Information
Account Types Overview
Choose Your Execution Style
IC Markets offers 3 main account types, all sharing the same institutional liquidity:
🟢 Standard Account (0 Commission)
Best for: Discretionary traders who prefer simplicity.
Costs: $0 Commission. Costs are built into the spread (from 0.6 pips).
Platform: MT4 / MT5.
🔴 Raw Spread (Most Popular)
Best for: Scalpers & EAs.
Costs: $3.50 Commission per lot. Spreads from 0.0 pips.
Platform: MetaTrader 4 & 5. This is the broker's signature account.
🔵 cTrader Raw
Best for: Day traders who need advanced charting.
Costs: $3.00 Commission per lot. Spreads from 0.0 pips.
Platform: cTrader (Spotware).
Account Types
Raw Spread MT4/MT5
0.0 Pips, $3.50 Comm, Best for EAs.
Features
Deposit Currencies
Trading Instruments
Forex
Number of currency pairs: 21
CFDs
Amount of assets: 4
Metals
Shares
Stock exchange
Characteristics
Stop Out
50%
Margin Call
100%
Min Position
0.01 units
Max Position
1000 lots
Execution
ECN
Spread Type
Floating (Raw)
Decimals
5
Locked Margin
50%
Commission
$3.50 per lot
Standard - IC Markets
Discretionary Traders
Features
Deposit Currencies
Trading Instruments
Forex
Number of currency pairs: 21
CFDs
Amount of assets: 4
Metals
Shares
Stock exchange
Characteristics
Stop Out
50%
Margin Call
100%
Min Position
0.01 units
Max Position
200 units
Execution
instant
Spread Type
Floating
Decimals
5
Locked Margin
50%
Payment Methods
Deposit Methods
Withdrawal Methods
Regulation Information
IC Markets Global Regulation
IC Markets ensures client safety through strict regulatory compliance:
ASIC (Australia): International Capital Markets Pty Ltd (AFSL 335692).
CySEC (Cyprus): IC Markets (EU) Ltd (License 362/18).
FSA (Seychelles): Raw Trading Ltd (License SD018).
SCB (Bahamas): IC Markets Ltd (License SIA-F214).
Commission & Fees
Transparent Fee Structure
IC Markets offers one of the lowest cost structures in the world:
Raw Spread (MT4/5): $3.50 per lot per side ($7.00 round turn). Spreads 0.0 pips.
cTrader Raw: $3.00 per lot per side ($6.00 round turn). Spreads 0.0 pips.
Standard: $0 Commission. Spreads from 0.6 pips.
No Hidden Fees: $0 Deposit, $0 Withdrawal, $0 Inactivity fees.
Trading Platforms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IC Markets a True ECN broker?
Yes. IC Markets connects your orders directly to liquidity providers (banks, hedge funds) via the Equinix NY4 data center without a dealing desk.
What is the minimum deposit?
The minimum deposit is $200 USD (or equivalent) for all account types to start trading.
Does IC Markets allow scalping?
Yes, IC Markets is widely considered the best broker for scalping due to 0.0 pips spreads and no minimum order distance.
Is my money safe with IC Markets?
Yes. Client funds are segregated in AA-rated banks (like Westpac and NAB) and the broker is regulated by ASIC and CySEC.
Start Trading
Important Notice
Trading derivatives involves high risk. IC Markets does not accept clients from the USA, Canada, Israel, Iran.
Quick Facts
- Trading Platforms
- MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5cTrader+1
- Execution Model
- ECN (Electronic Communication Network)STP (Straight Through Processing)
- Deposit Currency
- USDEURGBPAUD+6
- Support Languages
- EnglishChineseThai+9
