The world's leading true ECN broker — chosen by professional traders, scalpers and algorithmic traders globally. True interbank execution, 0.0 pip spreads, sub-millisecond latency via NY4 and LD4 data centres. Regulated by ASIC (Australia) and CySEC (Cyprus). The broker that Wall Street professionals trust for retail trading.
⚠️ Risk warning: 74–89% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.
IC Markets was founded in 2007 in Sydney, Australia and has spent nearly two decades building the most trusted and technically advanced ECN trading environment available to retail traders globally. It is regulated by ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) — widely regarded as one of the world's most stringent financial regulators — as well as CySEC (Cyprus), SCB (Bahamas) and FSA (Seychelles).
IC Markets is the broker of choice for professional traders, scalpers, day traders and algorithmic (algo) traders. Its competitive edge lies in its infrastructure: all trades are routed to the NY4 (New York) and LD4 (London) Equinix data centres — the same facilities used by global banks and hedge funds. This delivers execution speeds of under 1 millisecond — faster than any other retail broker in the market.
With spreads starting from 0.0 pips on Raw accounts, IC Markets offers true institutional-grade trading conditions. The EUR/USD spread averages just 0.02 pips during London session — essentially zero. For scalpers who need fractions of a pip advantage, this is transformative. A small commission of $3.50 per side per lot applies on Raw accounts, which is fully justified by the quality of execution received.
IC Markets supports cTrader, MT4 and MT5 — three of the most powerful trading platforms available. cTrader is particularly notable for its Level 2 pricing (full market depth visibility), advanced algorithmic trading via cAlgo, and superior order execution transparency. For algo traders, IC Markets also provides free VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting for qualifying accounts — allowing your trading robots to run 24/5 without interruption.
fx-pick Verdict: IC Markets is our #1 recommended broker for professional traders, scalpers and algorithmic traders in 2026. If you are a serious trader who demands the tightest spreads, fastest execution and institutional-grade infrastructure — IC Markets is in a class of its own. The $200 minimum deposit is the only barrier, but it is fully justified by what you receive.
IC Markets offers three world-class trading platforms — each designed for different trading styles and needs. No other retail broker offers this level of platform choice combined with true ECN execution.
The most advanced ECN platform available. Level 2 pricing shows full market depth. cAlgo for algorithmic trading. Superior order execution transparency. The professional's choice for ECN trading.
The world's most popular forex platform. Thousands of custom indicators and Expert Advisors available. Full automated trading support. The most familiar interface for experienced traders.
Next generation of MT4 with more timeframes, more order types, built-in economic calendar and improved strategy tester. Better for multi-asset trading including stocks and futures.
Trade directly from your browser without installing any software. Full functionality including charts, indicators and order management. Compatible with all devices.
| Minimum Deposit | $200 |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:500 (ASIC) / 1:30 (CySEC EU clients) |
| Spreads From | 0.0 pips (Raw cTrader & Raw MT accounts) |
| Average EUR/USD Spread | 0.02 pips (Raw) / 0.62 pips (Standard) |
| Commission | $3.50 per side per lot (Raw) / $0 (Standard) |
| Trading Platforms | cTrader, MT4, MT5, IC Markets WebTrader, IC Markets App |
| Account Types | Standard, Raw Spread (cTrader), Raw Spread (MT4/MT5) |
| Execution Type | True ECN — No Dealing Desk |
| Execution Speed | Under 1 millisecond average |
| Data Centres | NY4 (New York Equinix) · LD4 (London Equinix) |
| VPS Hosting | Free for active traders (qualifying accounts) |
| Instruments | 300+ (Forex, Metals, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Bonds) |
| Scalping | Fully permitted on all accounts |
| Hedging | Fully permitted on all accounts |
| Algo Trading | Fully permitted — EAs, cAlgo bots supported |
| Regulation | ASIC (Australia) · CySEC (Cyprus) · SCB · FSA |
| Segregated Funds | Yes — all client funds fully segregated |
| Founded | 2007 — Sydney, Australia |
Click our link to the IC Markets registration page. Enter your personal details, choose your country and select your preferred platform — cTrader, MT4 or MT5. Registration takes under 3 minutes.
Upload your passport or national ID and a proof of address (utility bill or bank statement). IC Markets verifies most accounts within 1–2 hours due to ASIC regulatory requirements.
Deposit a minimum of $200 via bank wire, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, UnionPay or crypto. For serious traders we recommend starting with $500–$1,000 to trade meaningful position sizes on Raw accounts.
Download cTrader, MT4 or MT5. Enter your account credentials and connect to IC Markets servers. For best execution, choose the NY4 or LD4 server depending on your location. Consider applying for free VPS hosting if you run trading bots.
| Feature | IC Markets | Exness | XM | HFM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECN Execution | True ECN | STP/ECN | Market Maker | STP/ECN |
| Avg EUR/USD Spread | 0.02 pips Raw | 0.1 pips Raw | 0.6 pips Std | 0.0 pips Zero |
| Execution Speed | <1ms | ~10ms | ~20ms | ~15ms |
| cTrader | Yes | No | No | No |
| VPS Hosting | Free | No | No | No |
| Algo Trading | Full support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $0 | $5 | $5 |
| ASIC Regulated | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Trade with institutional-grade conditions. True 0.0 pip spreads, sub-millisecond execution, cTrader + MT4 + MT5. ASIC regulated. The broker that serious traders trust.
Risk warning: 74–89% of retail investor accounts lose money. Only trade with money you can afford to lose. This is not financial advice.