IC Markets Review 2026 – True ECN with $1T+ Monthly Volume
With raw spreads from 0.0 pips, $1 trillion+ monthly trading volume, and true ECN execution, we analyze whether IC Markets delivers the institutional-grade conditions serious traders demand.
Complete IC Markets Overview
IC Markets is an Australian-based true ECN broker founded in 2007 in Sydney. Known for raw spreads starting from 0.0 pips, institutional-grade liquidity, and processing over $1 trillion in monthly trading volume, they serve professional traders globally with ASIC and CySEC tier-1 regulation.
Complete IC Markets Company Overview
Essential company information, trading conditions, and account details
Deposits & Accounts
- Minimum Deposit: $200
- Base Currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF, NZD, SGD, HKD
- Islamic Account: Available
Trading Conditions
- Max Leverage: 1:500 (1:30 EU)
- Instruments: 2,250+
- Execution: True ECN/STP
Company Info
- Founded: 2007
- Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
- Regulations: ASIC, CySEC, FSA
Why Choose IC Markets?
Four key reasons traders choose IC Markets over competitors
IC Markets Key Features
True ECN
No dealing desk, direct market access to 25+ liquidity providers
0.0 Spreads
Raw spreads from zero pips on Raw Spread accounts
$1T+ Volume
Institutional-grade liquidity and deep order books
4 Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView integration
IC Markets Fees & Spreads Compared
How IC Markets' costs stack up against Pepperstone and the Industry Average
| Fee Type | IC Markets Standard | IC Markets Raw | Pepperstone | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD Spread | 0.8 pips | 0.0 pips | 0.1 pips | 1.2 pips |
| Commission | $0 | $3.50/lot | $3.50/lot | $7/lot |
| GBP/USD Spread | 1.0 pips | 0.1 pips | 0.2 pips | 1.8 pips |
| Deposit Fees | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Withdrawal Fees | Free | Free | Free | $25 |
| Inactivity Fee | None | None | None | $10/month |
Cost Analysis:
IC Markets offers some of the lowest trading costs in the industry. Their Raw Spread account with 0.0 pip spreads plus $3.50 commission per lot is significantly cheaper than the $7/lot industry standard. The Standard account's 0.8 pip spreads with no commission is competitive with other market makers. Zero deposit fees, zero withdrawal fees, and zero inactivity fees make IC Markets exceptionally cost-effective for all trader types.
Safety & Regulation
Multi-jurisdiction regulation with ASIC and CySEC tier-1 oversight
Safety & Regulation
Licensed across multiple tier-1 jurisdictions with client fund protection
Safety & Regulation
Licensed across multiple tier-1 jurisdictions with client fund protection
Safety & Regulation
Licensed across multiple tier-1 jurisdictions with client fund protection
Client Fund Protection
Multiple layers of security for your trading capital
Segregated Accounts
Client funds held separately from company funds with tier-1 banks (Westpac, NAB)
Negative Balance Protection
Account cannot go below zero for EU retail clients
Compensation Schemes
Up to €20,000 protection for EU clients via ICF
Trading Platforms
Four professional platforms including industry-first TradingView integration
Trading Platforms
Choose from multiple professional trading platforms
MetaTrader 4
Industry-standard platform with extensive EA support and advanced charting capabilities
- Expert Advisors
- One-Click Trading
- Custom Indicators
- Alerts
MetaTrader 5
Next-generation trading platform with enhanced multi-asset capabilities
- Multi-Asset Trading
- Depth of Market
- Economic Calendar
- 21 Timeframes
cTrader
Professional-grade platform with level II pricing and advanced order types
- Level II Pricing
- Advanced Charts
- cAlgo Trading
- Detach Charts
TradingView
World-class charting platform with social features and direct trading
- Advanced Charting
- Social Trading
- Alerts
- Pine Script
Account Types & Opening Process
Simple account setup with Raw Spread and Standard options for different trading styles
| Account Type | Minimum Deposit | Spreads | Commission | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 📊 Raw Spread (MT4/MT5) | $200 | From 0.0 pips | $3.50/lot | Scalpers, high-volume traders |
| 📈 Standard | $200 | From 0.8 pips | $0 | Beginners, swing traders |
| ⚡ cTrader Raw | $200 | From 0.0 pips | $3/lot | cTrader users, manual scalpers |
| ☪️ Islamic | $200 | Same as base account | Same as base | Sharia-compliant traders |
| 🎮 Demo | Free | Real market spreads | N/A | Practice, strategy testing |
Process Steps
Follow these simple steps
1. Register Online
Complete the application form with personal details in minutes
2. Verify Identity
Upload government ID and proof of address for KYC compliance
3. Fund & Trade
Deposit $200+ via card, bank, e-wallet, or crypto and start trading
⚠️ Leverage Restrictions: EU and Australian retail clients are limited to maximum 1:30 leverage on major pairs per ESMA and ASIC regulations. Professional clients and international traders via Seychelles can access higher leverage up to 1:500.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods
Zero fees on all deposit and withdrawal methods
| Method | Deposit Time | Withdrawal Time | Deposit Fee | Withdrawal Fee | Min/Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bank Transfer | 1-3 business days | 1-3 business days | Free | Free | $200 / No limit |
 Credit/Debit Card | Instant | 3-5 business days | Free | Free | $200 / $100,000 |
 PayPal | Instant | 24 hours | Free | Free | $200 / $50,000 |
 Skrill | Instant | 24 hours | Free | Free | $200 / $10,000 |
 Neteller | Instant | 24 hours | Free | Free | $200 / $10,000 |
 Cryptocurrency | Network confirmation | 24 hours | Free | Free | $200 / No limit |
Additional Notes:
- Cryptocurrency: BTC, ETH, USDT accepted
Withdrawal & Payment Information
Complete overview of payment processing, fees, and conditions
Key Details
Quick Analysis
Trading Instruments & Asset Classes
Access to 2,250+ instruments across forex, indices, commodities, crypto, stocks, bonds, and futures
Major, minor, and exotic currency pairs with institutional-grade liquidity
Trade global stock indices with competitive spreads
Precious metals, energy, and soft commodities with tight spreads
24/7 crypto CFD trading with competitive conditions
CFDs on leading global stocks from US, EU, UK, and Australian markets
Government bonds from major economies
Commodity futures on major products
IC Markets Pros & Cons
Balanced analysis of IC Markets' strengths and weaknesses
Pros
- Pro: True ECN execution with no dealing desk interference
- Pro: Industry-leading raw spreads from 0.0 pips on major pairs
- Pro: $1 trillion+ monthly trading volume for deep liquidity
- Pro: Four professional platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
- Pro: ASIC and CySEC tier-1 regulation with segregated funds
- Pro: No deposit or withdrawal fees on any payment method
- Pro: No inactivity fees ever charged
- Pro: Excellent for scalping, day trading, and algorithmic trading
- Pro: Cryptocurrency deposits accepted (BTC, ETH, USDT)
- Pro: Free VPS hosting for qualifying traders
- Pro: 2,250+ trading instruments across all asset classes
- Pro: Ultra-fast execution under 40ms average
Cons
- Con: $200 minimum deposit may be higher than some competitors
- Con: Limited educational content for beginners
- Con: No proprietary trading platform
- Con: Basic research and analysis tools
- Con: No guaranteed stop losses available
- Con: Seychelles entity offers less regulatory protection
Frequently Asked Questions
Expert answers to common IC Markets questions
Yes, IC Markets is regulated by ASIC (Australia - License 335692) and CySEC (Cyprus - License 362/18). These are tier-1 regulatory bodies. Client funds are held in segregated accounts with major banks including Westpac and National Australia Bank. EU clients have access to the Investor Compensation Fund with coverage up to €20,000.
IC Markets requires a minimum deposit of $200 (or equivalent in other currencies). This applies to all account types including Standard, Raw Spread, and cTrader accounts. There are no differences in minimum deposit requirements between account types.
Yes, IC Markets operates a true ECN/STP model with no dealing desk intervention. They aggregate liquidity from over 25 tier-1 banks and liquidity providers including JPMorgan, HSBC, Citibank, and UBS, passing orders directly to the interbank market with no last-look execution.
IC Markets processes over $1 trillion in monthly trading volume, making them one of the largest forex brokers globally by volume. This exceptional volume contributes to their deep liquidity pools and consistently tight spreads across all trading sessions.
Yes, IC Markets has a direct integration with TradingView, allowing you to trade directly from TradingView's world-class charting interface. This is in addition to MT4, MT5, and cTrader platforms, giving traders four professional platforms to choose from.
Yes, IC Markets is excellent for scalping. There are no restrictions on trading styles including scalping, hedging, or news trading. Their true ECN execution, raw spreads from 0.0 pips, and high-speed infrastructure with Equinix servers make them ideal for high-frequency strategies.
IC Markets offers up to 1:500 leverage through their Seychelles entity (FSA). EU clients via CySEC are limited to 1:30 for major forex pairs, 1:20 for minor pairs, and lower for other instruments per ESMA regulatory requirements. Australian retail clients have 1:30 leverage.
Yes, IC Markets accepts deposits in Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether (USDT). Crypto deposits are processed after network confirmations and converted to your account base currency. There are no fees charged by IC Markets for crypto deposits.
IC Markets offers ultra-fast execution with servers located in Equinix NY4 (New York) and LD5 (London) data centers. Average execution speed is under 40 milliseconds with minimal slippage due to their deep liquidity from 25+ providers. Free VPS hosting is available for qualifying traders.
No, IC Markets does not charge any inactivity fees regardless of how long your account remains dormant. Your account will remain active and fee-free regardless of trading activity, making them ideal for part-time traders.
Final Verdict
IC Markets stands out as a premier ECN broker delivering genuine raw spreads, true ECN execution, and institutional-grade liquidity. With $1 trillion+ monthly volume, four professional platforms, and ASIC/CySEC regulation, they represent the gold standard for serious forex traders.
✓ Best For
- High-volume forex traders
- Scalpers and day traders
- Algorithmic and EA traders
- Professional and institutional traders
- Traders seeking true ECN execution
- cTrader enthusiasts
✗ Not Ideal For
- Complete beginners needing education
- Traders wanting a proprietary platform
- Those seeking extensive research tools
- Casual investors trading infrequently
- Traders requiring guaranteed stops
Risk Disclaimer: Trading forex, CFDs, and crypto is high risk. 72–89% of retail investors lose money. Consider whether you can afford this risk.
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