ECN Accounts – The Advantages and Disadvantages
An ECN account is an online trading account that allows you to trade directly with other market participants, without the intervention of a middleman. ECN stands for “Electronic Communications Network”.
Professional traders who want the best trading conditions can choose an ECN (Electronic Communication Network) account. With an ECN account, buyers and sellers can do business directly with each other, without a middleman. To open an ECN account, you have to put down a $1000 deposit.
ECN Accounts – The Pros and Cons
ECN trading has several benefits. little spreads—sometimes as little as 0.0 pips—are a major benefit. ECN brokers don’t charge commissions and make money through spreads. This lowers costs and increases trade profits.
ECN accounts offer high leverage. Leverage can make you more money if applied properly. With an ECN account, you may trade with leverage up to 1:500 and control a lot of money with a small amount of cash.
ECN accounts can also execute deals in less than a second. ECN brokers have many liquidity sources and can provide you the best transaction price.
ECN accounts have drawbacks. Trading commissions are a major drawback. $5 or more per deal. Your trading plan must be profitable enough to pay these extra costs.
ECN accounts are only available to traders with high capital, another drawback. Most ECN brokers ask a $5,000 deposit, sometimes more. ECN accounts are not ideal for beginners or small-cap traders.
Characteristics of an Electronic Communication Network (ECN) Broker
ECN brokers connect market participants electronically to trade securities. Institutions and traders who need the best prices and liquidity use ECNs.
ECNs typically charge a commission, rather than a spread, for each trade. This means that they are often very competitive in terms of pricing. ECNs also offer a high degree of anonymity, as orders are not displayed publicly. This can be appealing for traders who wish to keep their activities private.
ECNs offer a number of advantages, including:
–Access to deep liquidity: ECNs offer deep liquidity from several sources. Trades can be made swiftly and at the greatest pricing.
–Low costs: As ECNs charge commissions rather than spreads, they can be very cost-effective for active traders.
–Anonymity: Orders placed on an ECN are not publicly displayed, so traders can remain anonymous if they wish.
–Speed: ECNs use electronic means to connect market participants, so trades can be executed very quickly.
Advantages of trading with an Electronic Communication Network (ECN) Account
ECNs match securities buy and sell orders.
Large institutions, SMBs, and individual investors use ECNs to trade stocks, bonds, foreign exchange, and other securities discreetly and quickly.
ECNs are fast becoming the preferred trading method for active individual investors and traders. ECNs provide many advantages over traditional brokerage firms, including:
–Anonymity: When you place a trade through an ECN, your identity is not revealed to the market maker or broker. This protects you from potential price manipulation by people with insider information.
–Speed: ECNs can match orders much faster than traditional brokerages, which can make a big difference when you’re trying to execute a trade quickly.
–Lower Costs: ECNs typically charge lower fees than traditional brokerages, since they don’t have the same overhead costs. This can save you a significant amount of money over time.
–Better Prices: ECNs can provide you with better prices than you would get from a traditional brokerage firm. This is because they have access to multiple liquidity sources, so they can fill your order at the best possible price.
ECN Accounts – The Benefits and Risks
Trading with minimal spreads can save you a lot of money over time. Trade commissions can reduce your profits.
ECN accounts offer high leverage. If you’re not careful, this can increase your trade losses as well as profits. Before leverage trading, know the risks.
Consider the benefits and downsides before opening an ECN account. If you want an ECN account, consider your trading style and goals. ECN accounts are not for beginners or those with little capital.
Research ECN providers before opening an account. Understand your fees, commissions, and leverage. Before trading with real money, try their demo account.
Keynote:
ECN accounts are for professional traders who want to trade in more advanced ways. ECN accounts stand out are the very low spreads, which start at 0 pips, and the low transaction fees, which depend on the number of transactions.
Recommended ECN Brokers
Choosing the correct broker for trading is critical to your trading journey, there are many factors you should take into consideration specifically for ECN trading before settling with the broker you may be trading with or when switching to a new choice broker which is best suited to your needs and factors which are important to you personally.
Broker | Regulators | Max. Leverage | Spreads | Trading Acc. | Instruments | Connect |
FP Markets | ASIC, CySEC | Up to 1:500* | From 0.0 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
Eightcap | ASIC, VFSC | Up to 1:500 | From 0.0 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
IC Markets | AFSL, ASIC, CySEC, FSA | Up to 1:500 | From 0 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
Axi | ASIC, FCA, DFSA, FSC | Up to 1:500 | From 0 - 0.4 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
InstaForex | BVI FSC | Up to 1:1000 | From 0 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
NordFX | VFSC | Up to 1:1000 | Floating spread from 0.9 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
FXOpen | ASIC, FCA | Up to 1:500* | Floating spread from 0 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto | |
Vantagemarkets | CIMA, ASIC, FCA | Up to 1:500* | From 0.4 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto | |
RoboForex | FSC | Up to 1:2000 | From 0.0 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
Exness | FCA, CySEC, FSA, CBCS, FSC, FSCA | Up to 1:3000 | From 0.4 pip | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
FBS | CySEC, FSC, FSCA, ASIC | Up to 1:3000 | From 1 pip | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
Blackbull | FMA, FSA | Up to 1:500 | From 0.0 pips | Broker Type: 6 Accounts | Forex, Indices, | |
Blueberry Markets | ASIC, SCB | Up to 1:500 | From 0.0 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
VALUTRADES | FCA, VFSC | Up to 1:500 | From 0.0 pips | Broker Type: | Forex, Indices, | |
FXGT | SFSA, FSCA, CySec* | Up to 1:500 | From 0.0 pips | Broker Type: 6 Accounts | Forex, Indices, | |
FXView | CySEC, FSCA | Up to 1:500 | From 0.0 pips | Broker Type: 1 Account | Forex, Indices, |
Each Broker has their own fees for their ECN accounts these may vary from ZERO to a fraction of a percent or a fixed amount per lot.
Exness has 3 Trading Accounts:
Raw Spread: Lowest spreads with fixed commission per lot. Market execution.
From 0.0 Spread & Up to $3.50 for each side per lot Commission
Zero: Zero spread on the top 30 instruments. Market execution, no requotes.
From 0.0 Spread & From $0.2 each side per lot Commission
Pro: Our instant execution account, with zero commission & low spread.
From 0.1 Spread & Zero Commission
AXI has 3 Trading Accounts:
Standard Account: From 0.4 pips Spread with Zero Commission & 5 digit pricing
Pro Account: From 0.0 pips Spreads with $7 round trip (USD) Commission & 5 digit pricing
Elite Account: From 0.0 pips Spreads with $3.50 round trip (USD) Commission & 5 digit pricing
Instaforex has 4 ECN Trading Accounts:
Insta.Standard: From 3-7 Spreads & Zero fees
Insta.Eurica: Zero Spreads & 0.03%-0.07% fees
Cent.Standard: From 3-7 Spreads & Zero fees
Cent.Eurica: Zero Spreads & 0.03%-0.07% fees
Eightcap has 2 ECN Trading Accounts:
Standard Account: 0.5 – 1.8 pips Typical EUR / USD Spread & Zero Commission
Raw Account: 0.0 – 1.0 pips Typical EUR / USD Spread with 3.5 AUD, USD, NZD, SGD, CAD | 2.25 GBP | 2.75 EUR per standard lot traded Fees
How can Trading with an ECN Account Benefit you?
Almost all ECN Accounts have Zero spreads, which is amazing for trading with especially with day and scalp trading. However, with the commission on the lots traded which the brokers charge, you have to weigh the odds and see which situation suites your trading strategy.
Now you can Start Trading with an
ECN Account
Each broker has its own ECN Fees, which can be based on commission on lots or on spreads.
Choosing the correct broker for trading is critical to your trading journey, there are many factors you should take into consideration specifically for ECN trading before settling with the broker you may be trading with or when switching to a new choice broker which is best suited to your needs and factors which are important to you personally.
These are the brokers we have reviewed:
ECN Execution Recommended Brokers
FP MarketsSince 2005 | Offices:Australia, Cyprus, South Africa |
Minimum Deposit: | 50 USD |
Account currency: | USD, EUR, GBP |
Leverage: | 1:500* |
Accounts: | Raw, Standard, Pro, IRESS account |
Instruments Offered: | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Energies, Shares, ETFs Crypto, Bonds |
Trading Platform: | MT4, MT5, cTrader, WebTrader, Mobile App, Superior VPS solutions |
Regulation: | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA |
Spreads: | Raw: from 0.0 pips, Standard: from 1.0 pip |
Visit Broker | Broker Review |
InstaForexSince: 2007 | Offices:British Virgin Isles |
Minimum Deposit: | From $1 |
Account currency: | EUR, USD |
Leverage: | From 1:1 up to 1:1000 |
Accounts: | Demo, Insta.Standard, Insta.Eurica, Cent.Standard, Cent.Eurica, PAMM |
Instruments Offered: | Forex, Indices, Futures, Options, Commodities, Metals, Energies, Shares, Cryptocurrencies |
Trading Platform: | МТ4, МТ5, InstaTrader, WebTrader, Multiterminal, Mobile Trading, VPS hosting |
Regulation: | BVI FSC |
Spreads: | 0 pips: Insta.Eurica and Cent.Eurica; 3–7 pips: Insta.Standard and Cent.Standard |
Visit Broker | Broker Review |
FXOpenSince: 2005 | Offices:UK, Australia, Cyprus, Nevis |
Minimum Deposit: | $15 |
Account currency: | GBP, USD, EUR |
Leverage: | Up to 1:500 |
Accounts: | Micro, STP, ECN, Crypto, Demo |
Instruments Offered: | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Energies, Shares, Cryptocurrencies |
Trading Platform: | MT4, MT5*, TickTrader* Free Forex VPS Hosting |
Regulation: | ASIC, FCA |
Spreads | Micro: Floating Spread STP: Tight Spreads ECN: Raw Spreads Crypto: Tight Spreads |
Visit Broker | Broker Review |
RoboForexSince: 2009 | Offices:Belize |
Minimum Deposit: | $10 |
Account currency: | USD, EUR, and GOLD |
Leverage: | 1:2000 |
Accounts: | ECN, Pro, Prime, ProCent, R Stocks Trader |
Instruments Offered: | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Energies, Shares, Cryptocurrencies, Futures |
Trading Platform: | MT4, MT5, WebTrader, Free VPS-Server, R StocksTrader |
Regulation: | FSC |
Spreads: | From 0.0 pips |
Visit Broker | Broker Review |
IC MarketsSince: 2007 | Offices:Australia, Cyprus, Seychelles |
Minimum Deposit: | 200 US dollars |
Account currency: | USD, AUD, GBP, CHF, JPY, NZD, SGD, CAD, HKD, BTC |
Leverage: | From 1:1 to 1:500 |
Accounts: | Demo, Raw Spread, cTrader, Standard, Islamic, PAMM |
Instruments Offered: | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Energies, Shares, Bonds Cryptocurrencies |
Trading Platform: | cTrader, MT4, MT5, WebTrader, VPS hosting |
Regulation: | AFSL, ASIC, CySEC, FSA |
Spreads | From 0 |
Visit Broker | Broker Review |
EightCapSince: 2009 | Offices:Australia, Vanuatu |
Minimum Deposit: | $100 |
Account currency: | AUD, USD, GBP, NZD, SGD, EUR |
Leverage: | 1:30 for Australian clients 1:500 for Non-AU clients |
Accounts: | Standard Account, Raw Account |
Instruments Offered: | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Energies, Shares, Cryptocurrencies |
Trading Platform: | MT4, MT5, Mobile, VPS hosting |
Regulation: | ASIC, VFSC |
Spreads: | From 0.0 pips |
Visit Broker | Broker Review |