Pros
- Average raw spread of 0.01 pip on EUR/USD — among the lowest in the world
- Sub-40ms execution via Equinix NY4 and LD5 servers
- Monthly volume of US$ 1.76 trillion means deep liquidity
- Allows HFT, scalping, EAs and aggressive strategies with no restrictions
- Three platforms: MT4, MT5 and cTrader (with Depth of Market)
- No deposit, withdrawal or inactivity fees
Cons
- US$ 200 minimum deposit — a barrier if you start small
- Brazilian clients sit under the Seychelles entity (no compensation fund)
- No proprietary mobile app (MT/cTrader only)
- Weak educational material — too little for a beginner
- Limited Portuguese-language support outside business hours
01Executive summary
IC Markets was founded in 2007 in Sydney and grew into a global reference for algorithmic traders and scalpers. The positioning is blunt: pricing and execution broker, meaning they compete on price and speed — not on "user experience" or education. They process US$ 1.76 trillion in monthly volume and hold raw spreads around 0.01 pip on EUR/USD, with infrastructure colocated in the Equinix NY4 and LD5 data centers. For the professional trader, that is exactly what matters. If you are starting from zero, Exness offers a gentler entry curve.
02Regulation and safety
Three licenses: ASIC (Australia, AFSL 335692, active since 2007), CySEC (Cyprus, 362/18) and FSA (Seychelles, SD018). ASIC and CySEC are considered Tier-1 and impose strict requirements on client protection, fund segregation and minimum capital. For most Brazilian clients, though, the account ends up being opened under the entity Raw Trading Ltd (Seychelles), which has no statutory compensation scheme — they offset that with a Lloyd's of London policy, but it is a real trade-off worth knowing about.
03Platforms — and why cTrader matters
IC Markets offers MT4, MT5 and cTrader. The first two are standard. The differentiator is cTrader — a platform optimized for scalping, with native Depth of Market (you see the order book in real time) and asynchronous execution logic. For the discretionary trader who works with nuance, cTrader is superior. For an EA written in MQL5, MT5 is still the obvious choice.
New in 2026: direct TradingView integration. You can send orders to IC Markets straight from the TradingView chart — something that was missing and that Exness still does not have.
04Account types
Raw Spread: spreads from 0.0 pip with a US$ 7 per lot commission (round turn). It is the account that makes sense for 90% of active traders. Standard: built-in spread (~0.8 pip on EUR/USD), no commission. Simpler to keep track of, but a higher total cost if you trade volume. cTrader Raw: lower commission (US$ 6 round turn). Minimum of US$ 200 on all of them.
05The real reason for the reputation: execution
This is the competitive advantage. The servers sit at Equinix NY4 (New York) and LD5 (London) — the same data centers used by banks and funds. 60% of the order flow is algorithmic, which means the infrastructure is constantly tested by systems that punish any delay. Forensic logs from Feb 2026 show that even during volatility spikes in gold (XAU/USD), execution kept pace with no freezes or requotes.
For a scalping strategy or a short-timeframe EA, this is what separates making money from breaking even. A bot that only broke even because of slippage at a bad broker can turn positive at IC Markets purely from the improvement in execution.
06IC Markets vs. Exness
| Criterion | IC Markets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Execution / latency | Sub-40ms · Equinix NY4/LD5 | ~25ms · own servers |
| EUR/USD raw spread | 0.01 pip + US$ 7/lot | 0.0 pip + US$ 7/lot |
| Withdrawal | 1-2 business days | Seconds · automated |
| Minimum deposit | US$ 200 | US$ 10 (Cent: $0) |
| Platforms | MT4 + MT5 + cTrader + TradingView | MT4 + MT5 |
| Pure HFT | Yes · global benchmark | Yes |
In short: IC Markets wins on execution and infrastructure for the professional trader. Exness wins on withdrawals, accessibility and account versatility. Plenty of people open both and use each for a different purpose.
07Is IC Markets for you?
It makes sense if…
- You trade scalping or HFT
- You run EAs on M1/M5 timeframes
- You have at least US$ 500 to start with room to breathe
- You want cTrader and Depth of Market
- Low latency is a priority in your strategy
Think twice if…
- You are starting from zero (Exness or XM teach you more)
- You have less than US$ 200 available
- Fast withdrawal is your absolute priority
- You need plenty of educational material to learn
- You want a polished proprietary mobile app
08Frequently asked questions
Is IC Markets trustworthy in Brazil?
Yes, by the standards of foreign Forex brokers. It has 19 years of operation, ASIC and CySEC Tier-1 licenses and processes institutional volume. Like every Forex broker, it is not regulated by Brazil's securities regulator (CVM) — it operates under foreign regulators. Brazilians usually trade through the Seychelles entity.
Can I run an Expert Advisor (EA) on IC Markets?
Yes, with no restrictions at all. It supports MT4, MT5 and cTrader with full permission for EAs, scalping, hedging and HFT. That is exactly why it is one of the most widely used brokers in the world among algorithmic traders.
What is the difference between Raw Spread and Standard?
Raw Spread has spreads from 0.0 pip with a US$ 7 per lot round-turn commission — better for volume and scalping. Standard has a built-in spread (~0.8 pip) and no commission — simpler, but a higher total cost for an active trader.
How long does a withdrawal take?
Typically 1-2 business days. It is not IC Markets' strong point — Exness is much faster here. Withdrawals are free on most methods.
IC Markets or Exness?
It depends. If you prioritize raw execution and run heavy HFT/scalping, IC Markets. If you prioritize fast withdrawals, accessibility (Cent accounts) and 24/7 Portuguese-language support, Exness. Many traders keep an account at both for different uses.
Ready to test it?
Free demo account with cTrader included. Test the execution before you deposit.
Open an IC Markets account →