Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Sydney, Australia, IC Markets has built a solid reputation as one of the most reliable and transparent forex brokers in the world. Known for its True ECN execution model, low spreads, and high liquidity, IC Markets is particularly favored by scalpers, day traders, and algorithmic traders.
In this detailed 2025 review, we’ll explore everything you need to know about IC Markets—from regulation and trading platforms to account types, commissions, leverage, and more. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced trader, this comprehensive overview will help you decide if IC Markets is the right broker for your needs.
Company Overview
IC Markets is an Australian-based broker offering access to global markets through forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, stocks, and bonds. With more than 200,000 active clients and over $1.2 trillion in monthly trading volume, IC Markets has grown into a major global broker.
Its core mission is to provide institutional-grade trading conditions to retail traders. The broker achieves this through cutting-edge infrastructure, deep liquidity, and a strict no dealing desk (NDD) model.
Regulation and Security
IC Markets operates under strict regulatory oversight and complies with international standards to ensure the security of client funds and transparency in operations. It is regulated by several major authorities:
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA)
Each of these regulators imposes strict requirements on capital adequacy, client fund segregation, and compliance auditing.
Client Funds Protection:
Client funds are held in segregated accounts with top-tier banks, ensuring that they are not used for any operational expenses.
Negative Balance Protection:
IC Markets offers negative balance protection in select jurisdictions, ensuring clients can’t lose more than their account balance.
Trading Platforms
IC Markets offers access to three of the most popular and advanced trading platforms in the industry:
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
Extremely popular among forex traders
Supports Expert Advisors (EAs) for automated trading
Advanced charting and analysis tools
Lightning-fast execution
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
Multi-asset support with more indicators and order types
Economic calendar integration
Ideal for stock and futures trading
Improved back-testing features
cTrader
Designed for professional ECN traders
Level II pricing
Advanced order types
Customizable interface
cAlgo support for algorithmic strategies
All platforms are available on desktop, web, and mobile devices.
Account Types
IC Markets offers three main types of accounts:
Standard Account
Spreads: From 0.6 pips
Commission: None
Minimum Deposit: $200
Platform: MT4, MT5
Ideal for beginners and casual traders who prefer zero commissions.
Raw Spread Account
Spreads: From 0.0 pips
Commission: $3.5 per lot per side
Minimum Deposit: $200
Platform: MT4, MT5
Best suited for scalpers and algo traders who benefit from low spreads.
cTrader Raw Account
Spreads: From 0.0 pips
Commission: $3 per lot per side
Minimum Deposit: $200
Platform: cTrader
Designed for traders who use cTrader and require ECN pricing with lightning-fast execution.
Trading Instruments
IC Markets offers over 2250 instruments across a variety of asset classes:
Forex: Over 60 currency pairs
Indices: Major global indices such as NASDAQ, S&P 500, FTSE 100
Commodities: Gold, silver, crude oil, and agricultural products
Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and more
Stocks: Shares from US, UK, EU, and Australian markets
Bonds & Futures: Select futures and government bonds
The broad asset selection makes IC Markets suitable for portfolio diversification.
Spreads and Commissions
IC Markets is renowned for its ultra-low spreads and transparent pricing model.
Raw Spread Accounts: Spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD, with $3.5 commission per lot per side
Standard Account: Spreads from 0.6 pips, no commission
cTrader Raw Account: Spreads from 0.0 pips, $3 per lot per side
The broker partners with over 50 liquidity providers, ensuring tight spreads and deep market depth.
Execution and Trading Speed
IC Markets offers ultra-fast execution speeds averaging under 40ms. The trading infrastructure is hosted in Equinix data centers in New York and London, directly connected to liquidity providers via fiber optic links. This low-latency setup is ideal for high-frequency trading and automated systems.
There is no dealing desk, so all trades are executed with no conflict of interest.
Leverage and Margin
IC Markets offers flexible leverage up to 1:500 for most forex pairs. However, leverage may vary based on the asset class and jurisdiction.
Forex: Up to 1:500
Indices: Up to 1:200
Commodities: Up to 1:500
Crypto: Up to 1:20
Stocks: Up to 1:20
Traders should be aware that high leverage increases both profit potential and risk.
Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
IC Markets offers a variety of funding options to suit traders worldwide:
Bank transfers
Credit/debit cards
E-wallets: PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay
Crypto wallets: USDT, Bitcoin
Local bank options in many regions
Processing Times:
Deposits: Instant for most methods
Withdrawals: Same-day processing (usually under 24 hours)
No deposit or withdrawal fees from IC Markets (third-party charges may apply)
Customer Support
IC Markets offers 24/7 multilingual customer support through:
Live Chat
Phone
Support is fast, knowledgeable, and responsive, which is particularly important during volatile market hours.
Educational Resources
IC Markets provides a wide range of educational tools for traders of all levels:
Video tutorials
Webinars and live sessions
Market news and analysis
Trading strategy guides
Glossary and FAQs
These resources are helpful for beginners as well as intermediate traders looking to enhance their skills.
Trading Tools
Traders at IC Markets benefit from powerful tools, including:
Autochartist for pattern recognition
Trading Central market insights
Economic calendar
VPS hosting for automated trading
Advanced order types (Market, Limit, Stop, OCO)
Custom indicators and scripts
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Regulated by trusted authorities
True ECN pricing with deep liquidity
Ultra-low spreads and fast execution
Excellent platform options (MT4, MT5, cTrader)
Supports algorithmic trading and EAs
Strong customer support and educational materials
Multiple funding methods including crypto
Cons:
Minimum deposit of $200
No fixed spread accounts
No proprietary trading platform
Who Should Trade with IC Markets?
IC Markets is ideal for:
Scalpers: Due to low spreads and fast execution
Day traders: Thanks to institutional-grade liquidity
Automated traders: Full support for EAs, VPS, and APIs
High-volume traders: Due to low commissions and no dealing desk
Intermediate and pro traders: Access to cTrader and Raw Spread accounts
Traders seeking regulation and security: ASIC and CySEC regulated
Conclusion
IC Markets stands out in the competitive landscape of forex and CFD brokers as a reliable and professional-grade choice for serious traders. Its True ECN model, advanced platforms, low spreads, and regulatory transparency make it a top contender for anyone seeking optimal trading conditions.
Whether you're just starting out or you’re an experienced trader using automated strategies, IC Markets offers the tools, pricing, and infrastructure to support your trading journey in 2025 and beyond.