The IC Markets account guide: raw spreads for serious traders
IC Markets is a favorite among scalpers and algo traders. What to know before you sign up.
What IC Markets is
IC Markets is an ECN broker built around raw spreads and deep liquidity, making it a go-to choice for scalpers, algorithmic traders and anyone sensitive to execution speed and spread cost.
Account & verification tiers
- Registration — basic details to access a demo account.
- Identity verification — government ID and proof of address, required before live trading and withdrawals.
- Account type — Raw Spread or Standard, plus platform choice (MT4, MT5 or cTrader), each suited to different trading styles.
Because IC Markets caters heavily to algo traders, its platform and API setup steps matter as much as the KYC itself.
Why people choose it
- True ECN pricing. Raw interbank spreads with a transparent commission, rather than markup baked into the spread.
- Deep liquidity. Consistently tight pricing even during high-volatility periods.
- Algo-friendly infrastructure. Strong support for automated trading and VPS hosting close to the broker's servers.
Where the friction usually is
New traders sometimes pick a Standard account when their strategy would benefit more from Raw Spread plus commission, ending up with worse effective costs. On the verification side, mismatched name spelling between ID and registration is the most common delay.
Where we help
We handle registration and document verification, help you choose between account types and platforms based on your strategy, and set up VPS or algo-trading infrastructure if needed. Once your account is live, we hand over a short guide to keep everything running smoothly.