Best ECN Forex brokers

ECN stands for "Electronic Communications Network." It is a type of financial trading platform that allows traders to access the interbank market directly, rather than going through a traditional market maker or broker. This allows for faster execution of trades and greater transparency in prices, as well as the ability to access a larger pool of liquidity. ECN's are often used by professional traders and institutional investors, but can also be accessed by retail traders through certain online platforms.

What is ECN?

What does it stand for? in english, ECN stands for “Electronic Communications Network”. It is a technology used by brokers to connect their clients directly with the liquidity providers of the Forex market. It is is a fast expanding way for Forex traders to do their trades.

What are ECN brokers?

ECN brokers provide their clients a direct access to the interbank market, trades are sent anonymously into a network where it is automatically matched to orders from liquidity providers as major banks, prime brokers, financial institutions. At the opposite, “market makers” brokers (Non-ECN) take the other side of the trade themselves, creating a conflict of interest with their clients. ECN brokers are also referred to “No Dealing Desk” (NDD) brokers.

Why use an ECN broker?

Advantages:

• Tight spreads
• Deep liquidity
• Price transparency, market driven spreads, no requotes, no conflict of interest: broker does not trade against you
• Fastest order execution, low latency, low slippage
• Trades are placed anonymously
• Ability for scalping, news trading and hedging possible
• No disconnects during news events

Disadvantages:

• Higher minimum deposit to start trading
• Higher minimum trade sizes
• Platforms unfriendly for beginners
• Smaller leverages
• No guarantees for stop loss execution

ECN brokers charge commissions but total fees for a trade tend to be smaller than it is with a standard Forex account.