In the intricate world of online trading, the most dangerous costs are the ones you don’t see. Hidden fees. Artificial markups. Manipulated spreads. These subtle traps silently erode a trader’s profits over time — often without them even realizing it. That’s why IC Markets takes a radically honest approach with its Zero Markup Spread Strategy — a pricing model that strips away all the noise, presenting traders with the true market spread. Nothing added. Nothing hidden.
For anyone seeking a platform where IC Markets spreads reflect pure, unfiltered market data, this strategy is not just a feature — it’s a financial philosophy.
What Does “Zero Markup” Really Mean?
Let’s use an analogy.
Imagine going to a gold market to buy a coin. Some merchants quietly raise the price by a few dollars — not enough to alarm you, but enough to make a profit off your lack of awareness. Now imagine one stall says: “Here is the price exactly as listed by the global gold exchange — no markups.” That’s IC Markets.
The Zero Markup Spread Strategy means the platform does not artificially widen spreads to boost its own revenue. Instead, IC Markets spreads are sourced directly from a network of top-tier liquidity providers, with no additional padding. The only fee you pay is a clear, fixed commission per trade — known in advance.
In a trading world filled with “commission-free” illusions, IC Markets chooses clarity over cleverness.
Why Zero Markup Matters for Traders
Many brokers advertise low costs but hide profits in spread manipulation. They may claim 1-pip spreads with no commission — but that pip includes their secret profit. IC Markets flips the model:
- Spreads from 0.0 pips
- Transparent commission (e.g., $3.5 per side per lot)
- No added markup baked into the spread
This approach gives you total control and accurate cost analysis. Whether you’re backtesting a strategy or calculating risk-reward ratios, you can trust that the spread is real — not an invisible tax.
In short, IC Markets spreads aren’t just low — they’re honest.
Perfect for Scalpers, Day Traders, and Algos
The Zero Markup Spread Strategy is especially powerful for those who rely on tight margins:
- Scalpers benefit from true 0.0 pip spreads on major pairs like EUR/USD during peak hours.
- Day traders enjoy clean cost structures without worrying about internal broker bias.
- Algorithmic traders thrive in a predictable, transparent spread environment — essential for coding logic.
In these styles of trading, where dozens or even hundreds of positions may be opened in a single day, even a half-pip markup can mean the difference between profit and loss.
IC Markets doesn’t just provide a platform — it provides precision.
How IC Markets Maintains Zero Markups
This strategy is possible because of IC Markets’ deep liquidity model, drawing pricing from over 25 institutional-grade providers, including:
- Global investment banks
- Dark pool liquidity sources
- Non-bank market makers
All of these feed into IC Markets’ True ECN infrastructure, which aggregates the best available prices in real-time. The result? You’re seeing the real market — not a broker’s edited version.
And since IC Markets earns through volume-based commissions rather than hidden spreads, your profitability aligns with their success. The more you trade, the more they earn — but only if you’re winning.
Trust Built on Transparency
In a landscape where many brokers operate behind metaphorical curtains, IC Markets throws them open. Traders can view:
- Raw spread charts
- Historical spread behavior
- Real-time bid/ask flows
- A clear breakdown of commission costs
This level of openness builds trust — and trust is the true currency of long-term trading relationships.
The Clear-Cut Power of Zero
The Zero Markup Spread Strategy at IC Markets is more than a technical advantage — it’s a statement. A commitment to fairness. A refusal to profit from the trader’s blind spots.
If you’re tired of trading on platforms where IC Markets spreads are merely “matched” but not truly market-based… it’s time to upgrade. With IC Markets, what you see is what the market gives — not what your broker takes.
