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As technology advances at lightning speed, the digital finance industry constantly evolves, creating more opportunities for innovative liquidity providers. As more traders look to invest in various markets, having reliable liquidity services that provide adequate risk management to price investments accurately can be a crucial part of success. With so many available options – from trading venues such as exchanges and brokerages to payment services like banks or credit unions – it's essential to ensure you are working with an experienced partner when choosing your LP. In this article, we'll explore the best 15 LPs on the market right now, looking at who they are and what they have to offer investors in 2023 and beyond.
The Best 15 Liquidity Providers
The Best Liquidity Providers Reviewed
The following list contains the top 15 LPs in the digital finance industry for 2023. These companies are known for providing reliable and trustworthy services, including trading venues and payment services. They are also skilled at managing investment risks and providing accurate pricing. Each provider has its own unique offerings, so it's essential to consider all options before choosing a partner. Let's examine who's made the list this year.
The top spot deservedly goes to B2Broker. For those unfamiliar, B2Broker is a leading liquidity and technology provider for the crypto and Forex industries, specializing in B2B services and products. The company caters to a diverse clientele, including large licensed brokers, crypto exchanges, crypto brokers, forex brokers, hedge and crypto funds, and professional managers. B2Broker offers integration and support for CFD brokers, Spot Exchanges, and Margin Accounts, providing a wide range of features and capabilities to accommodate businesses of any size.
Top features and highlights of B2Broker include competitive margins and attractive NOP limits, a highly competitive crypto offering with support for over 140 individual pairs, and an aggregated pool of liquidity from tier 1 Banks and non-Bank providers, ensuring optimal execution for clips of any size. B2Broker also provides a B2Core CRM system setup free of charge for any liquidity client, and liquidity clients can benefit from the in-house crypto payment gateway, B2BinPay.
B2Broker offers access to seven asset classes under a single margin account, including cutting-edge crypto liquidity with over 140+ crypto pairs, tier 1 Banks and non-Bank providers, and liquidity distribution through both FIX API and as part of the Full White Label Package.
B2Broker holds numerous licenses (FCA AEMI, CySec, FSA, etc.) to serve clients across more than 50 countries, offering liquidity distribution and various other services to the FX, crypto trading, and securities industries.
FXCM Prime, a complete package for customers needing centralized access to Forex market information and execution spanning numerous FX trading firms and platforms, simplifies trading by consolidating activities into a single account. Their in-house back office assembles trades from an array of ECN and individual bank trading sites, presenting a cohesive outlook of clients' positions. Effective pre-trade and post-trade credit evaluations guarantee the best possible net open position (NOP) usage. Top characteristics encompass affordable connectivity options, FX liquidity offerings, Forex market data services, impartial prime amenities, centralized clearing, solitary NOP allocation, and availability of over 400 tradable currency pairings.
Finalto provides businesses and individuals with unmatched access to global markets through their liquidity, risk, and technology solutions expertise. They offer brokers award-winning multi-asset liquidity from tier 1 banks, enabling them to provide a flexible and responsible high-risk trade execution for their customers. Finalto's advanced technology also assists clients in managing their trading platforms and customer relationships with ease. Tradable assets include 80 FX currencies, 5 base metals, 11 precious metals, 13 indices, 787 equities, 4 NDFs, 3 energy instruments, and 5 cryptocurrencies, making Finalto a comprehensive solution for market access.
Advanced Markets Group (AMG), an FCA- and ASIC-regulated Prime of Prime solutions provider, powers leading institutional FX brokers with deep multi-bank liquidity and cutting-edge, low-latency technology infrastructure. Primed by UBS AG and Standard Chartered, AMG boasts over a decade of experience, compliance with the FX Global Code of Conduct, and institutional shareholders like Macquarie Bank and GFI Group LLC. With a fully STP and transparent business model, AMG ensures every client order is directly routed to the best-priced Liquidity Provider, guaranteeing no market risk. Tradable assets include 65 FX currencies, 2 precious metals, 16 indices, 3 energy instruments, and 8 cryptocurrencies.
As a Prime CFDs Broker with a 12-year track record, TopFX provides unparalleled liquidity services and comprehensive packages to over 180 startups and established brokers in the e-FX & CFD industry. Their Prime Services enable clients to trade 600+ assets, including Forex, Shares, Indices, Metals, Energies, Crypto, and other CFDs, with institutional-grade conditions and exceptional customer support. They offer multiple deposit methods, Negative Balance Protection, and zero fees on deposits, ensuring client funds are securely held in segregated accounts with reputable banks. The tradable assets include 88 FX currencies, 4 precious metals, 15 indices, 1,000 equities, 18 CFDs, 5 exchange traded funds, 3 energy instruments, and 6 cryptocurrencies.
Swissquote, a leading provider of multi-currency accounts, equity and currency trading platforms, and robo-advisory services, caters to retail and institutional clients and asset managers. With a focus on innovative online services and software development since 1996, they have built strong relationships with financial institutions worldwide, helping them reduce operational and trading costs while increasing trading volumes and revenue. Their trade execution quality and deep liquidity solutions serve banks, brokers, hedge funds, corporations, and other institutional market participants. With over 410,000 clients in 30+ countries, Swissquote offers a diverse range of tradable asset classes, including 83 FX currencies, 1 base metal, 16 precious metals, 13 indices, 334 equities, 9,000 ETFs, 3 FI treasuries, 9 energy instruments, and 21 cryptocurrencies.
Saxo Bank Group, a world-leading electronic trading and investment services provider, specializes in connecting traders, investors, and partners to global markets. Offering multi-asset execution and post-trade processes from a single margin account, along with integrated back-office and regulatory services, they help clients access and innovate across global capital markets. Tradable assets include 171 FX currencies, 1 base metal, 17 precious metals, 26 indices, 9,000 equities, 6 NDFs, 1,000 ETFs, 7 commodities, 8 energy instruments, and 3 cryptocurrencies.
Invast Global, an award-winning multi-asset prime broker based in Sydney, specializes in providing bespoke, high-quality prime brokerage services to global brokers, hedge funds, banks, and corporates. Their unique technological and automated solutions are complemented by their personal touch, ensuring they cater to both present and future needs. Invast Global aggregates top-tier bank and non-bank liquidity, providing optimized liquidity streams for 70+ FX & Metals pairs. Their powerful in-house quantitative structuring and pricing team transparently derives the 35 Cash Index and Commodity CFD products from the underlying futures market. They also offer Direct Market Access (DMA) to over 28,000 Single Stock and ETF CFDs from 30+ global stock exchanges.
For over 13 years, IXO Prime has empowered investors with world-class trading capabilities across asset classes, including forex, equities, commodities, and crypto, in 15 countries. IXO Prime offers customers access to market intelligence tools, dynamic products, competitive trading parameters, and premium one-on-one customer service. With a multi-asset liquidity solution featuring competitive pricing, global trading infrastructure, and over 900 trading instruments, IXO Prime caters to diverse needs. Their dedicated team ensures seamless connectivity, offering web-based and mobile access, API integration, and various futures and options products. IXO Prime also provides white label MetaQuotes solutions across MT4 and MT5. With a central IXO Position Keeper, clients can easily observe and manage trading activity, and benefit from cutting-edge technology and a comprehensive range of trading options.
Equiti Capital UK Limited has become the prime brokerage of choice for diverse clients by offering accessible Prime Brokerage services, exceptional customer support, and innovative liquidity solutions. Top features include:
Tradable assets include 60 FX currencies, 1 base metal, 6 precious metals, 16 indices, 292 equities, 8 ETFs, 3 commodities, 3 energy instruments, and 60 cryptocurrencies. Equiti Capital provides FCA-regulated prime-of-prime brokerage services, offering low margins, direct bilateral pricing, and multi-asset liquidity via stable spreads on a deep top-of-book.
Recognized with over 50 awards in the past two years alone, CMC Markets is a pioneer in the CFD industry, providing an award-winning trading platform and native mobile apps to more than 80,000 active clients globally. With API technology and liquidity, clients like banks, brokers, funds, and trading desks can access tier-1 liquidity from an experienced, LSE-listed market provider with a strong balance sheet, global presence, and over 30 years of trading experience. CMC Group's institutional offering allows clients to access multi-asset coverage from a single provider through the API Direct feed, including market-leading CFD liquidity and an FX product suite. Clients can expect consistent pricing and market depth across over 400 instruments from a single source. Tradable assets include 316 FX currencies, 1 base metal, 4 precious metals, 16 indices, 100 ETFs, 19 fixed-income treasuries, 12 commodities, 6 energy instruments, and 10 cryptocurrencies.
Amana, the Dubai-based leading MENA broker, specializes in providing access to multi-asset liquidity, quality execution, and state-of-the-art trading technology. Regulated in multiple jurisdictions such as FCA, DFSA, CySEC, FSC, and LFSA, Amana is a multi-asset LP for over 5000 instruments. Clients have access to key exchanges in the US, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and MENA exchanges, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and Kuwait. Amana's API is user-friendly and easy to integrate, providing trading solutions for brokers, hedge funds, family offices, Introducing Brokers, and active professional traders worldwide. Amana offers a wide range of tradable assets, including 69 FX currencies, 3 precious metals, 15 indices, 527 equities, 36 futures, 5000 CFDs, 3 energy instruments, and 103 cryptocurrencies. The company supports various currencies for deposit, including AED, USD, GBP, EUR, and USDT.
Scope Markets is a global provider of online trading services and institutional solutions. The company is dedicated to providing premium trading services to businesses and traders of all levels, with a client-first model built on high-quality service, transparent and competitive pricing, and fast execution. The tradable assets provided by Scope Markets include 63 FX currencies, 17 indices, 3 energy instruments, and 11 cryptocurrencies. As an FX and crypto provider, the company offers 500:1 leverage, institutional prime brokerage, aggregated liquidity, and multi-asset brokerage services. In addition, Scope Markets provides MT4 and MT5 white label solutions for its clients. Committed to a client-first mentality, Scope Markets focuses on flexible products and offers solutions that best serve its clients, whether they are businesses or individuals. The company continually sets high standards to deliver the best possible trading experience.
Launched in December 2011, FXSpotStream is a platform that allows banks and clients to interact bilaterally and fully transparently. FXSpotStream provides access to the Algos of its liquidity providers through both its API and GUI, and supports pre- and post-trade allocations. The platform features 15 Tier 1 leading Liquidity Providers, including Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citi, Commerzbank, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, J.P.Morgan, Morgan Stanley, MUFG, Societe Generale, Standard Chartered, State Street, and UBS.
Supporting the most products on a disclosed basis of any service, FXSpotStream offers trading in FX Spot, FX Swaps, Forwards, NDF/NDS, and Precious Metal Spot and Swaps.
Nexo Prime is a comprehensive solution provider for institutional clients, offering a variety of services such as access to diversified liquidity, aggregated from leading exchanges, leading liquidity providers, and a select market maker. The platform also provides a 24/7 OTC desk for high-touch executions of spot and derivatives instruments, API trading and price streaming, and military-grade Class III vault storage for partners' assets. The company's custody framework combines industry-leading solutions from BitGo, Fireblocks, Ledger Vault, and others, with $775 million in custodial insurance through Lloyd's of London and Marsh & Arch. Since 2018, Nexo has aimed to bring professional financial services to the world of digital assets. By leveraging its team's FinTech experience and blockchain technology, Nexo empowers millions of people to harness the value of their crypto assets, shaping a better financial system. Nexo currently manages assets for over 5 million users across 200 jurisdictions and supports more than 200 cryptocurrencies.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Liquidity Provider
When it comes to selecting a liquidity provider, there are several factors that traders and businesses should take into consideration. Some of these factors include:
Different types of liquidity providers have different advantages and disadvantages. For instance, banks typically offer institutional-grade services with better spreads and access to deep liquidity pools, but they may also charge higher fees and require higher minimum deposits compared to an ECN or a market maker.
Before choosing a liquidity provider, it's essential to identify which trading platform(s) they are compatible with. An ECN may offer access to deeper liquidity pools and better spreads, but if its services differ from the trader's preferred trading platform, that could be a deal-breaker. Fortunately, many providers have made their services available on multiple platforms (MT4/5, cTrader, etc.) to best serve their traders and customers.
When selecting a liquidity provider, traders and businesses should also consider the range of trading instruments and asset classes offered by the provider. For instance, some providers may offer access to FX Spot, FX Swaps, NDF/NDS, Precious Metals Spot & Swaps as well as crypto assets such as BTC/USD or ETH/USD. Others may focus on specific markets or asset classes, such as equities or commodities. Traders and businesses need to identify which instruments and asset classes their preferred LP offers to ensure they have access to all the products they need.
Pricing and fees are other important factors when selecting a liquidity provider. It's important to compare pricing and fees between different providers to ensure you get the best deal possible. Different providers may have different fee structures, with some charging flat fees or commissions while others may offer more competitive spreads. Additionally, it's important to consider whether the provider offers discounts for frequent traders or volume-based rates, as this could help you save money in the long run. Lastly, always read the fine print so that you can be sure that there are no hidden costs involved.
The availability of liquidity is another important factor to consider when selecting a liquidity provider. Liquidity is essential for traders and businesses as it ensures that executed orders are filled quickly and at the best available price. Therefore, it's vital to ensure that your chosen provider has access to the necessary liquidity for you to be able to make successful trades. Different providers may have access to different types of liquidity pools, such as deep or shallow liquidity. Additionally, some providers may offer additional services, such as dark pool cryptocurrency trading, allowing traders to trade large volumes without impacting the market prices. It's important to determine what type of access your preferred liquidity provider offers to ensure you get the most out of their services.
It's also important to consider the tools for managing risk and features a liquidity provider offers. Different providers may provide different levels of protection, such as negative balance protection, margin call alerts, or stop-loss orders. These tools can help traders protect their capital if the market moves against them, while businesses can use margin call warnings to ensure that they don't overextend themselves in certain markets. Additionally, some providers may offer additional services such as algorithmic trading, which can help traders automate their strategies and take advantage of opportunities in volatile markets. It is crucial to identify what type of risk management tools a provider offers for you to find the one that best suits your needs.
It's essential to consider a liquidity provider's regulatory compliance and licensing. Different jurisdictions may have different rules and regulations affecting how a provider operates. Therefore, you should always check to see if your chosen provider is licensed in your jurisdiction and whether they comply with applicable regulations. Additionally, some providers may be subject to additional requirements such as MiFID II or EMIR, so they must also adhere to these standards. Checking the regulatory status of your preferred liquidity provider is essential to ensure that their services are safe and secure for you to use.
The quality of technical support and customer service offered by a liquidity provider is also important to consider. Different providers may have different levels of technical capabilities, with some providing more comprehensive support than others. Additionally, some providers may offer additional services, such as portfolio management or automated trading, which could benefit certain types of traders or businesses. It's important to determine what type of technical support and customer service your chosen provider offers in order to ensure that you get the most out of their services.
Furthermore, it's essential that you can rely on the provider for assistance when needed, as this will allow you to focus on more important aspects such as trading strategies or managing portfolios. Ultimately, you should always evaluate the level of technical and customer service offered by a provider to identify the one that best suits your needs.
Conclusion
The leading liquidity providers in 2023 will provide traders and businesses with the necessary resources to make successful trades. While each provider offers different services and features, it's important to evaluate them according to your individual needs to find the best option for you. Furthermore, you should always ensure that the provider complies with relevant regulations and offers high technical support and customer service. By selecting the right liquidity provider, you can make more informed trading decisions and protect your capital from potential risks.
This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author.
Kathiravan Rajendran Associate Director of Marketing Operations at Macro Global
25 November
Vitaliy Shtyrkin Chief Product Officer at B2BINPAY
22 November
Kunal Jhunjhunwala Founder at airpay payment services
Shiv Nanda Content Strategist at https://www.financialexpress.com/
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