MB Trading to pay for Limit Orders on its ECN

Manhattan Beach Trading Financial Services, Inc. (“MBTFS”) and MB Trading Futures, Inc. (“MBTF”) (collectively “MB Trading”), which is a technology-driven, low-commission brokerage specializing in order routing in FOREX, Equities, Futures, and Options through various global exchanges and electronic networks, announced today that it will begin paying $1.95 per $100,000 in currency executed for Forex Limit orders posted that add liquidity to its FOREX ECN.

”This is a game changer for the retail FOREX industry and the next logical step for our FX ECN,” CEO Ross Ditlove states. ”Paying for Limit orders continues the drive to a fully transparent and efficient retail FOREX market place. It rewards our retail clients with lower trading costs and deeper Liquidity Liquidity The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent The term liquidity refers to the process, speed, and ease of which a given asset or security can be converted into cash. Notably, liquidity surmises a retention in market price, with the most liquid assets representing cash.The most liquid asset of all is cash itself.· In economics, liquidity is defined by how efficiently and quickly an asset can be converted into usable cash without materially affecting its market price. · Nothing is more liquid than cash, while other assets represent Read this Term.” MB Trading consolidates quotes from major bank Liquidity Providers Liquidity Providers A liquidity provider (LP) constitutes either individual and/or institution that functions as a market maker in a given asset class. Broadly speaking, liquidity providers will act as the both the buyer and seller of a particular asset, thus making a market. In the equities space, many stock exchanges rely on liquidity providers who make the commitment to provide liquidity in a given equity. These liquidity providers commit to providing liquidity in the hopes that they will be able to make a profi A liquidity provider (LP) constitutes either individual and/or institution that functions as a market maker in a given asset class. Broadly speaking, liquidity providers will act as the both the buyer and seller of a particular asset, thus making a market. In the equities space, many stock exchanges rely on liquidity providers who make the commitment to provide liquidity in a given equity. These liquidity providers commit to providing liquidity in the hopes that they will be able to make a profi Read this Term and customers, displaying them in the first fully transparent retail order book. Currently, customers pay $2.95 per $100,000 in currency executed on the MB Trading system. This significant change gives traders further incentive to post their Limit entries and exits on the FX ECN for all other retail participants to see.

It's quite an intriguing offer in my opinion. If I understand the situation correctly then what MB Trading does here is providing an incentive to traders to become price givers (as opposed to passive price takers which what most traders in this market are) and in turn profiting from it as liquidity providers to other brokers/liquidity pools. It's an interesting model where everybody have an incentive to introduce Limit Orders, thus reducing the spread and increasing volume. I wonder if other brokers will follow.