Quick answer
A liquidity bridge is software that connects a broker's trading server, such as MetaTrader 4 or 5, to external liquidity providers. It brings prices into the platform and sends client orders out to the market according to the broker's routing rules, enabling A-book, B-book or hybrid execution.
How a liquidity bridge works
- Price streaming: liquidity providers stream bid and ask prices to the bridge, usually via FIX API.
- Aggregation: the bridge combines several streams into one best-price book.
- Markups: the broker's spreads and commissions are applied.
- Distribution: prices are sent to MetaTrader and on to clients.
- Order routing: client orders are routed to a provider or internalised based on rules.
- Confirmation: fills are returned to MetaTrader and the client's account is updated.
Why brokers need a bridge
- MetaTrader cannot connect to most liquidity providers on its own.
- Multiple providers improve pricing and resilience.
- Routing rules let brokers control risk and profitability.
Key features to look for
- Support for MT4, MT5 and other platforms you may add later.
- Smart order routing and automatic failover.
- Partial fills and last-look handling.
- Execution analytics per provider.
- Integration with risk management and reporting.
Explore our MT4/MT5 liquidity bridge and liquidity solutions.