• The Electronic Communications Network (ECN) is a digital system that connects buyers and sellers who wish to trade securities in the financial markets.

  • ECNs allow brokers and investors in different geographies to trade without the involvement of a third party, providing privacy for investors.
  • ECN allows trading outside of traditional trading hours, allowing investors to react or anticipate news outside business hours.
  • One of the disadvantages of using ECNs is that they have access fees and transaction fees that can increase the overall cost of use.
  • Without ECN, it would take buyers and sellers significantly longer to match each other, making it more difficult to enter or exit positions and increase the costs and risks of trading.