Is a bridge still needed with native gateway connectivity?
A gateway covers simple single-provider flows. A bridge becomes valuable with several providers, custom routing, markup logic or unified risk.
MT5 bridge vs gateway: which fits your execution model
By Amir Mamaghani, Founder and CEO · Updated
A native gateway connects a trading server directly to a liquidity venue and suits simple, single-provider flows. A bridge adds aggregation, routing rules, markup and unified risk across several providers and platforms. The execution model and the number of providers decide the choice.
What each one does
A gateway links the trading server to a liquidity venue using the platform's own connectivity. Orders and prices pass through with limited processing in between.
A bridge sits between the trading server and liquidity. It aggregates prices from providers, applies routing and markup rules, enforces exposure limits and reports on every fill.
Comparison
| Need | Gateway | Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| One liquidity provider, standard flow | Fits well | Works, with extra capability |
| Several providers and price aggregation | Limited | Built for it |
| Routing by client group, symbol or size | Basic | Rule-driven |
| Markup by group or session | Platform settings | Flexible rules |
| A-book, B-book and hybrid execution | Basic | Native |
| One risk view across several platforms | Per platform | Unified |
| Custom logic and reporting | Limited | Open to your own |
Execution models that favour a bridge
- Hybrid books that route some flow to liquidity and keep some internal
- Several providers with price aggregation and last-look handling
- Different markup and routing for retail, institutional and partner flow
- More than one trading platform sharing the same liquidity
What to monitor either way
Latency, rejects, fill quality, connectivity and daily reconciliation against provider records. A bridge or gateway earns trust through the evidence it produces about every order.
Licensed or custom bridge
A licensed bridge deploys quickly and suits standard models. A custom bridge fits unusual routing, bespoke markup logic or a firm that wants the execution layer under its own control. Finteractive builds custom bridges and integrates licensed ones.
Questions and answers
How does order routing work in a bridge?
Rules on client group, instrument, size and exposure decide whether an order goes to liquidity, stays internal or splits.
Can one bridge serve several trading platforms?
Yes. Several platforms can share liquidity connections and one risk view.
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