Well, ECN platforms tend to show sharper spread compression under typical market conditions, meaning you might actually see spreads that are 20-30% narrower compared to what a dealing desk might serve. However, when volatility spikes, ECNs can be a double-edged sword—currency pairs can behave like rebellious toddlers, with execution latencies and slippage creeping up despite algorithmic guards. Empirical backtests generally indicate that high-frequency strategies benefit from the direct market access offered by ECNs, particularly when your tech stack is fine-tuned enough to reduce microsecond delays. In short, while ECNs offer a cleaner execution environment, especially in liquid periods, you still have to dance with the devil during market stress.