NDD Glossary
ProcessIntermediate

Internalization

The practice of executing client orders internally within the broker rather than routing them to external liquidity providers or exchanges.

Last updated: February 10, 2026
1

A client order arrives at the broker's system.

2

Instead of routing to an external LP, the broker matches the order internally.

3

This may involve offsetting against other client orders (client-to-client matching).

4

Or the broker takes the opposite position itself (proprietary internalization / B-book).

5

Internalized orders never reach external markets.