About SpreadSearch

The Story

The project started from personal trading experience. While analyzing options markets, I noticed that bid-ask spreads in mid-cap options would temporarily widen significantly — particularly in less liquid contracts — creating opportunities for traders able to identify them quickly. It became clear that a systematic scanning tool could surface these setups far more efficiently than manual analysis.

There is also a natural side effect worth noting: placing limit orders inside a wide spread — buying above the bid, selling below the ask — helps narrow it. Not the primary goal, but a real and honest consequence of the activity.

The Mission

SpreadSearch is built on three pillars:

1. Trading: Give traders a precise, systematic tool to identify and act on bid-ask spread opportunities. Most trading platforms focus on mega-cap stocks with tight spreads. SpreadSearch focuses specifically on mid-caps where spreads are widest and opportunities most abundant.

2. Market Side Effect: Placing limit orders inside a wide spread naturally helps narrow it — a side effect that benefits other market participants. Worth noting, without overstating the impact.

3. Research: Scan results can be exported to CSV for further analysis. SpreadSearch aims to support traders and researchers studying spread formation patterns and market microstructure.

Technology

SpreadSearch is built with modern technology: FastAPI backend, Interactive Brokers Gateway integration, parallel processing for speed, and a clean web interface. The focus is on speed, reliability, and data accuracy.

The platform prioritizes user privacy and control. We never execute trades, store trading data, or access user accounts beyond market data. Users connect their own IB Gateway locally, maintaining complete control over their data and trading decisions.

Current Status

The demo is available now. The desktop application with full live data integration is scheduled for Q2 2026. The platform is being developed with input from active traders and will evolve based on user feedback.