ICT (Inner Circle Trader) concepts were developed by Michael J. Huddleston and are built on top of SMC, adding additional layers such as Fair Value Gaps, Kill Zones, and Optimal Trade Entry zones.

ICT is often described as an evolution or extension of SMC rather than a separate discipline. While SMC covers foundational concepts like Order Blocks, Break of Structure, Change of Character, and liquidity, ICT layers on more granular tools for identifying precise entry points and session-based market behaviour. Michael J. Huddleston created the ICT methodology, which focuses heavily on price action, market structure, and the manipulation patterns used by institutional traders — particularly in Forex markets.