Arbitrage Capacity
Arbitrage Capacity refers to the volume and speed at which market participants can effectively eliminate price discrepancies between markets. It is determined by factors such as available liquidity, transaction costs, and the speed of capital movement between exchanges.
When arbitrage capacity is high, price differences are corrected almost instantly, leading to efficient markets. When it is low, price gaps can persist for longer periods, creating risks and opportunities for traders.
Factors that limit capacity include network congestion, exchange withdrawal limits, and capital inefficiency. In the context of decentralized finance, bridge latency and gas costs play a significant role in determining how quickly arbitrage can occur.
Improving arbitrage capacity is a major goal for developers building cross-chain and cross-exchange infrastructure. It ensures that liquidity is distributed efficiently across the entire financial system.