Arbitrage Execution Risk
Arbitrage execution risk is the possibility that a price discrepancy between two markets cannot be captured profitably due to network latency, fees, or execution failures. In the derivatives space, arbitrageurs are essential for keeping prices aligned across different venues.
If the risk is too high, these participants may withdraw, leading to price fragmentation and inefficiency. This risk is exacerbated by volatile market conditions where prices move faster than the blockchain can settle.
Traders must account for this risk when designing automated strategies. It includes the risk of being front-run, the risk of transaction failure, and the risk of price slippage.
Effective management of this risk is what differentiates successful quantitative traders from others. It is a central theme in the study of market microstructure and liquidity provision.