Arbitrage
Arbitrage is the practice of simultaneously buying and selling an asset in different markets to profit from price discrepancies. It is a fundamental mechanism that ensures price convergence and efficiency across various trading venues.
In cryptocurrency, arbitrage is essential for keeping prices consistent between centralized exchanges, decentralized protocols, and spot versus futures markets. It requires fast execution and low-latency infrastructure to capitalize on fleeting opportunities before they disappear.
Arbitrageurs perform a valuable service by correcting mispricings and improving overall market liquidity. However, the profitability of simple arbitrage has decreased as more sophisticated algorithms and bots have entered the space, making the market more competitive.
Successful arbitrage now requires a deep understanding of microstructure, cross-chain bridge risks, and the technical nuances of different trading platforms.