Asian Option
An Asian option is a path-dependent derivative where the payoff is based on the average price of the underlying asset over a specified period rather than the price at a single point in time. This averaging feature makes the option less sensitive to extreme price volatility or market manipulation near the expiration date.
Because the average is less volatile than the spot price, Asian options are generally cheaper than vanilla options. They are particularly useful in markets like crypto, where price spikes and flash crashes can distort final settlement values.
By smoothing out the price, these options provide a more stable risk management tool for participants who care about the overall performance of an asset over time. The averaging can be calculated on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis depending on the contract terms.