Latent Liquidity
Latent Liquidity refers to hidden or non-displayed buying and selling interest that exists within a market but is not visible in the public order book. This liquidity often takes the form of iceberg orders, where only a fraction of the total order size is displayed, or orders resting in dark pools or decentralized exchange protocols.
Market participants may not be aware of this liquidity until it is triggered by an incoming trade, which can lead to unexpected price reactions. In cryptocurrency, latent liquidity is often found in automated market maker pools where the liquidity is provided by smart contracts rather than a traditional limit order book.
Understanding latent liquidity is crucial for traders attempting to gauge the true depth of the market. It represents a significant variable in the accurate assessment of price impact.