Order Slippage
Order Slippage is the difference between the expected price of a trade and the price at which the trade is actually executed. This often occurs when the market moves rapidly between the time an order is placed and the time it is filled.
In cryptocurrency markets, slippage is exacerbated by low liquidity and high volatility, particularly in large-sized orders. Market makers use advanced algorithms to mitigate slippage by breaking large orders into smaller, less noticeable chunks.
However, in extreme market conditions or during flash crashes, slippage can become significant, leading to substantial losses. Understanding and modeling slippage is a core part of risk management and strategy development.
It is a direct cost of trading that must be factored into the profitability of any quantitative model. Minimizing slippage requires a combination of smart order routing, high-speed execution, and deep market analysis.