Slippage and Impact
Slippage is the difference between the expected price of a trade and the price at which the trade is actually executed. It occurs when market liquidity is insufficient to fill an order at the desired price, causing the execution price to move against the trader.
Market impact refers to the degree to which a single large trade shifts the market price of an asset. Together, these factors represent the execution cost of trading, particularly in illiquid decentralized exchanges.
Traders must manage slippage by breaking large orders into smaller chunks or utilizing routing algorithms that seek liquidity across multiple venues. Minimizing slippage and impact is crucial for maintaining the profitability of active trading strategies and protecting capital from inefficient market conditions.