Transaction Cost Modeling
Transaction cost modeling is the process of accurately accounting for trading fees, slippage, and market impact when backtesting a strategy. Ignoring these costs can lead to strategies that appear profitable in simulation but lose money in reality, especially for high-frequency or high-volume strategies.
Slippage ⎊ the difference between the expected price and the executed price ⎊ is particularly significant in crypto markets with thin liquidity. Accurate models incorporate dynamic cost functions that adjust based on trade size and current market depth.
By properly modeling these friction points, traders can determine the true viability of a strategy and avoid over-leveraging in environments where transaction costs could erode all expected alpha.