Crypto Liquidity

Definition ∞ ‘Crypto Liquidity’ refers to the ease with which a digital asset can be bought or sold on the market without significantly affecting its price. High liquidity indicates a robust market with many buyers and sellers, allowing for large trades to be executed quickly and efficiently. Conversely, low liquidity means that trades can cause substantial price shifts, making it more difficult to enter or exit positions without incurring slippage. It is a critical metric for assessing the stability and tradability of cryptocurrencies and digital assets.
Context ∞ Discussions around crypto liquidity often focus on the depth of order books on centralized exchanges and the total value locked in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. Current trends highlight the increasing importance of liquidity provision in automated market makers (AMMs) and the challenges of maintaining sufficient liquidity during periods of high market volatility. Regulatory scrutiny on liquidity provision and market manipulation is also a significant factor shaping the current discussions.