Order Flow

Definition ∞ Order flow refers to the continuous stream of buy and sell orders placed in a financial market, providing insight into the supply and demand dynamics for an asset. It reflects the cumulative actions of market participants, indicating potential price direction and market liquidity. Analyzing this data helps traders understand short-term market movements.
Context ∞ In cryptocurrency markets, order flow analysis is a key tool for traders and institutional participants to gauge market pressure and anticipate price fluctuations. News often discusses order flow data from major exchanges to explain market volatility or predict trend reversals. Understanding order flow is essential for comprehending the immediate forces driving digital asset valuations.