Trade Surveillance

Definition ∞ Trade Surveillance involves the systematic monitoring of trading activity to detect and prevent market manipulation, insider trading, and other illicit behaviors. This process utilizes advanced analytical tools and algorithms to identify suspicious patterns or anomalies across various trading venues. Effective trade surveillance is essential for maintaining market integrity and investor confidence. It ensures fair and orderly market operations.
Context ∞ News frequently highlights the increasing complexity of trade surveillance, especially with the growth of decentralized and global digital asset markets. Regulatory bodies are pushing for more sophisticated surveillance capabilities to address new forms of market abuse unique to cryptocurrencies and blockchain platforms. Debates often concern the technical challenges of monitoring permissionless networks and the need for international cooperation to enforce consistent standards.