Twap Oracle

Definition ∞ A TWAP oracle provides a time-weighted average price feed for a digital asset. This decentralized oracle mechanism delivers a time-weighted average price for a specific digital asset by aggregating price data over a predetermined period, rather than providing an instantaneous snapshot. Its primary function is to mitigate the risk of price manipulation, as a single large transaction cannot easily distort the averaged price feed. TWAP oracles are crucial for decentralized finance protocols that require reliable and manipulation-resistant price data for liquidations, collateral valuations, or executing large orders.
Context ∞ Crypto news frequently discusses TWAP oracles in the context of decentralized exchange security and the robustness of lending protocols against flash loan attacks. A key debate involves optimizing the time window and data sources for TWAP calculations to balance accuracy with resistance to manipulation. Future developments aim to enhance the decentralization and resilience of TWAP oracles, making them even more reliable for critical on-chain operations.