What is Slippage in Crypto Purchases and How to Minimise it?

Have you ever placed a trade in the cryptocurrency market, only to find that the price you paid was different from what you expected? Welcome to the world of slippage – a common occurrence in the fast-moving and often unpredictable crypto markets. It’s a bit like reaching for an apple on a market stall, only to find it’s been swapped for a slightly different one by the time you grab it.

Why does this matter to you as a crypto investor or trader? Well, slippage can significantly influence the profitability and outcome of your trades. It’s particularly noteworthy in crypto trading, where the market is known for its high volatility and sometimes thin liquidity.

In this article, we’re going to unravel the mystery of slippage in cryptocurrency transactions. We’ll look into what causes it, how it can affect your trades, and what it means for your trading strategy. By the end, you’ll understand why slippage is a key factor to consider in your crypto trading journey and how to navigate it.

What is slippage?

Slippage in the context of cryptocurrency purchases is an often unavoidable aspect of trading that can have a significant impact on the outcome of transactions. It refers to the difference between the price at which a trader expects a trade to be executed and the actual price at which the trade is executed. This concept is crucial to understand for anyone actively buying and selling cryptocurrencies.

Slippage occurs when there is a discrepancy between the expected price of a cryptocurrency and the price at which the order is filled. For example, if a trader places an order to buy Bitcoin at $30,000, but by the time the order is executed, the price has moved to $30,050, the trader experiences a slippage of $50.

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Types of slippage

Slippage comes in different forms, each with its own set of causes and implications. Primarily, there are two main types of slippage that traders encounter:

Price Slippage happens when the executed price of a cryptocurrency deviates from the expected price at the time the order was placed. This type of slippage is directly linked to the volatility of the market. Imagine you’re trying to buy a coin at $100, but in the split second between placing your order and its execution, the price jumps to $102. This sudden movement results in a $2 price slippage.

Liquidity slippage occurs when an order is executed at a different price due to a lack of sufficient buyers or sellers at the desired price level. For instance, if you’re selling a large quantity of a less popular cryptocurrency, there might not be enough buyers at your asking price. As a result, parts of your order might be filled at lower prices, leading to slippage. It’s like trying to sell a rare collectible in a small market – you might not find buyers willing to pay your asking price immediately.

Understanding these two types of slippage can help traders recognize and anticipate the potential impact on their trades. They require strategies for mitigation and management, which is crucial for trading crypto effectively.

Key factors that affect slippage

Slippage in cryptocurrency trading isn’t random; it’s influenced by several key factors:

• Market volatility: During periods of intense volatility, the price of a cryptocurrency can change significantly in the brief time between when an order is placed and when it is executed. Think of it as trying to jump onto a moving train; the speed makes it difficult to land exactly where you intend.
• Order size: Large orders might not be filled at a single price point, especially if the market doesn’t have enough volume to support the trade. This can lead to parts of the order being filled at increasingly less favourable prices. It’s like trying to empty a large jug of water into a small funnel – not all of it can go through at once.
• Market liquidity: In markets with low liquidity, there are fewer buyers and sellers. This means that large orders can disproportionately affect the market price, leading to more substantial slippage. Imagine selling a niche product in a small town; finding buyers willing to pay your price might require you to lower the price more than you would in a bigger city.

Each of these factors plays a pivotal role in the occurrence and extent of slippage in crypto trades. By understanding and accounting for market volatility, order size, and liquidity, traders can develop more effective strategies to minimise unwanted slippage and better manage their trading outcomes.

How to calculate slippage?

Calculating slippage in cryptocurrency trades is a straightforward process. Let’s break down how to calculate slippage and illustrate it with practical examples.

Slippage is calculated as the difference between the expected price of a trade and the actual executed price, often expressed as a percentage. The formula for calculating slippage is:

Slippage=((Executed Price−Expected Price)/Expected Price)×100

Buy example

Let’s say you’re buying Bitcoin and the expected price when placing the order is $40,000. By the time the order executes, the actual price is $40,200.

Calculation: Slippage=((40,200 – 40,000)/40,000)×100 = 0.5

This means you experienced a slippage of 0.5%.

Sell example

Now imagine you’re selling Ethereum, expecting to do so at $2,500. However, the actual executed price turns out to be $2,480.

Calculation: Slippage=((2,480−2,500)/2,500)×100 = −0.8%

Here, the negative sign indicates a slippage against your favour, with a 0.8% decrease from the expected price.

Understanding and calculating slippage is crucial for effective trading in the cryptocurrency market.

How to minimise slippage?

There are several strategies and tips that traders can use to reduce the impact of slippage on their cryptocurrency transactions.

• Using limit orders: Unlike market orders, limit orders allow you to set a specific price at which you want to buy or sell a cryptocurrency. If you set a limit order to buy Bitcoin at $30,000, your order will only be executed at that price or better. This control can prevent the unexpected costs associated with slippage in a volatile market.
• Avoiding market orders in volatile markets: Market orders are executed immediately at the best available price, which can be risky in a volatile market. There’s no price guarantee, and the final executed price can be significantly different from the price at the time of order placement.
• Trading during peak hours: The liquidity of the market can vary depending on the time of day. Trading during peak hours, when there is higher market activity, can reduce slippage as more buyers and sellers are in the market.
• Avoiding major news events: Significant news events can cause sudden market movements. By timing your trades to avoid these periods, you can reduce the risk of high slippage.

Implementing these strategies can help in reducing the impact of slippage on your trades. While it’s not always possible to eliminate slippage entirely, understanding and applying these techniques can help in making more efficient and cost-effective transactions.

The bottom line

Throughout this article, we have delved into the concept of slippage in cryptocurrency trading. Key takeaways include understanding the types of slippage, recognizing the causes, and learning how to calculate it accurately. We also explored various strategies to minimise slippage as effective management of slippage can lead to more accurate trade executions and reduced trading costs.We invite you to explore our large library of educational resources to deepen your understanding of the crypto markets. By signing up for a Kriptomat account, you gain access to a wealth of cutting-edge trading tools and a secure, regulatory-compliant platform to carry out all your crypto trading activity. Sign up today and let Kriptomat be your loyal companion when trading crypto.