Understanding liquidity and trading dynamics is essential for those entering the cryptocurrency market. This knowledge helps young investors handle unpredictable crypto markets with minimal losses. At the heart of these dynamics lie two central roles: crypto market maker and taker. Their activities create a liquid, efficient, and dynamic trading environment essential for the healthy functioning of any financial market.

What is a market maker? What is a taker? And what are their roles in crypto trading? This article unveils these common questions for beginner investors.

What is Market Liquidity?

In simple terms, market liquidity is the ease with which an asset can be quickly bought or sold without changing its price. High liquidity is synonymous with a stable market, where transactions can occur seamlessly and with minimal slippage. In contrast, low liquidity leads to a more volatile market, where trades can significantly impact the asset’s price. Crypto volatility, inherent in the digital assets market, highlights the importance of liquidity for maintaining market stability and investor confidence.

Who are Market Makers?

A market maker is an individual, a financial entity, a crypto market making company, or a high-frequency trader responsible for providing liquidity to the market by continuously buying and selling cryptocurrencies at publicly quoted prices. A crypto market maker operates on a market maker platform, using advanced algorithms to quote both buy and sell prices for particular crypto assets around the clock.

The role of market makers extends beyond simply facilitating trades. They also help narrow the bid-ask spread. That’s the difference between the highest price that buyers are ready to pay and the lowest price that sellers would accept. This narrowing reduces trading costs for all market participants and contributes to more efficient trading.

Market makers take on the risk of holding cryptocurrencies in their inventory, exposing them to volatility. They manage this risk through various strategies, including hedging and adjusting their quoted prices based on market conditions.

Calculating profit and loss (PnL) is crucial for crypto market makers because it helps them evaluate their performance. How to calculate PnL? Here is a short instruction:

• Realized PnL. It is the profit or loss made on completed transactions. It’s calculated by subtracting the buying price from the selling price for each trade. If a market maker buys 1 token at $10,000 and sells it at $10,200, the realized PnL for this trade is $200.
• Unrealized PnL refers to the profit or loss on positions that have not yet been closed. It’s calculated based on the current market prices compared to the prices at which the assets were initially bought or sold. If a market maker holds 1 token that was purchased for $10,000, and the current market price is $10,500, the unrealized PnL is $500.

A market maker must consider the value of their holdings, which can fluctuate with market movements. These changes directly affect the PnL. If the market value of the inventory increases, it positively impacts the PnL, and vice versa.

Who are Market Takers?

Market takers in crypto are individuals or entities that execute trades based on the prices provided by market makers. When a market taker decides to buy or sell a cryptocurrency, they choose the best available price in the market, thus “taking” the liquidity out. This role is not less important in the trading ecosystem, as it ensures that transactions are executed, contributing to the market’s volume.

The difference between maker vs taker is crucial in understanding trading fees on various platforms. Typically, market takers pay slightly higher fees than market makers. That’s the cost of taking liquidity out of the market. Low fees for makers stimulate market participants to provide liquidity rather than take it out.

What is Market Making in Crypto?

Market making involves using automated systems and algorithms by market-making companies to provide liquidity on exchanges. These systems constantly change buy and sell orders based on real-time market conditions to ensure they are providing competitive prices. The goal is to profit from the spread between buying and selling prices while minimizing the risk posed by market volatility.

The significance of market-making extends to stabilizing crypto prices. In markets where liquidity is low, a large order execution can move prices, creating an arbitrage opportunity but also increasing the risk for regular traders. Market makers reduce such risks by ensuring that there is always enough volume on both sides of the order book (to buy and to sell).

Market makers and market takers in crypto play complementary roles in the crypto ecosystem. Their interplay forms the backbone of the cryptocurrency trading landscape. By ensuring liquidity, minimizing price volatility, and facilitating efficient trade execution, they create a favorable environment for investors. As the crypto market continues to grow and more participants come in, the roles of makers and takers will undoubtedly adapt to new challenges and opportunities.