Term

Over-the-counter (OTC)

Trades conducted directly between parties rather than through a public order-book exchange.

Type:
trading
1
basic

Over-the-counter trading involves direct negotiation and settlement between counterparties. It’s common for large trades that would move the market if executed on an exchange.

Example 1.1

"A fund buys a large BCH position via OTC to avoid slippage on public exchanges."

2
tradeoffs

OTC can reduce price impact but introduces counterparty, settlement, and custody risk. Reputable desks use escrow, KYC/AML, and post-trade reporting.

Example 2.1

"An OTC desk escrows seller coins and buyer funds before releasing to both sides upon confirmation."

All terms and definitions may update as the Cryptionary improves.