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Continuous market making Meaning

Continuous market making is a trading model in which liquidity providers consistently quote buy and sell prices for an asset, ensuring that markets remain tradable at nearly all times. Unlike episodic or request-based liquidity provision, continuous market making operates persistently, allowing participants to enter or exit positions without waiting for counterparties. In traditional finance, market makers play a critical role by narrowing bid-ask spreads and absorbing temporary imbalances between supply and demand.

In crypto markets, continuous market making has become even more important due to higher volatility, fragmented liquidity, and the 24/7 nature of trading. This model is commonly implemented through automated trading systems that dynamically adjust quotes based on market conditions such as volatility, inventory exposure, order flow, and external reference prices. In centralized exchanges, professional market makers deploy algorithms to maintain tight spreads across multiple trading venues simultaneously.

In decentralized finance (DeFi), continuous market making is often implemented through automated market makers (AMMs), where liquidity pools algorithmically determine prices. For institutional participants, continuous market making supports price discovery, reduces execution risk, and improves overall market efficiency.

It allows large trades to be executed more predictably by maintaining depth on both sides of the order book. However, market makers assume inventory and adverse selection risk, particularly during periods of extreme volatility.

In crypto infrastructure, continuous market making is also critical for derivatives, stablecoin markets, and cross-venue arbitrage strategies. As markets mature, institutional-grade continuous market making increasingly incorporates risk controls, hedging strategies, and regulatory compliance considerations.

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