🧠 Topic: What are OTC transactions, how do they affect the market, and why do large players not always buy 'on the exchange'
📦 What is OTC?
#OTC (Over-The-Counter) — these are off-exchange transactions, that is, direct purchase/sale of cryptocurrency between two parties, bypassing the exchange.
Example: the fund wants to buy 10,000,000 USDT for BTC — but does not place an order on #Binance and does this directly with the seller.
❓ Why are OTC transactions needed?
💡 1. Avoid slippage
Exchanges are order books.
If you buy 1000 BTC at market price, the price will skyrocket.
OTC deal allows you to buy the entire volume at a fixed price.
🕶 2. Maintain privacy
OTC transactions are not visible in exchange charts and volumes.
Large players often do not want to 'shine' their movements.
🧠 3. Negotiate on special terms
For example:
Discounted price
Deferred delivery
Vesting or locking part of the tokens
Fixing the rate in advance
🏦 4. Funds, OTC desks, and CEX
Many exchanges (Binance, OKX, Kraken) have their own OTC desks for VIP clients.
There are also independent platforms and brokers (Amber Group, GSR, Wintermute).
🔍 How does OTC affect the market?
🟢 Pros:
Reduces pressure on exchanges
Allows moving large amounts without volatility
Institutions can enter and exit without alarming the market
🔴 Cons:
Not visible in the chart, but large OTC deals can indirectly affect it
(for example, after an OTC purchase, tokens may hit the exchange and cause a dump)
Not always transparent — hard to track volumes
🧠 How to track OTC activity?
Watch for unusual token movements between wallets
Use analytical tools:
Arkham, Nansen, Lookonchain
Keep an eye on the news: if a project or fund announced an OTC deal — this is a signal.
🤔 Real-life example
In 2020, #MicroStrategy purchased $BTC for billions of dollars.
But not through the exchange, but through the Coinbase OTC desk.
The market did not feel this — until they announced it publicly.
🧠 Conclusion
OTC is a tool for large players to trade 'in the shadows', without moving the market.
But their actions still leave traces — learn to find them.
📖 In the next issue, I will tell: How decentralized derivatives work, why crypto futures are needed, and how not to lose your deposit on 100x leverage.
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