Slippage
Basics
What it means
The difference between the expected price of a trade and the price at which it actually executes. Slippage happens when there isn't enough liquidity to fill your order at the desired price.
Example
You place a market buy order for 1 ETH at $3,000, but by the time the order fills, the price has moved to $3,015. Your slippage is $15, which you didn't expect.
Mistake beginners make
Beginners ignore slippage, especially on low-volume or niche cryptocurrencies. High slippage can eat into your expected profits (or amplify losses).
Related terms
- Liquidity — How easily you can buy or sell an asset without moving its price. High liquidity means lar…
- Spot Trading — Buying or selling a cryptocurrency at the current market price for immediate settlement. W…