OTC cryptoasset trading is simply the trading of cryptoassets directly between two parties in a closed trading market. cryptoassets directly between two parties in a closed trading market. The parties involved only have the private price they show and can negotiate deals based on the amount each party has or is interested in buying. Imagine a picture of two people engaged in private trade negotiations. On the one hand, one person is willing to sell assets at a given price, while the other party is willing to buy assets at a given price.

An OTC transaction occurs when both parties agree on the price of the transaction or exchange they agree to. A trade can be crypto-to-crypto or fiat-to-crypto, and, in both cases, the need for a "marketplace or trading desk" to effect the transaction is imperative. OTC markets or trading desks are professional platforms that deal directly with crypto buyers or sellers. They can be of two types:
- OTC Trading Principal Desk
It involves the use of funds to purchase the requested assets at the clients' request. This, by extension, implies that the OTC trader is assuming the risk in the process on behalf of its client.
- Agency Market OTC
They do not operate with their own funds and therefore do not assume market risk. In this case, clients have to pay a commission to the OTC trading market, allowing it to act as an intermediary on their behalf.
Why use an OTC cryptocurrency trading desk?
Large volume traders, institutions, private wealth managers and hedge funds benefit from cryptocurrency OTC desks. These buyers have large capital bases and the ability to trade in large volumes, with transactions typically ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. The OTC cryptocurrency broker typically sets these transaction limits.
Buying large amounts of cryptocurrencies is solved by trading with OTC trading desks. Through the main or agency OTC market, you can buy any amount of cryptocurrencies in a single order without stress.
Some advantages of trading cryptocurrencies using the OTC market desk:
- Liquidity: this is the primary factor when it comes to over-the-counter trading. It is an open secret that cryptocurrency exchanges specifically have very low liquidity. Exchanges often find it difficult to execute a large order effectively, so they split that order into small chunks. On the other hand, buying cryptocurrencies through an OTC trading market minimizes the risk of price spikes, since most OTC trading markets can sell large quantities of cryptocurrencies.
- Confidentiality: Exchanges in the OTC trading markets are a one-to-one affair, so there is little chance of third parties interjecting themselves into a transaction or becoming aware of it. This makes trades within this space essentially private. Therefore, customers can transact without any fear or threat.
- Direct transactions: With OTC trading markets, buyers and sellers have the ability to transact directly without the intervention of third parties and without any restrictions. This directly solves the problem of scam schemes that often operate under the banner of third parties, commonly referred to as "stoppers". With direct transactions, buyers can track their sellers.
Finally, the question that moves every person to know whether to bet on some process is to know if it is worth using OTC cryptocurrency trading? If you want to exchange large volumes of fiat money for cryptocurrencies or large amounts of cryptocurrencies for cash, yes, it is worth using OTC trading.