Bid and ask
The bid is the highest price someone is willing to pay; the ask is the lowest price someone is willing to sell at. A market maker posts both.
Market making
Crypto market making explained
Market making means continuously offering to buy and sell an asset with limit orders, so other traders can trade at predictable prices. This page explains the core ideas and how Atlas LP supports them.
Core concepts
Spread
The difference between the best ask and best bid. Tighter spreads lower trading costs for other participants.
Depth and inventory
Depth is the size resting near the mid price. Posting orders on both sides uses inventory in the base and quote assets.
Market making vs wash trading
Real market making provides orders that other traders can hit. Wash trading creates fake activity and is prohibited.
Market making
Resting limit orders on the public order book that any participant can trade against, at prices inside a disclosed range.
Wash trading
Trading with yourself to inflate volume or mislead others. It is prohibited by exchanges and illegal in many jurisdictions.
Your responsibility
Atlas LP is a tool for placing limit orders. Use it only in ways allowed by each exchange's rules and the laws that apply to you.
Parameters that matter
Spread range
In Atlas LP the spread min and max define how far targets can move from the base price; the width must be at least 40 bps.
Levels and spacing
More levels with small spacing show more depth near the mid; fewer levels use less inventory.
Order size
Sizes are drawn randomly between your minimum and maximum and must meet the exchange's minimum quantity and notional.
Frequently asked questions
Is market making legal?
Posting genuine limit orders is a normal market activity. Manipulative practices such as wash trading are prohibited. Check the rules of your exchange and jurisdiction.
Does market making raise the price?
Market making is about offering liquidity on both sides. Atlas LP does not guarantee any price movement.
What is a basis point?
One basis point (bps) is 0.01%. At a price of 10,000, 10 bps equals 10.
Run your spot liquidity bot with clear controls
Connect an exchange API key, set your spread band and order levels, and monitor orders, fills and balances from one console.