Explain the Settlement Process for a Physically-Settled Futures Contract.
In a physically-settled futures contract, the actual underlying commodity or asset is delivered from the seller to the buyer on the contract's expiration date. This contrasts with cash-settled futures, where only the difference in cash value is exchanged.
Physical settlement requires the parties to manage the logistics of the asset transfer.
Glossar
Underlying Commodity
Asset ⎊ The underlying commodity, in the context of crypto derivatives, is the specific digital asset upon which the value of the derivative contract is based, such as Bitcoin or Ether.
Settlement Process
Clearing ⎊ This phase involves the final confirmation and reconciliation of all trade details between the buyer and seller, often managed by a central counterparty or a decentralized protocol.