How Do Financial Derivatives like Futures Contracts Relate to the Price Discovery of Cryptocurrencies?
Futures contracts provide a forward-looking price expectation for a cryptocurrency, as traders bet on where the price will be at a future date. This consensus-driven forward price is a critical component of price discovery, often influencing the spot market.
They allow for hedging and speculation, attracting institutional capital and increasing market efficiency and liquidity. The interaction between spot and futures markets refines the overall market price.