How Does Cash Settlement Reduce Counterparty Risk Compared to Physical Settlement?
In cash settlement, the clearing house guarantees the payment of the cash difference. In physical settlement, there is an additional risk that the counterparty may fail to deliver or receive the underlying asset, especially if it is illiquid or has transfer issues.
Cash settlement simplifies the obligation to a purely financial one, which the clearing house manages.
Glossar
Clearing House
Settlement ⎊ A clearing house, within cryptocurrency and derivatives markets, functions as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, mitigating counterparty risk through a process of novation ⎊ replacing original trade agreements with new ones directly with the clearing house.
Cash Settlement
Settlement ⎊ Cash settlement, within cryptocurrency derivatives and options trading, represents the fulfillment of a contract obligation through a monetary exchange rather than physical delivery of the underlying asset.