What Is the Purpose of ‘Index Price’ in Derivatives Trading?
The index price is the composite, real-time price of the underlying asset, calculated by aggregating the spot prices from a basket of major, high-liquidity exchanges. Its purpose is to serve as the most robust and manipulation-resistant representation of the asset's true market value.
It is used by perpetual swaps and futures to calculate the mark price, the funding rate, and the final settlement price.