Why Is a Central Limit Order Book Less Suitable for Complex Financial Derivatives?

Central limit order books (CLOBs) are less suitable for complex financial derivatives due to their inherent lack of standardization and lower liquidity. CLOBs function best with fungible, high-volume instruments where trades can be matched based on price-time priority.

Complex derivatives often have bespoke terms, making each contract unique and fragmenting liquidity. This illiquidity leads to wide bid-ask spreads and poor price discovery, undermining the efficiency of the CLOB model.

What Are the Primary Alternatives to a CLOB for Trading Complex Derivatives?
How Does Standardization Enhance the Liquidity of Futures Contracts?
What Is a ‘Hidden Limit Order’ and Is It Compatible with Stop-Limit Functionality?
Why Are Illiquid Crypto Options Often Traded on RFQ Platforms Instead of CLOBs?
How Does an RFQ Platform Differ from a Central Limit Order Book (CLOB)?
What Types of Disputes Are Most Suitable for On-Chain Resolution?
How Does a ‘Whale’ Order Impact the Apparent Liquidity of an Order Book?
How Does the Standardization of Futures Contracts Affect Liquidity?

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