Pages:
Author

Topic: Equities and Bonds collapsing. Bitcoin UP. (Read 1746 times)

legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1002
June 21, 2013, 04:25:08 PM
#23
No need to fear bots.  HFT in traditional markets has two components that make it nasty:
1.  Algorithms are allowed to place orders with no intention to allow them to fill.  In fact, if an order comes in that would fill them, they are given time to pull the order.  As a human, it is illegal to place an order without the intention to allow it to fill.  This is possible because of:
2.  Algorithms have direct access to the actual orderbook, whereas retail traders only have access to a order queue.  These orders will eventually hit the market, but the algorithms get to peak at them ahead of time and even make trades before they hit.
Now wait a minute. Isn't that frontrunning? Isn't frontrunning, like, illegal?

Only if you are human.
legendary
Activity: 960
Merit: 1028
Spurn wild goose chases. Seek that which endures.
No need to fear bots.  HFT in traditional markets has two components that make it nasty:
1.  Algorithms are allowed to place orders with no intention to allow them to fill.  In fact, if an order comes in that would fill them, they are given time to pull the order.  As a human, it is illegal to place an order without the intention to allow it to fill.  This is possible because of:
2.  Algorithms have direct access to the actual orderbook, whereas retail traders only have access to a order queue.  These orders will eventually hit the market, but the algorithms get to peak at them ahead of time and even make trades before they hit.
Now wait a minute. Isn't that frontrunning? Isn't frontrunning, like, illegal?
legendary
Activity: 2492
Merit: 1473
LEALANA Bitcoin Grim Reaper
Anyone running to cash right now will be okay for only a short time. Better get into something and fast....bitcoin hint hint
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1002
Hey notme, thanks for clear explanation, I didn't realize this. Quite unbelieveable this is allowed to go on! Do you have some links with more details? That really eases my worries about HFT and BTC, it will really be down on exchanges to make sure this does not happen, and if they don't their customers can move elsewhere.

No need to fear bots.  HFT in traditional markets has two components that make it nasty:
1.  Algorithms are allowed to place orders with no intention to allow them to fill.  In fact, if an order comes in that would fill them, they are given time to pull the order.  As a human, it is illegal to place an order without the intention to allow it to fill.  This is possible because of:
2.  Algorithms have direct access to the actual orderbook, whereas retail traders only have access to a order queue.  These orders will eventually hit the market, but the algorithms get to peak at them ahead of time and even make trades before they hit.

I don't yet see either of these problems in bitcoin.  Nobody but the exchanges has access to orders before they hit the book, and any order placed is capital at risk.  Playing both sides is what traditional human market makers have done for centuries and is certainly not without risk (consider what happens when the market trends in one direction).  However, it is these players that provide the liquidity you so clearly desire.

BTW
#Day 2, and it's not looking pretty.

"Dive! Take cover! Or, at least, hold on to your pants in the scramble. The Chinese bubble has just burst. It looks like the world is going to have egg on its face and elsewhere as Chinese banks are scrambling to get the hands on cash."
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-06-21/chinese-banks-ready-go-bust


There is a really good article that specifically addresses two points I mentioned, but I can't seem to find it now.  I did find another article [1], which looks to hit those points and a few other nuances.  It also includes quite a bit of introduction to the generic market concepts you need to know if you need to brush up on that.  Overall, it seems to be fairly negative on HFT, but keep in mind they talking about the status quo where the algorithms are allowed to do things that are illegal for humans to do and they are given access to a priority order queue as well as early knowledge of retail trades.  Take away these advantages, and you put the risk/reward back where it belongs, IMO.

1. http://www.demos.org/publication/cracks-pipeline-part-two-high-frequency-trading
newbie
Activity: 27
Merit: 0
Hey notme, thanks for clear explanation, I didn't realize this. Quite unbelieveable this is allowed to go on! Do you have some links with more details? That really eases my worries about HFT and BTC, it will really be down on exchanges to make sure this does not happen, and if they don't their customers can move elsewhere.

No need to fear bots.  HFT in traditional markets has two components that make it nasty:
1.  Algorithms are allowed to place orders with no intention to allow them to fill.  In fact, if an order comes in that would fill them, they are given time to pull the order.  As a human, it is illegal to place an order without the intention to allow it to fill.  This is possible because of:
2.  Algorithms have direct access to the actual orderbook, whereas retail traders only have access to a order queue.  These orders will eventually hit the market, but the algorithms get to peak at them ahead of time and even make trades before they hit.

I don't yet see either of these problems in bitcoin.  Nobody but the exchanges has access to orders before they hit the book, and any order placed is capital at risk.  Playing both sides is what traditional human market makers have done for centuries and is certainly not without risk (consider what happens when the market trends in one direction).  However, it is these players that provide the liquidity you so clearly desire.

BTW
#Day 2, and it's not looking pretty.

"Dive! Take cover! Or, at least, hold on to your pants in the scramble. The Chinese bubble has just burst. It looks like the world is going to have egg on its face and elsewhere as Chinese banks are scrambling to get the hands on cash."
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-06-21/chinese-banks-ready-go-bust
hero member
Activity: 752
Merit: 500
bitcoin hodler
interesting, thanks for the info
full member
Activity: 140
Merit: 100
Ad Infinitum Et Ultra
Panic and Print will be their mantra just like last time.. Or was it print and buy?
hero member
Activity: 841
Merit: 1000
Nikkei opens not good this morning, already 2.17% down. Are things turning ugly today? We shall see.
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1002
Touche - some element if wishful thinking from my part Smiley

And you are right at the moment liquidity is not great with markets shutting down left and right, that is probably the biggest risk.

But... there is a difference between agressive trading and manipulation also called cheating. I can't call a banker friend and set the BTC exchange rate, as we have seen in the libor, and seems to be happening with gold and forex. If I have a lot of coins I can try a big dump, small trades to influence price, etc. But it's all in plain sight and anyone doing so takes risk. So I think I meant 'central' manipulation. The equivalent in BTC world would be someone setting up a trojan in the bitcoin source code to skew the algorithms for private gain. Highly unlikely given open source nature.

The only thing I fear is HFT - I hope the community finds a way to ban or control it. Perhaps exchanges should enforce a minimum time between transactions (but very fast transaction execution), or offer a separate exchange with no limitation for the battle of the trading bots. Otherwise bot become a transaction tax as they work on both sides of the spread.


Quote
Very liquid and without mass market manipulation - you're joking right ?

No need to fear bots.  HFT in traditional markets has two components that make it nasty:
1.  Algorithms are allowed to place orders with no intention to allow them to fill.  In fact, if an order comes in that would fill them, they are given time to pull the order.  As a human, it is illegal to place an order without the intention to allow it to fill.  This is possible because of:
2.  Algorithms have direct access to the actual orderbook, whereas retail traders only have access to a order queue.  These orders will eventually hit the market, but the algorithms get to peak at them ahead of time and even make trades before they hit.

I don't yet see either of these problems in bitcoin.  Nobody but the exchanges has access to orders before they hit the book, and any order placed is capital at risk.  Playing both sides is what traditional human market makers have done for centuries and is certainly not without risk (consider what happens when the market trends in one direction).  However, it is these players that provide the liquidity you so clearly desire.
newbie
Activity: 27
Merit: 0
Totally agree that BTC is not ready, far from that. I don't think we have 3 years to get there.

Not sure the US or any other country will be able to delay the inevitable much longer. Cyprus was a tiny bubble compared to what we are discussing here, and you saw the effect. All it will take imho is one sizable bubble to burst (china growth, tech stocks, property, bonds, etc), and trigger a chain reaction thanks to the castle of cards which is shadow banking. A single govt or CB will not be able to isolate their market and currency.

pop. pop. pop.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-multi-trillion-dollar-derivative-bubble-deutsche-bank-the-biggest-derivative-exposure-in-the-world/5333472
http://www.businessinsider.com/9-banks-combine-for-over-200-trillion-derivatives-exposure-2012-4

But yes it's musical chairs and no one wants the music to stop. Could go on for a little while, or not. Better get ready, and no I don't mean buying guns and gold and moving to an isolated ranch.

[/quote]
In potential, yes. But I think it's still too early for that, the collapse has to be postponed for another 3 years or so and then I see bitcoin having a real chance in the economy. The infrastructure is just not there yet, too many obstacles at the moment. This will change, but it needs time. Time it might not get if things get sour too soon in the world economy.
[/quote]
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
Next thread will be titled:
Everything collapsing. Bitcoin up uP UP.
newbie
Activity: 27
Merit: 0
Touche - some element if wishful thinking from my part Smiley

And you are right at the moment liquidity is not great with markets shutting down left and right, that is probably the biggest risk.

But... there is a difference between agressive trading and manipulation also called cheating. I can't call a banker friend and set the BTC exchange rate, as we have seen in the libor, and seems to be happening with gold and forex. If I have a lot of coins I can try a big dump, small trades to influence price, etc. But it's all in plain sight and anyone doing so takes risk. So I think I meant 'central' manipulation. The equivalent in BTC world would be someone setting up a trojan in the bitcoin source code to skew the algorithms for private gain. Highly unlikely given open source nature.

The only thing I fear is HFT - I hope the community finds a way to ban or control it. Perhaps exchanges should enforce a minimum time between transactions (but very fast transaction execution), or offer a separate exchange with no limitation for the battle of the trading bots. Otherwise bot become a transaction tax as they work on both sides of the spread.


[/quote]
Very liquid and without mass market manipulation - you're joking right ?
[/quote]
hero member
Activity: 798
Merit: 1000
You do realize that what is bad for equities and bonds is bad for Bitcoin, right?

Interesting - what makes you think that?

I see it as an hedge against inflation and central bank QE similar to gold, but very liquid and without the mass market manipulation which both currency and commodities suffer. When times are tight, people might also use it just to save 3 or 4% card charges - essentially a universal and private tax on shoppers worldwide. There is also the prospect of fiat savings being confiscated a la cyprus of course which makes btc savings account more interesting. Companies will still run, produce things and people will buy them, but perhaps they will realise the bills in their wallet do not have a 'guaranteed' value and turn to bitcoin has a more transparent and reliable currency.

bitcoin (and other cryptocoins) is a great currency to use in a fairer economy (ie not manipulated and/or taxed arbitrarily), and I really hope that's what we will see at the end of this tunnel.

In potential, yes. But I think it's still too early for that, the collapse has to be postponed for another 3 years or so and then I see bitcoin having a real chance in the economy. The infrastructure is just not there yet, too many obstacles at the moment. This will change, but it needs time. Time it might not get if things get sour too soon in the world economy.

^^ this
legendary
Activity: 1246
Merit: 1000
You do realize that what is bad for equities and bonds is bad for Bitcoin, right?

Interesting - what makes you think that?

I see it as an hedge against inflation and central bank QE similar to gold, but very liquid and without the mass market manipulation which both currency and commodities suffer. When times are tight, people might also use it just to save 3 or 4% card charges - essentially a universal and private tax on shoppers worldwide. There is also the prospect of fiat savings being confiscated a la cyprus of course which makes btc savings account more interesting. Companies will still run, produce things and people will buy them, but perhaps they will realise the bills in their wallet do not have a 'guaranteed' value and turn to bitcoin has a more transparent and reliable currency.

bitcoin (and other cryptocoins) is a great currency to use in a fairer economy (ie not manipulated and/or taxed arbitrarily), and I really hope that's what we will see at the end of this tunnel.

In potential, yes. But I think it's still too early for that, the collapse has to be postponed for another 3 years or so and then I see bitcoin having a real chance in the economy. The infrastructure is just not there yet, too many obstacles at the moment. This will change, but it needs time. Time it might not get if things get sour too soon in the world economy.
legendary
Activity: 1764
Merit: 1002
You do realize that what is bad for equities and bonds is bad for Bitcoin, right?

Interesting - what makes you think that?

I see it as an hedge against inflation and central bank QE similar to gold, but very liquid and without the mass market manipulation which both currency and commodities suffer. When times are tight, people might also use it just to save 3 or 4% card charges - essentially a universal and private tax on shoppers worldwide. There is also the prospect of fiat savings being confiscated a la cyprus of course which makes btc savings account more interesting. Companies will still run, produce things and people will buy them, but perhaps they will realise the bills in their wallet do not have a 'guaranteed' value and turn to bitcoin has a more transparent and reliable currency.

bitcoin (and other cryptocoins) is a great currency to use in a fairer economy (ie not manipulated and/or taxed arbitrarily), and I really hope that's what we will see at the end of this tunnel.

Very liquid and without mass market manipulation - you're joking right ?

Well do you see Bitcoin dropping?

I don't.
hero member
Activity: 798
Merit: 1000
You do realize that what is bad for equities and bonds is bad for Bitcoin, right?

Interesting - what makes you think that?

I see it as an hedge against inflation and central bank QE similar to gold, but very liquid and without the mass market manipulation which both currency and commodities suffer. When times are tight, people might also use it just to save 3 or 4% card charges - essentially a universal and private tax on shoppers worldwide. There is also the prospect of fiat savings being confiscated a la cyprus of course which makes btc savings account more interesting. Companies will still run, produce things and people will buy them, but perhaps they will realise the bills in their wallet do not have a 'guaranteed' value and turn to bitcoin has a more transparent and reliable currency.

bitcoin (and other cryptocoins) is a great currency to use in a fairer economy (ie not manipulated and/or taxed arbitrarily), and I really hope that's what we will see at the end of this tunnel.

Very liquid and without mass market manipulation - you're joking right ?
newbie
Activity: 27
Merit: 0
You do realize that what is bad for equities and bonds is bad for Bitcoin, right?

Interesting - what makes you think that?

I see it as an hedge against inflation and central bank QE similar to gold, but very liquid and without the mass market manipulation which both currency and commodities suffer. When times are tight, people might also use it just to save 3 or 4% card charges - essentially a universal and private tax on shoppers worldwide. There is also the prospect of fiat savings being confiscated a la cyprus of course which makes btc savings account more interesting. Companies will still run, produce things and people will buy them, but perhaps they will realise the bills in their wallet do not have a 'guaranteed' value and turn to bitcoin has a more transparent and reliable currency.

bitcoin (and other cryptocoins) is a great currency to use in a fairer economy (ie not manipulated and/or taxed arbitrarily), and I really hope that's what we will see at the end of this tunnel.
hero member
Activity: 518
Merit: 500
American crisis will be in 2016, right before elections of a new president.
newbie
Activity: 57
Merit: 0
You do realize that what is bad for equities and bonds is bad for Bitcoin, right?
Pages:
Jump to: