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AMM

Slippage

Difference between expected and actual trade execution price

Definition

Slippage refers to the difference between the expected price of a trade and the actual executed price. It occurs when there's insufficient liquidity or high volatility, causing the price to move unfavorably during trade execution.

Slippage is a DeFi term used to understand Difference between expected and actual trade execution price. In practice, it matters because it affects how users evaluate protocols, compare opportunities, and avoid hidden assumptions.

Example

You try to buy $10,000 worth of a token at $100, but due to slippage, you end up paying an average of $102 per token.

1

How it works

In practice, the concept shows up like this: You try to buy $10,000 worth of a token at $100, but due to slippage, you end up paying an average of $102 per token.

2

Why it matters

Slippage matters because small misunderstandings in DeFi can turn into bad pricing, liquidation, governance, custody, or smart-contract risk. A good mental model helps you compare protocols without relying on marketing language.

3

What to check

Before relying on this concept, inspect the mechanism, incentives, liquidity, admin controls, and failure modes. The main checks are: Higher costs than expected; Front-running; Sandwich attacks.

Risks to Consider

  • Higher costs than expected
  • Front-running
  • Sandwich attacks

Common Questions

How can I minimize slippage?

Trade smaller amounts, use liquid pairs, set appropriate slippage tolerance, or **use aggregators** that find the best routes.

What does Slippage mean in DeFi?

Slippage means Difference between expected and actual trade execution price. The useful question is not only the definition, but how the mechanism changes risk, return, liquidity, or governance for the user.

How is Slippage used in practice?

A practical example: You try to buy $10,000 worth of a token at $100, but due to slippage, you end up paying an average of $102 per token.