Earlier quoted context omitted.
Market makers are always talking about "lowering the spread" being this great thing they're doing to make the world a better place Yet when I go somewhere with no liquidity and a huge spread like a crypto exchange, a deeply unpopular corner of the stock derivatives market, or a Craigslist used stuff category, the wide spread is just a mild inconvenience at worst. You get to choose between waiting for a better deal an…
"Yet when I go somewhere with no liquidity and a huge spread.." Someone who wants to buy or sell goes to a market in order execute at the best price achievable, and they may be under time pressure. If the spreads are wider at one place than another, participants will gravitate to the place with the narrower spreads. If there is better liquidity at one place than another, activity will move to that place. The purpose…
Otherwise these 2 guys could fill their orders immediately.
10 20 means you can sell for 10 and buy for 20 instead.