Order Types & Specifications

Mastering Order Execution and Advanced Trading Features

Understanding different order types and their specifications is essential for effective trading on MegaTAO. This section covers market orders, limit orders, stop orders, and advanced order features.

🎯 Order Types Overview

Order Type
Execution
Price Control
Speed
Use Case

Market

Immediate

None

Instant

Urgent execution

Limit

Conditional

Full

Variable

Price targets

Stop

Triggered

None

Instant

Risk management

⚡ Market Orders

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Characteristic
Description
Impact

Execution

Immediate

No waiting

Price

Current market price

No price control

Fill

Guaranteed if liquidity exists

Reliable execution

Slippage

May execute at worse prices

Volatility risk

When to Use Market Orders

  • Immediate Execution: When you need to enter/exit immediately

  • High Liquidity: When market has good liquidity

  • Breakout Trading: When price breaks key levels

  • Emergency Exits: When you need to exit quickly

Market Order Execution

  • Buy Orders: Execute at the current ask price

  • Sell Orders: Execute at the current bid price

  • Spread Impact: Pay the bid-ask spread

  • Timing: Execute within seconds of submission

Market Order Examples

Opening a Long Position

  1. Select Asset: Choose Alpha token to trade

  2. Select Direction: Choose "Long" (buy)

  3. Enter Size: Specify position size in dollars

  4. Select Leverage: Choose leverage multiplier

  5. Submit Order: Click "Market Buy"

  6. Execution: Order executes at current ask price

Opening a Short Position

  1. Select Asset: Choose Alpha token to trade

  2. Select Direction: Choose "Short" (sell)

  3. Enter Size: Specify position size in dollars

  4. Select Leverage: Choose leverage multiplier

  5. Submit Order: Click "Market Sell"

  6. Execution: Order executes at current bid price

Limit Orders

What are Limit Orders?

Limit orders execute only at a specified price or better.

Characteristics

  • Price Control: You specify the execution price

  • Conditional Execution: Only execute if price reaches your level

  • No Guarantee: May not execute if price doesn't reach level

  • Better Prices: Can get better execution prices

  • Patience Required: May take time to execute

When to Use Limit Orders

  • Price Targets: When you have specific entry/exit prices

  • Better Execution: When you want better prices

  • Patient Trading: When you can wait for execution

  • Range Trading: When trading within price ranges

Limit Order Execution

  • Buy Orders: Execute at limit price or lower

  • Sell Orders: Execute at limit price or higher

  • Partial Fills: May execute partially if liquidity is limited

  • Time Limits: Can set expiration times

Limit Order Examples

Limit Buy Order

  • Current Price: $100

  • Limit Price: $95

  • Execution: Will buy at $95 or lower

  • Scenario: Waiting for price to drop to $95

Limit Sell Order

  • Current Price: $100

  • Limit Price: $105

  • Execution: Will sell at $105 or higher

  • Scenario: Waiting for price to rise to $105

Stop Orders

What are Stop Orders?

Stop orders become market orders when a specific price level is reached.

Characteristics

  • Trigger Price: Set price level that activates the order

  • Market Execution: Convert to market order when triggered

  • Risk Management: Used for stop losses and breakouts

  • No Price Control: Execute at market price when triggered

  • Slippage Risk: May execute at worse prices

When to Use Stop Orders

  • Stop Losses: Limiting losses on existing positions

  • Breakout Trading: Entering on price breakouts

  • Risk Management: Protecting against adverse moves

  • Trend Following: Following price momentum

Stop Order Execution

  • Trigger: Order activates when price reaches trigger level

  • Conversion: Becomes market order upon triggering

  • Execution: Executes at current market price

  • Timing: Execute within seconds of triggering

Stop Order Examples

Stop Loss Order

  • Position: Long position at $100

  • Stop Price: $90

  • Trigger: When price drops to $90

  • Execution: Sells at market price (may be below $90)

Breakout Order

  • Current Price: $100

  • Stop Price: $105

  • Trigger: When price rises to $105

  • Execution: Buys at market price (may be above $105)

Advanced Order Features

Take Profit Orders

Automated profit-taking at predetermined levels.

How Take Profit Orders Work

  • Profit Target: Set specific profit level

  • Order Type: Can be market or limit order

  • Execution: Automatic when target reached

  • Management: Monitor and adjust as needed

Take Profit Order Examples

Market Take Profit

  • Position: Long position at $100

  • Take Profit: $110

  • Execution: Sells at market price when price reaches $110

  • Result: Locks in profit automatically

Limit Take Profit

  • Position: Long position at $100

  • Take Profit: $110

  • Execution: Sells at $110 or higher when price reaches $110

  • Result: Better execution price possible

Stop Loss Orders

Automated loss-limiting at predetermined levels.

How Stop Loss Orders Work

  • Loss Limit: Set specific loss level

  • Order Type: Can be market or limit order

  • Execution: Automatic when limit reached

  • Management: Monitor and adjust as needed

Stop Loss Order Examples

Market Stop Loss

  • Position: Long position at $100

  • Stop Loss: $90

  • Execution: Sells at market price when price drops to $90

  • Result: Limits losses automatically

Limit Stop Loss

  • Position: Long position at $100

  • Stop Loss: $90

  • Execution: Sells at $90 or higher when price drops to $90

  • Result: Better execution price possible

Trailing Stop Orders

Stop orders that follow favorable price movements.

How Trailing Stops Work

  • Initial Stop: Set initial stop loss level

  • Trailing Distance: Set distance to trail behind price

  • Direction: Only moves in favorable direction

  • Execution: Becomes market order when triggered

Trailing Stop Examples

Long Position Trailing Stop

  • Position: Long position at $100

  • Trailing Stop: $5 below current price

  • Price Rises to $110: Stop moves to $105

  • Price Rises to $120: Stop moves to $115

  • Price Drops to $115: Stop triggers, sells at market

Order Book Integration

How Order Books Work

MegaTAO integrates with professional-grade order matching systems.

Order Book Features

  • Real-time Updates: Live bid/ask prices

  • Market Depth: Shows available liquidity at different levels

  • Price Discovery: Transparent price formation

  • Liquidity Provision: Market makers provide liquidity

Reading the Order Book

  • Bid Side: Buy orders (highest bid on top)

  • Ask Side: Sell orders (lowest ask on top)

  • Spread: Difference between best bid and ask

  • Depth: Available liquidity at each price level

Order Book Strategies

Market Making

  • Provide Liquidity: Place orders on both sides

  • Capture Spread: Profit from bid-ask spread

  • Risk Management: Manage inventory risk

  • Automation: Use algorithms for order placement

Liquidity Taking

  • Consume Liquidity: Use market orders

  • Pay Spread: Accept bid-ask spread cost

  • Immediate Execution: Get instant fills

  • Strategy: Use when you need immediate execution

Self-Trade Prevention

What is Self-Trading?

Self-trading occurs when your orders trade against each other.

Self-Trade Prevention Features

  • Order Matching: Prevents orders from same account trading

  • Time Delays: Adds delays between order modifications

  • Account Linking: Prevents related accounts from trading

  • Technical Measures: Built-in prevention mechanisms

Why Self-Trade Prevention Matters

  • Market Integrity: Maintains fair market conditions

  • Price Discovery: Prevents artificial price movements

  • Liquidity: Ensures genuine liquidity provision

  • Compliance: Meets regulatory requirements

Order Size Limits

Minimum Order Sizes

Minimum position sizes per asset to ensure market efficiency.

Minimum Size Requirements

  • Asset-Specific: Different minimums for different assets

  • Market Conditions: May change based on market conditions

  • Liquidity: Based on available market liquidity

  • Risk Management: Prevents excessive fragmentation

Minimum Size Examples

  • Major Assets: $100 minimum position size

  • Minor Assets: $50 minimum position size

  • New Assets: $25 minimum position size

  • Volatile Assets: May have higher minimums

Maximum Order Sizes

Maximum position sizes per asset to manage risk.

Maximum Size Requirements

  • Risk Limits: Based on protocol risk management

  • Liquidity: Limited by available market liquidity

  • Market Impact: Prevents excessive market impact

  • Position Limits: Per-account position limits

Maximum Size Examples

  • Major Assets: $1,000,000 maximum position size

  • Minor Assets: $500,000 maximum position size

  • New Assets: $100,000 maximum position size

  • Volatile Assets: May have lower maximums

Order Management

Order Status Tracking

Monitor your orders throughout their lifecycle.

Order Statuses

  • Pending: Order submitted, waiting for execution

  • Partially Filled: Order executed partially

  • Filled: Order completely executed

  • Cancelled: Order cancelled before execution

  • Expired: Order expired without execution

Order Management Tools

  • Order History: View all past orders

  • Active Orders: Monitor pending orders

  • Order Modification: Change order parameters

  • Order Cancellation: Cancel pending orders

Order Modification

Change order parameters before execution.

What Can Be Modified

  • Price: Change limit prices

  • Size: Modify order size

  • Time: Extend order expiration

  • Type: Change order type (in some cases)

Modification Process

  1. Select Order: Choose order to modify

  2. Edit Parameters: Change desired parameters

  3. Submit Changes: Confirm modifications

  4. Verify Update: Check that changes applied

Next Steps

Now that you understand order types and specifications, continue to:


⚠️ Important Note: Understanding order types is crucial for effective trading. Always consider execution risk, slippage, and market conditions when choosing order types.

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