Post Only orders

Post Only Orders

A Post Only order is a specific type of order type used predominantly in cryptocurrency futures trading. It’s a crucial tool for traders aiming to execute trades without contributing to immediate price impact and often employed to minimise trading fees. This article will explain what Post Only orders are, how they function, their benefits, drawbacks, and how they compare to other order types.

What is a Post Only Order?

A Post Only order instructs the exchange to only submit the order if it will be resting on the order book as a limit order. In simpler terms, it guarantees that your order will not be an aggressive, or maker-taker order that immediately executes against existing orders. It *must* post as a limit order, waiting to be filled by other traders. If the order would execute immediately as a market order, it will be cancelled instead of being filled.

This is distinct from a regular limit order where the exchange *may* execute it as a market order if it’s the best price available. Post Only orders explicitly prevent this. They are a subset of limit orders with an added restriction.

How do Post Only Orders Work?

Let’s illustrate with an example. Suppose Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $30,000.

You want to buy BTC with a Post Only order.
You set your limit price at $30,005.

If there are no sell orders at $30,005 or lower, your order will sit on the order book, waiting for someone to offer BTC at your desired price. You are now a maker in the market.

However, if, by the time your order reaches the exchange, the lowest ask price has moved to $30,004, a standard limit order *might* execute immediately at $30,004. A Post Only order, however, will be *cancelled* instead, as it would have resulted in an immediate execution. This ensures you remain a maker.

Benefits of Using Post Only Orders

Reduced Fees: Many exchanges offer lower fees for makers (those who add liquidity to the order book) compared to takers (those who remove liquidity). By using Post Only orders, you consistently qualify for maker fees, reducing your overall trading costs. This is particularly relevant for high-frequency trading and scalping.
Price Improvement: Since your order isn't immediately executed, you have a greater chance of obtaining a more favorable price. You avoid the potential for slippage that can occur with market orders.
Avoiding Front-Running: While not a complete safeguard, Post Only orders can slightly reduce the risk of front-running by bots detecting your order and jumping ahead.
Controlled Entry/Exit: You have absolute control over the price at which your order will be filled. This is useful for precise position sizing and managing risk management.

Drawbacks of Using Post Only Orders

Orders May Not Fill: The primary disadvantage is that your order might not be filled if the price doesn't reach your specified limit price. This can be frustrating, especially in fast-moving markets. Volatility can quickly invalidate your desired price.
Opportunity Cost: While waiting for your order to fill, you might miss out on other trading opportunities.
Requires Patience: Post Only orders are best suited for traders who are patient and willing to wait for their desired price. This contrasts with more aggressive strategies like day trading.
Cancellation Risk: In highly volatile situations, orders can be cancelled repeatedly if the price moves too quickly, potentially missing profitable setups.

Post Only vs. Other Order Types

Here's a comparison of Post Only orders with other common order types:

Order Type	Description	Execution
Market Order	Executes immediately at the best available price.	Always a taker order.
Limit Order	Executes only at a specified price or better.	Can be either maker or taker.
Post Only Order	Executes only as a limit order; cancels if immediate execution would occur.	Always a maker order.
Stop-Loss Order	Triggers a market or limit order when a specified price is reached.	Can be either maker or taker, depending on execution.
Stop-Limit Order	Similar to a Stop-Loss, but uses a limit order instead of a market order.	Can be either maker or taker

Strategies Utilizing Post Only Orders

Post Only orders are frequently integrated into various trading strategies:

Range Trading: Placing Post Only buy and sell orders at the upper and lower bounds of a trading range.
Support and Resistance: Setting buy Post Only orders near support levels and sell Post Only orders near resistance levels. Fibonacci retracements can aid in identifying these levels.
Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA): Using Post Only orders to consistently buy a fixed amount of an asset at regular intervals, regardless of the price, to mitigate risk.
Breakout Trading: Placing Post Only buy orders slightly above a resistance level, anticipating a breakout.
Mean Reversion: Using Post Only orders to capitalize on temporary price deviations from the average, informed by moving averages.
Arbitrage: Exploiting price differences between exchanges, often utilizing Post Only orders to minimize slippage.

Considerations for Volume Analysis

Understanding volume analysis is crucial when using Post Only orders.

High Volume: In high-volume markets, your Post Only order is more likely to fill quickly.
Low Volume: In low-volume markets, it may take significantly longer for your order to fill, or it might not fill at all.
Order Book Depth: Assessing the order book depth is vital. A thick order book suggests more liquidity and a higher probability of filling your order.
Volume Profile: Analyzing the volume profile can identify key price levels where orders are likely to accumulate, providing optimal placement for Post Only orders. Point of Control is a key area.
Tape Reading: Observing the order flow and tape reading can provide insights into market sentiment and potential price movements, aiding in order placement.

Advanced Techniques

Iceberg Orders: Combining Post Only with iceberg orders to hide the full size of your order from the market.
Time-Weighted Average Price (TWAP): Using a series of Post Only orders spread over time to achieve an average execution price.
Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP): Similar to TWAP, but weighted by trading volume.
Conditional Orders: Setting up Post Only orders that are dependent on the fulfillment of other conditions.

Conclusion

Post Only orders are a valuable tool for traders who prioritize reduced fees, price improvement, and controlled execution. However, they require patience and an understanding of market dynamics. By carefully considering the benefits and drawbacks, and integrating them into a well-defined trading plan, traders can leverage Post Only orders to enhance their profitability and manage risk effectively. Further understanding of technical indicators and chart patterns will also improve effectiveness.

Trading strategy Order execution Liquidity Market microstructure Trading fees Order book Maker-taker model Slippage Volatility Risk management Day trading Scalping High-frequency trading Fibonacci retracements Moving averages Arbitrage Volume analysis Order book depth Volume profile Tape reading Iceberg orders TWAP VWAP Conditional orders Trading plan Technical indicators Chart patterns

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