If you're buying 0.20 BTC or more, the choice between an OTC desk and a crypto exchange has significant financial and operational implications. Here's everything you need to know.
Use an OTC desk if you're buying 0.20 BTC or more and value privacy, a fixed price, and US regulatory compliance. Use an exchange for frequent small trades where instant settlement is more important than price guarantees.
| Feature | OTC Desk | Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| Price Slippage | None — fixed quote | High on large orders |
| Order Book Visibility | Private — off-market | Fully public |
| Minimum Purchase | 0.20 BTC | No minimum |
| Settlement Time | 24 hours (wire) | Instant |
| Market Impact | Zero | Can be significant |
| Personal Service | Dedicated manager | None |
| Compliance (FinCEN MSB) | Registered MSB | Varies |
| Price Lock | Locked at wire receipt | Market price |
| Best for | 0.20+ BTC buyers | Frequent small trades |
When you place a large market order on an exchange, you consume multiple price levels in the order book. Each successive BTC you buy is slightly more expensive than the last. Example: buying 5 BTC on Coinbase at a $94,000 market price might cost you an average of $94,200–$94,500 per BTC due to slippage, whereas our OTC desk gives you a single fixed quote of $94,000 + 0.75% = $94,705 per BTC — often better than the exchange effective price.