# OTC Desk

> An over-the-counter trading desk that matches large crypto buyers and sellers off the public exchanges.

Canonical URL: https://business.fudfomo.co/glossary/otc-desk
Source: What The Block! Dictionary v1.0 (last updated 2026-04-25), browsable at https://wtb.fudfomo.co.

## Definition

An over-the-counter, or OTC, desk arranges large crypto trades privately, away from public exchanges. Institutions and high-net-worth individuals use them to move size without moving the visible market price.

OTC desks quote a single price for the whole trade, settle directly between the two parties, and often offer block trading and credit lines. The trade-off is that you have to trust the desk and its counterparties.

## Related terms

- [CEX](https://business.fudfomo.co/glossary/cex): A centralised exchange. A regulated platform where you buy and sell crypto using an account.
- [Custody](https://business.fudfomo.co/glossary/custody): Who holds your crypto and the keys to it. Self-custody means you do, custodial means a company does.
- [Market Cap](https://business.fudfomo.co/glossary/market-cap): The current price of a coin multiplied by how many are in circulation. A rough size measure.

## See the full catalogue

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