Trading Volume

Trading volume is the total quantity of an asset bought and sold over a set period, such as 24 hours. It measures how much activity and interest there is in a market.

How it works

Volume is usually reported as a value (for example, dollars traded) across exchanges in a time window. High volume means many participants are actively trading and that orders can be filled without moving the price much — a sign of good liquidity. Low volume means a market is quiet and more easily swayed by single large trades.

Why it matters

Volume helps confirm price moves: a rally on strong volume is generally seen as more convincing than one on thin volume. It also flags liquidity, which affects how easily you can enter or exit a position. Because some venues have reported inflated figures, traders weigh volume alongside other data.

Example

A coin with heavy daily volume can usually be bought or sold in size without a large price impact.