What defines a 'dark pool'?

A dark pool is characterized as a private trading venue that is not accessible to the general public. These platforms are designed to facilitate large trades away from the public eye, which helps to minimize market impact and offer greater anonymity for traders. Typically used by institutional investors or high-frequency traders, dark pools enable participants to execute large orders without revealing their intentions to the rest of the market until after the trades are completed. This can help prevent market volatility that might arise if such large orders were exposed.

The aspect of anonymity is crucial in dark pools, as it allows traders to conduct transactions without disclosing sensitive information about their strategies or positions. This helps in maintaining a competitive edge and allows for more strategic trading activities.