Definition
Ask volume is a trading metric that measures how many units of an asset are being offered for sale at specific ask prices in the order book. It aggregates the quantities from all open sell orders at or above the current best ask, showing the immediate supply available from sellers. In crypto markets, ask volume helps characterize the visible selling interest at different price levels and is a key component of understanding short-term market structure.
Within an order book, each ask entry consists of a price and a size, and the ask volume is the sum of these sizes across one or more price levels. Higher ask volume near the current market price can indicate stronger visible selling pressure, while lower ask volume may suggest thinner supply at those prices. As a concept, ask volume is closely related to liquidity depth, since it reflects how much size the market can absorb on the sell side before prices move significantly.
Context and Usage
Ask volume is always observed in relation to the order book, where it appears on the sell side opposite bid volume on the buy side. Market participants often look at ask volume across multiple price levels to gauge how dense or sparse the sell-side liquidity is. Concentrated ask volume at certain prices can form visible areas of potential resistance, while gaps in ask volume can signal areas where prices may move more abruptly.
Because it reflects only currently displayed sell orders, ask volume represents the visible component of supply and does not account for hidden or conditional orders. Changes in ask volume over time can signal shifts in seller participation, risk appetite, or liquidity depth. In both centralized and decentralized trading venues, ask volume is a core element of how price discovery and trade matching are structured around the available sell-side interest.