# The Flash Layer

### Introduction

The Flash Layer is where trades are fulfilled by Gradient market maker liquidity. This allows for the instant, price-impact free execution of off-market trades at market price.

In order to create constant availability, Gradient allows for the public provision of liquidity to market Maker pools, incentivized via spread-based earnings.

This network of liquidity serves as an immediate counterparty, enabling both buy-side & sell-side instant order fulfillment for traders while promoting deeper liquidity and healthier price action for tokens.

### Market Maker (MM) Liquidity

Gradient allows users to participate as market makers by supplying ETH alongside a target token. 

* Market Makers capture profit from spread and platform volume.
* The system prioritizes MM liquidity, ensuring instant order execution when possible.
* Market Makers retain full control over their liquidity volatility & exposure.
* Market Makers are never subject to impermanent loss or idle capital.

Market Makers enhance and deepen liquidity while improving the Gradient protocol's efficiency. 

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**Spread:** A fixed difference between buy and sell prices. In Gradient, this is a deliberate 2% spread per trade, transparently split between liquidity providers and the platform.
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