# About Arrow Markets

## Overview

In the traditional options market, options must be sold by a writer who receives the premium from the buyer and is responsible for paying the buyer if the option is exercised in the money. As an options protocol on [<mark style="color:purple;">Avalanche</mark>](http://avax.network/), **Arrow Markets** gives users the ability to buy options without the need to be matched by a middle-man. Arrow will facilitate the creation and settlement of options on popular underlying assets such as AVAX, ETH, and BTC.&#x20;

### Namesake

The name *Arrow Markets* is a nod to Nobel laureate economist Kenneth Arrow, who showed that options contracts form a basis for prices and payoffs of financial assets. Options make it possible to construct a wide variety of derivatives and structured products, by forming specific portfolios.