An exchange platform is an electronic or physical regulated marketplace where buyers and sellers can trade standardized financial instruments, including carbon allowances like those in the EU ETS. It provides a centralized, transparent venue where market participants can view real-time prices, execute trades, and access market depth information.
The platform ensures fair trading by implementing strict rules and surveillance systems, while also offering features such as order matching, price discovery, and trading history. In carbon markets, these platforms play a crucial role in facilitating the efficient trading of emission allowances between various market participants, from industrial companies to financial traders.