> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.zaros.fi/overview/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.zaros.fi/overview/products/perpetuals-dex/introduction.md).
# Introduction
Perpetual futures, or perpetual swaps, are widely used derivative contracts in the cryptocurrency market. Unlike traditional futures contracts, which have a fixed expiration date, perpetuals don't have an expiration date, making them a valuable instrument for traders to speculate on the future price of assets, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
In addition, in trading, going long, or buying, is a strategy where traders purchase an asset with the expectation that its value will increase over time, while going short, or selling short, is a strategy where traders sell an asset with the hope that its value will decrease in the future. Going short is often employed by traders who believe that a particular asset is overvalued and will eventually decline in price.
## Zaros Perpetuals DEX Overview
Zaros Perpetuals DEX is an innovative DeFi protocol that uniquely merges Liquid (Re)Staking with Perpetual Futures markets. This integration not only fosters real yield generation and capital efficiency but also benefits LSTs and LRTs holders by enabling them to lend their liquidity to support the creation of perpetual markets.
---
# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.
## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.zaros.fi/overview/products/perpetuals-dex/introduction.md?ask=&goal=
```
`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.