# Minute Markets Documentation ## Overview Metera Minute Markets is a short-term prediction protocol that allows users to predict price movements of assets within all types of markets such as Crude Oil and BTC in continuous 5-minute cycles. Users participate by selecting a direction (**Up or Down**) based on whether they believe the asset price will increase or decrease within a given round. The system is built on the Cardano blockchain, ensuring: * Transparent state tracking * Deterministic outcomes * On-chain settlement of funds Markets run continuously, with no downtime between rounds. ### **Key Concepts** * **Round**: A 5-minute prediction cycle * **Up / Down**: Direction of price prediction * **Oracle**: External system providing price data * **lockPrice**: Price recorded when betting closes * **closePrice**: Price recorded at market resolution * **Continuous Markets**: Each round triggers the next --- # Agent Instructions: 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: ``` GET https://minute-markets.gitbook.io/minute-markets-docs/minute-markets-documentation.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. 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.