Portfolio Margin Mode: Cross-Margin Trading Explained

ยท

Portfolio margin mode enables traders to manage spot, margin, perpetual futures, expiry futures, and options positions within a single account. This advanced system employs a risk-based model to calculate margin requirements dynamically, optimizing capital efficiency while maintaining robust risk coverage.

Key Features of Portfolio Margin Mode

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for portfolio margin mode, traders must:

  1. Maintain minimum net equity of $10,000 USD.
  2. Acknowledge understanding of portfolio margin concepts.

Risk Unit Merging Mechanism

Core Principles

  1. Consolidated Risk Units:

    • Derivatives with identical underlying assets merge into single risk units
    • Includes perpetual futures, expiry futures, and options
  2. Automatic Spot Inclusion:

    • Spot assets automatically factor into margin calculations
    • Hedged positions between spot and derivatives reduce required margin
Instrument TypeExample ETH Risk Unit Components
Perpetual FuturesETHUSDT, ETHUSDC, ETHUSD orders
Expiry FuturesETHUSDT, ETHUSDC, ETHUSD orders
OptionsETHUSD options orders
SpotETH/USDT, ETH/USDC spot orders

Margin Calculation Methodology

Maintenance Margin Requirements (MMR)

Calculated per risk unit considering:

Formula:
Portfolio MMR = ฮฃ(MMR per risk unit)

Initial Margin Requirements (IMR)

Derived from MMR:
IMR = 1.3 ร— Derivatives MMR + Borrowed IMR

Risk Assessment Components

The system evaluates 9 distinct risk factors:

  1. Spot Shock (MR1)
  2. Theta Decay (MR2) - Options only
  3. Vega Risk (MR3) - Options only
  4. Basis Risk (MR4)
  5. Interest Rate Risk (MR5) - Options only
  6. Extreme Move (MR6)
  7. Minimum Charge (MR7)
  8. Borrowing Margin (MR8)
  9. Stablecoin Depegging (MR9)

Liquidation Process

Triggered when maintenance margin ratio โ‰ค 100%. Executes in sequential phases:

  1. Dynamic Hedging for Stablecoin Risk (DDH1)
  2. General Dynamic Hedging (DDH2)
  3. Basis Hedge Process
  4. General Position Reduction

๐Ÿ‘‰ Learn advanced liquidation strategies

FAQ Section

Q: How does portfolio margin differ from isolated margin?
A: Portfolio margin evaluates overall portfolio risk rather than individual positions, allowing for margin efficiencies through risk offsets.

Q: Can I test portfolio margin without committing capital?
A: Yes, use the Position Builder tool to simulate portfolios and review margin requirements.

Q: What happens during stablecoin depegging events?
A: The system automatically adjusts positions to mitigate risk through dynamic hedging processes.

Q: How often are margin requirements recalculated?
A: In real-time as market conditions and portfolio compositions change.

Q: Are there instruments excluded from risk unit merging?
A: All supported derivatives with common underlying assets participate in risk unit merging.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Discover risk management tools

Advanced Features

Conclusion

Portfolio margin mode represents a sophisticated approach to cross-margin trading, offering professional traders enhanced capital efficiency while maintaining comprehensive risk controls. By understanding the merging of risk units and dynamic margin calculation methodology, traders can optimize their strategies across multiple instrument types within a unified account structure.