Can I add margin to an existing position on Kraken contracts?

On Kraken Futures, adding margin to an isolated position increases collateral, lowers effective leverage, and pushes back the liquidation price to reduce liquidation risk.

Aug 09, 2025 at 10:29 pm

Understanding Margin in Kraken Futures Trading

When trading futures on Kraken, margin plays a crucial role in maintaining open positions. Margin refers to the collateral deposited by traders to cover potential losses on leveraged positions. On Kraken Futures, traders can open positions with leverage, meaning they control a larger position size than their initial capital. This leverage is only possible because of margin. There are two types: initial margin, which is required to open a position, and maintenance margin, the minimum amount needed to keep the position open. If the account balance falls below the maintenance margin level, the position may be liquidated.

Kraken allows users to manage their margin dynamically. This includes the ability to add margin to existing positions, which helps prevent liquidation during volatile market movements. The process is designed to give traders more control over their risk exposure. Understanding how this function works is essential for anyone using Kraken Futures, especially those holding leveraged positions in fluctuating markets.

How to Access the Margin Adjustment Feature

To add margin to an existing position on Kraken, traders must navigate to the Futures trading interface. After logging into their Kraken account, they should select the "Futures" tab located at the top of the dashboard. Once inside, users can view all active positions under the "Positions" section. Each open position displays key data, including entry price, leverage, liquidation price, and current margin.

Adjacent to each position, there is an option labeled "Modify" or "Add/Remove Margin". Clicking this button opens a pop-up window where the user can adjust the margin allocation. The interface will show the current margin amount and allow input of additional funds to be added. It is important to ensure sufficient available balance in the futures wallet before proceeding. Funds must be transferred from the spot wallet to the futures wallet if necessary, using the "Transfer" function located in the wallet management section.

Step-by-Step Process to Add Margin

• Navigate to the Kraken Futures platform and log in securely
• Click on the "Positions" tab to view all active contracts
• Locate the specific position you want to adjust and click "Modify"
• In the adjustment window, select the "Add Margin" option
• Enter the amount of USD or stablecoin you wish to allocate to the position
• Confirm the transaction using your two-factor authentication (2FA) method
• Wait for the confirmation message indicating successful margin addition

The added margin is immediately reflected in the position’s collateral balance, which in turn adjusts the liquidation price. A higher margin reduces the risk of liquidation by increasing the buffer against adverse price movements. The updated liquidation price is recalculated in real time and displayed in the position details.

Impact of Adding Margin on Liquidation Price

One of the primary reasons traders add margin is to push back the liquidation price. The liquidation price is the market price at which the exchange automatically closes a leveraged position due to insufficient margin. When additional margin is added, the system recalculates the margin ratio and adjusts the liquidation threshold.

For example, if a long position has a liquidation price at $30,000 and the current market price is $32,000, adding more margin could move the liquidation price down to $28,500. This gives the trader more room for the market to move against them without triggering a forced closure. The exact new liquidation price is computed using the formula:

New Liquidation Price = Entry Price × (1 - Initial Margin Rate / (1 + Additional Margin / Position Value))

This calculation is handled automatically by Kraken’s engine, and the updated value is visible immediately after the margin adjustment.

Limitations and Considerations

While adding margin is a powerful risk management tool, certain restrictions apply. Only isolated margin positions allow manual margin adjustments. In cross-margin mode, margin is shared across all positions, and the system automatically allocates funds, so individual position adjustments are not permitted. Traders must ensure their position is in isolated margin mode to use the add margin feature.

Another consideration is the funding rate. Positions held over funding intervals are subject to periodic payments or receipts based on the prevailing funding rate. Adding margin does not exempt a position from funding costs. Additionally, the maximum leverage for a position remains unchanged after adding margin. Leverage is set at entry and cannot be altered later, but the effective leverage decreases as more margin is added.

Traders should also be aware that withdrawals from a position’s margin are allowed only if the remaining margin stays above the maintenance requirement. Attempting to remove too much margin will trigger an error in the interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add margin using any cryptocurrency?

No. Kraken Futures only accepts USDT, USD Coin (USDC), or DAI as margin collateral for most contracts. You must ensure your futures wallet holds one of these stablecoins before attempting to add margin.

Will adding margin affect my position’s leverage?

Adding margin does not change the nominal leverage set at entry. However, it reduces the effective leverage because the ratio of position size to margin increases. For instance, a 5x leveraged position with added margin may behave more like a 3x position in terms of risk exposure.

Is there a fee for adding margin to a position?

Kraken does not charge a fee for adjusting margin. However, transferring funds from the spot wallet to the futures wallet may be subject to internal transfer delays, though no network fees apply since it’s an internal movement.

What happens if I try to add margin but don’t have enough funds?

If your futures wallet lacks sufficient balance, the system will display an “Insufficient Funds” error. You must first transfer funds from your spot account. This is done via the “Transfer” section, selecting the source (spot), destination (futures), asset, and amount.