What does cross-margin mean on Coinbase futures?

Cross-margin on Coinbase Futures uses your entire wallet balance as collateral, boosting capital efficiency by sharing equity across all positions to avoid liquidation.

Aug 12, 2025 at 09:00 am

Understanding Cross-Margin in Futures Trading

Cross-margin is a margin mode used in futures trading that allows traders to use their entire wallet balance as collateral for open positions. When enabled, the system pulls funds from the trader’s available balance across all positions to prevent liquidation. This differs from isolated margin, where only a designated amount of margin is allocated to a specific position. On Coinbase Futures, cross-margin helps traders avoid immediate liquidation by automatically utilizing excess equity when a position starts to lose value.

The primary advantage of cross-margin lies in its ability to increase capital efficiency. Instead of locking funds into individual positions, traders maintain flexibility. For example, if a trader holds $1,000 in their futures wallet and opens a long position with 10x leverage, cross-margin will use the full $1,000 as a buffer. If the position begins to approach liquidation, the system checks the total equity and may draw from unused portions of the balance to keep the position open.

How Cross-Margin Works on Coinbase Futures

When you enable cross-margin on Coinbase Futures, the platform treats your entire futures account balance as shared margin. This means that all open positions benefit from the cumulative equity in your account. The liquidation price of any given position is calculated based on the overall account health, not just the margin assigned to that trade.

To illustrate, suppose you have two open positions: one in BTC-USD and another in ETH-USD. If the BTC position is under pressure due to adverse price movement, the system can use the unrealized profits or available balance from the ETH position to support the BTC trade. This dynamic allocation reduces the likelihood of liquidation compared to isolated margin, where each position stands alone.

The key metric here is account maintenance margin. Coinbase calculates this across all positions. As long as your total account equity exceeds the combined maintenance margin requirements, your positions remain open. This mechanism is particularly useful during volatile market conditions when sudden price swings can rapidly deplete isolated margin buffers.

Setting Up Cross-Margin on Coinbase Futures

To use cross-margin on Coinbase Futures, follow these steps:

• Log in to your Coinbase account and navigate to the Futures trading interface.
• Select the BTC-USD or any other futures contract you wish to trade.
• Locate the margin mode selector, typically displayed near the order entry panel.
• Click on the current margin mode (likely set to "Isolated" by default).
• Choose "Cross" from the dropdown menu.
• Confirm the change. The interface will update to reflect that cross-margin is now active.

Once activated, all new and existing positions will operate under cross-margin unless manually changed. It’s important to note that switching from isolated to cross-margin does not retroactively alter margin allocation for already open positions in a way that adds funds, but it does change how future margin calls are handled.

You can monitor your available cross-margin balance in the account summary section. This display shows your total wallet balance, used margin, and available margin under the cross-margin model.

Risks and Considerations with Cross-Margin

While cross-margin enhances capital efficiency, it also introduces systemic risk. Because all positions share the same margin pool, a sharp move against one position can impact the stability of others. For instance, if you hold multiple leveraged positions and one experiences a large drawdown, the loss reduces the total equity available for all trades, potentially triggering a cascade of liquidations.

Another consideration is loss of control over individual position risk. In isolated margin, you define the maximum loss per trade. With cross-margin, the system may use funds you intended for other strategies. This can be problematic for traders who prefer strict risk compartmentalization.

Additionally, funding rates and fees still apply per position, and cross-margin does not reduce these costs. Traders must remain vigilant about monitoring liquidation prices, which fluctuate based on overall account equity and market movements.

When to Use Cross-Margin vs. Isolated Margin

Cross-margin is ideal for traders who maintain a diversified portfolio of futures positions and expect correlated movements across assets. It suits those who prioritize position longevity over strict risk segmentation. For example, if you’re running a pairs trade between BTC and ETH, cross-margin can help sustain both legs during temporary imbalances.

Isolated margin, in contrast, benefits traders focusing on high-leverage, single-asset speculation. It allows precise control over risk exposure. A trader going all-in on a short-term BTC move might prefer isolated margin to cap potential losses.

Choosing between the two depends on your trading strategy, risk tolerance, and portfolio composition. Conservative traders often start with isolated margin to limit downside, while experienced users leverage cross-margin for complex, multi-position strategies.

Monitoring and Managing Cross-Margin Positions

Active management is crucial when using cross-margin. You should regularly check:

• Account equity and margin utilization rate – displayed prominently in the Coinbase Futures dashboard.
• Liquidation price for each position – this changes dynamically under cross-margin.
• Unrealized P&L across all trades – since profits in one position can support losses in another.
• Available balance after margin deductions – ensures you have buffer for volatility.

Coinbase provides real-time alerts for margin thresholds. Enable push and email notifications to stay informed about margin health. You can also set up price alerts on assets to anticipate potential drawdowns before they impact your margin pool.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch between cross-margin and isolated margin on open positions?

Yes, you can change the margin mode at any time. However, switching from cross to isolated margin on an open position will allocate a specific margin amount to that trade, removing it from the shared pool. The system will calculate the required initial and maintenance margin based on current market conditions.

Does cross-margin affect my funding payments on Coinbase Futures?

No, funding payments are calculated per-position and are unaffected by margin mode. Whether you use cross or isolated margin, you still pay or receive funding every 8 hours based on the interest rate differential between long and short sides.

What happens if my cross-margin account balance drops below maintenance margin?

If your total account equity falls below the combined maintenance margin requirement, liquidation procedures begin. Coinbase will automatically close positions, starting with the one contributing most to the deficit. The goal is to restore account solvency using the least disruptive method.

Is cross-margin available for all futures contracts on Coinbase?

Yes, cross-margin is supported across all futures contracts offered on the platform, including BTC-USD, ETH-USD, and other available pairs. You can enable it individually per contract, and settings are preserved across trading sessions unless changed manually.