What is the funding rate on OKX perpetual contracts?

The funding rate on OKX aligns perpetual contract prices with the spot market, paid every 8 hours at 00:00, 08:00, and 16:00 UTC.

Aug 13, 2025 at 11:36 am

Understanding the Funding Rate in OKX Perpetual Contracts

The funding rate on OKX perpetual contracts is a mechanism designed to align the price of the perpetual futures contract with the underlying spot market price. Unlike traditional futures contracts that have an expiration date, perpetual contracts do not expire. To ensure that the contract price does not deviate significantly from the index price, OKX implements a periodic payment between long and short positions known as the funding rate. This rate determines who pays whom and how much.

When the funding rate is positive, long position holders pay short position holders. This typically occurs when the market is bullish and the contract price trades above the index price. Conversely, when the funding rate is negative, short position holders pay long position holders, which usually happens in bearish markets where the contract price trades below the index price. The payment is exchanged directly between traders and does not involve OKX as a party.

The funding rate is composed of two parts: the interest rate component and the premium component. OKX assumes a fixed interest rate (often close to zero for USD-margined contracts), so the majority of the funding rate is driven by the premium index, which reflects the difference between the contract price and the underlying index price, along with a measure of basis.

How Often Is Funding Applied on OKX?

Funding is applied every 8 hours on OKX perpetual contracts. The exact funding times are scheduled at 00:00 UTC, 08:00 UTC, and 16:00 UTC each day. At these timestamps, the funding payment is settled and transferred between opposing positions.

To check when the next funding event will occur, traders can view the "Next Funding Time" displayed on the OKX trading interface. This countdown helps traders anticipate when they will either receive or pay funding. It is important to note that funding is only paid or received if a position is held at the exact moment the funding is settled. Closing a position before the funding timestamp avoids any funding payment.

• Ensure your position is open at the precise funding time
• Monitor the countdown timer on the OKX platform
• Be aware that partial positions are subject to proportional funding
• Funding is automatically deducted or credited to your wallet

Where to Find the Current Funding Rate on OKX

Locating the current funding rate on OKX is straightforward. Navigate to the perpetual contracts trading page on the OKX website or mobile app. Select the specific contract you are interested in (e.g., BTC-USDT-SWAP). Below the price chart, you will find a section displaying key contract details.

In this section, look for the "Funding Rate" field. It will show the current rate as a percentage. Adjacent to it, you’ll often see the "Next Funding Time" and the "Predicted Funding Rate", which gives an estimate of the upcoming rate based on current market conditions.

• Open the OKX website or app
• Go to the "Trade" section and select "Perpetual"
• Choose the desired trading pair
• View the funding rate displayed beneath the price chart
• Check the 24-hour funding rate history for trends

This information is updated in real time and is critical for traders who use funding rate analysis as part of their strategy.

Calculating the Funding Payment Amount

The actual funding payment a trader receives or pays depends on their position size and the current funding rate. The formula used by OKX is:

Funding Payment = Position Nominal Value × Funding Rate

For example, if you hold a long position worth $10,000 in BTC-USDT-SWAP and the funding rate is 0.01%, you will pay $10,000 × 0.0001 = $1 to short position holders at the next funding timestamp.

It is important to understand that the nominal value is calculated as the entry price multiplied by the contract quantity. For contracts settled in USDT, this value is denominated in USDT. The payment is settled instantly in your wallet balance, either reducing your available balance (if paying) or increasing it (if receiving).

• Identify your position’s nominal value
• Multiply it by the published funding rate
• The result is the amount to be paid or received
• Payments are settled in the margin currency of the contract

Traders with larger positions should pay close attention, as even small funding rates can result in significant payments over time.

Strategies Involving Funding Rate Monitoring

Many traders actively monitor the funding rate to inform their trading decisions. A persistently high positive funding rate may indicate excessive long leverage in the market, which can signal a potential price correction. Conversely, a consistently negative funding rate might suggest oversold conditions or strong bearish sentiment.

Some traders engage in funding rate arbitrage, holding a spot position while taking an opposing perpetual contract position to collect funding payments. For example, owning BTC in spot and shorting BTC-USDT-SWAP during periods of high positive funding allows the trader to earn the funding rate as income.

• Watch for extreme funding rate values
• Use funding rate trends to assess market sentiment
• Consider funding-positive environments for short-term funding collection
• Avoid opening large positions just before funding settlement if the rate is unfavorable

This strategy requires careful risk management, as price movements can outweigh funding gains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can the funding rate be zero on OKX?

Yes, the funding rate can be zero. This occurs when the perpetual contract price closely matches the index price and there is no significant premium or discount. In such cases, no funding payment is exchanged between longs and shorts.

Q: Is the funding rate the same across all perpetual contracts on OKX?

No, each perpetual contract has its own funding rate. For example, the BTC-USDT-SWAP funding rate is independent of the ETH-USDT-SWAP rate. The rate depends on the specific market dynamics of each asset.

Q: What happens if I have both long and short positions in the same perpetual contract?

If you hold both long and short positions simultaneously, the net position determines your funding payment. Only the net long or net short amount is subject to funding. For example, if you hold 1 BTC long and 0.6 BTC short, you will pay funding on the net 0.4 BTC long position.

Q: Does OKX charge any fee for funding payments?

No, OKX does not charge any fee for funding payments. The transfer is a peer-to-peer mechanism between traders. The entire funding amount is paid directly from one trader’s wallet to another without platform deductions.