How to hedge positions with Bybit contracts?

Bybit's Hedge Mode lets traders hold long and short positions simultaneously on the same pair, reducing risk during volatility without closing existing trades.

Aug 11, 2025 at 08:15 am

Understanding Hedging in Bybit Perpetual Contracts

Hedging on Bybit allows traders to maintain both long and short positions simultaneously on the same cryptocurrency pair. This strategy is particularly useful when market volatility increases, and traders want to limit exposure without closing existing positions. The core mechanism relies on Bybit’s dual-position mode, which enables users to open opposing positions in the same market. Unlike one-way mode, where positions are netted, dual mode preserves both directions independently. To activate this, navigate to your contract interface, locate the position mode selector, and switch from "One-Way" to "Hedge Mode". This setting must be applied before opening any positions, as it cannot be changed once contracts are active.

Setting Up Hedge Mode on Bybit

Before initiating any hedging strategy, ensure your account is correctly configured:

• Log in to your Bybit account and go to the Derivatives section.
• Select the desired trading pair, such as BTC/USDT.
• Above the trading chart, locate the Position Mode indicator.
• Click on it and choose "Hedge Mode" from the dropdown menu.
• Confirm the change. A notification will appear indicating the mode switch.

It is critical to understand that switching modes affects liquidation prices, margin allocation, and P&L calculation. In Hedge Mode, each position (long or short) carries its own entry price, liquidation price, and margin. This separation allows precise control over risk exposure. Note that this setting applies per trading pair—BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT can have different modes independently.

Opening Opposing Positions to Hedge Risk

Once Hedge Mode is enabled, you can begin hedging. Suppose you hold an open long position of 1 BTC at $30,000 and anticipate a short-term price drop due to news events. Instead of closing the long, you can open a short position of 1 BTC at the current market price (e.g., $31,000). This creates a neutral exposure:

• The long position profits if price rises above $30,000.
• The short position profits if price falls below $31,000.
• Net market exposure is reduced, minimizing losses from sudden swings.

To execute:

• Place a sell order (short) for the same asset.
• Choose "Create New Position" instead of "Close Position" or "Add to Position".
• Set leverage and margin for the new short trade independently.
• Monitor both positions in the Positions tab, where they appear as separate entries.

Each position must be managed individually—adjusting take-profit, stop-loss, or reducing margin requires separate actions for long and short sides.

Managing Margin and Leverage in Hedge Mode

In Hedge Mode, margin is not shared between long and short positions. Each trade requires its own isolated or cross margin setting. For example, if your long BTC position uses 5x leverage with 2 BTC worth of margin, and your short uses 3x with 1 BTC margin, both margins remain distinct. This prevents one position from affecting the other’s liquidation risk.

To modify margin:

• Click on the specific position in the Positions panel.
• Select "Add Margin" or "Reduce Margin".
• Choose between Isolated (fixed margin) or Cross (uses available balance).
• Confirm the action.

Leverage can also be adjusted per position. High leverage increases liquidation risk, especially in volatile markets. Always check the liquidation price displayed under each position. If price approaches this level, consider adding margin or closing one side to avoid automatic liquidation.

Using Stop-Loss and Take-Profit in Hedged Positions

Effective risk management in hedging involves setting stop-loss (SL) and take-profit (TP) orders for both sides. Since each position operates independently, these orders must be placed separately.

To set SL/TP:

• Click on the "Edit" button next to the long position.
• Enter desired take-profit price (e.g., $35,000).
• Enter stop-loss price (e.g., $28,000).
• Repeat the process for the short position with appropriate levels (e.g., TP at $29,000, SL at $32,500).
• Choose "Market" or "Limit" execution type.

Bybit supports conditional orders, allowing you to set SL/TP even before entering a trade. These act as trigger orders that activate when price reaches a specified level. This is useful when hedging based on technical levels or news anticipation.

Exiting or Adjusting a Hedge Strategy

Hedging is not a permanent state. Traders may choose to exit one side when market direction becomes clear. To close a position:

• Go to the Positions tab.
• Find the position you wish to close (e.g., the short).
• Click "Close".
• Choose "Market" to close immediately or "Limit" to set a price.
• Confirm the order.

After closing one side, the remaining position resumes full directional exposure. Some traders partially hedge by opening a smaller opposite position (e.g., 0.5 BTC short against 1 BTC long), reducing rather than eliminating risk. Adjustments like this require recalculating net exposure and updating SL/TP accordingly.

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FAQs

Can I switch back to One-Way Mode after opening hedged positions?

No. Bybit does not allow switching from Hedge Mode to One-Way Mode if active positions exist. You must close all open positions on a given pair before changing the mode. Attempting to switch will result in an error message.

Does hedging eliminate all risk on Bybit?

Hedging reduces directional risk but does not eliminate funding fees, liquidation risk, or margin requirements. Long and short positions incur funding payments every 8 hours, which can accumulate over time. If one side gets liquidated, the remaining position faces full market exposure.

How are P&L calculations handled in Hedge Mode?

Each position has its own realized and unrealized P&L. Unrealized P&L is calculated based on current market price versus entry price for that specific position. Realized P&L is updated when you close a portion or all of a position. These are displayed separately in the interface.

Can I hedge across different contracts (e.g., BTCUSD and BTCUSDT)?

No. Hedging only works within the same trading pair under Hedge Mode. BTCUSD (inverse) and BTCUSDT (linear) are treated as separate markets. You cannot directly hedge an inverse contract with a linear one using Bybit’s dual-position system.