What is a liquidation on Kraken contracts?

A liquidation on Kraken Futures occurs when a leveraged position is automatically closed due to insufficient margin, protecting the platform from excessive losses.

Aug 10, 2025 at 11:21 am

Understanding Liquidation in Kraken Futures Contracts

A liquidation on Kraken contracts occurs when a trader’s leveraged futures position is automatically closed by the exchange due to insufficient margin to maintain the position. This mechanism protects both the trader and the platform from incurring losses beyond their deposited collateral. When trading futures on Kraken, users can open positions using leverage, which amplifies both potential gains and losses. If the market moves against the position and the account’s margin balance falls below the required maintenance margin, the system triggers a liquidation.

The maintenance margin is the minimum amount of equity needed to keep a leveraged position open. Kraken calculates this value based on the size of the position, the leverage used, and current market conditions. Once the mark price of the contract moves to a level where the unrealized loss causes the margin ratio to drop to 0%, the position is marked for liquidation. The margin ratio is a critical metric displayed in the Kraken Futures interface, showing the health of an open position.

How Kraken Determines Liquidation Price

The liquidation price is the estimated market price at which a position will be liquidated. Kraken calculates this price using a combination of entry price, leverage, fees, and funding rates. Traders can view the liquidation price directly in the futures trading interface, usually displayed beneath the position details. This price is dynamic and changes with market volatility and funding adjustments.

To locate your liquidation price on Kraken:

• Log into your Kraken Pro account.
• Navigate to the Futures tab.
• Open the Positions section.
• Identify your active contract.
• View the Liquidation Price field next to your position size.

It’s important to note that the liquidation price assumes no further deposits or withdrawals and is based on the current mark price, not the last traded price. The mark price is a fair value estimate used to prevent manipulation and is derived from the underlying spot index and funding rates.

What Happens During a Liquidation Event?

When a position reaches its liquidation threshold, Kraken’s system initiates a deleveraging process. This means the position is closed in a way that minimizes impact on the broader market and prevents negative balances. Kraken uses a partial or full closure method depending on the severity of the margin shortfall.

• The system checks the margin ratio in real time.
• If the ratio hits 0%, the position is flagged for liquidation.
• Kraken’s matching engine attempts to close the position via the order book.
• If insufficient liquidity exists, the exchange may use auto-deleveraging (ADL) to offset losses.

During auto-deleveraging, profitable counterparties with opposing positions may have their profits reduced to cover the shortfall. This process is rare and only occurs in extreme market conditions. Most liquidations are handled through forced market orders that execute against available bids or asks.

How to Avoid Liquidation on Kraken Futures

Avoiding liquidation requires proactive risk management. Traders should monitor their margin usage and liquidation price continuously. Several strategies can reduce the likelihood of being liquidated.

• Reduce leverage: Lower leverage decreases exposure and widens the gap between entry price and liquidation price.
• Increase margin: Deposit additional collateral into the position to improve the margin ratio.
• Set stop-loss orders: Use conditional orders to exit positions before reaching critical levels.
• Monitor funding rates: High funding can erode margin over time, especially in long-term positions.

Kraken allows users to add margin to open positions directly:

• Go to the Positions tab.
• Find the active contract.
• Click “Add Margin”.
• Enter the amount of USD or stablecoin to deposit.
• Confirm the transaction.

This action increases the initial margin and pushes the liquidation price further from the current market level. It’s a real-time protective measure during volatile movements.

Differences Between Partial and Full Liquidation

Kraken may apply partial liquidation in certain scenarios where only a portion of the position is closed to restore the margin ratio above zero. This typically happens when the system detects a temporary price spike or flash crash. Full liquidation occurs when the entire position is closed due to sustained adverse price movement.

• Partial liquidation reduces position size incrementally.
• The remaining position continues to be monitored.
• Margin ratio improves after the reduction.
• Traders retain partial exposure to the market.

In contrast, full liquidation terminates the entire position. The trader no longer holds any obligation or right to the contract. Any remaining equity after fees and slippage is returned to the wallet. Both types of liquidation are irreversible once executed.

Viewing Liquidation History on Kraken

Traders can review past liquidations through Kraken’s account history and futures reports. These records help users analyze risk behavior and improve future strategies.

To access liquidation history:

• Log into Kraken Pro.
• Click on Reports in the top menu.
• Select Futures from the dropdown.
• Choose the date range.
• Filter by “Liquidation” event type.
• Export data as CSV for deeper analysis.

Each entry includes the contract symbol, liquidation time, price, size, and reason. This transparency allows traders to audit their performance and adjust leverage or position sizing accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover funds after a liquidation on Kraken?

No, once a position is liquidated, the process is final. The remaining equity after closing the position and deducting fees is credited back to your futures wallet. You cannot reverse or appeal a liquidation.

Does Kraken notify me before liquidation?

Kraken provides real-time margin alerts through the interface. While there is no automatic email or SMS warning by default, users can set up price alerts or use third-party tools to monitor margin levels.

Why did my position liquidate even though the market price didn’t reach my liquidation price?

This can happen due to the difference between the last traded price and the mark price. Liquidations are based on the mark price, which may diverge during high volatility or low liquidity.

Is liquidation the same as a stop-loss order?

No. A stop-loss is a user-defined order to close a position at a specified price. A liquidation is an automatic, system-enforced closure due to margin deficiency. Stop-loss orders can help prevent liquidation but are not guaranteed to execute if the market gaps past the trigger price.