What is the maintenance margin requirement on Coinbase?

On Coinbase, if your leveraged position's equity drops below the maintenance margin—like falling below 2.5% for BTC—your trade may be automatically liquidated to prevent further losses.

Jul 22, 2025 at 08:36 pm

Understanding Maintenance Margin on Coinbase

When trading with leverage on Coinbase, users must maintain a minimum amount of equity in their positions to avoid liquidation. This minimum threshold is known as the maintenance margin requirement. It acts as a safety net for both the trader and the exchange. If the equity in a leveraged position falls below this level due to adverse price movements, Coinbase may initiate a liquidation process to close the position automatically. This mechanism helps prevent traders from accumulating debt beyond their deposited collateral.

Differences Between Initial and Maintenance Margin

It’s essential to distinguish between initial margin and maintenance margin. The initial margin is the amount required to open a leveraged position, while the maintenance margin is what must remain in the account to keep that position open. For example, if Coinbase requires a 5% initial margin to open a trade, the maintenance margin might be set at 2.5%. This means that even after entering a trade, your account equity must not fall below 2.5% of the total position value—or the system will act.

How to Find Maintenance Margin Requirements on Coinbase

To locate the exact maintenance margin percentage for a specific asset:

• Log into your Coinbase account and navigate to the Advanced Trade platform.
• Select the asset pair you're interested in (e.g., BTC-USD).
• Click on the “i” (info) icon next to the leverage selector.
• A pop-up will display both the initial and maintenance margin requirements for that asset.
• These values may vary based on the asset’s volatility and market conditions.
  

  This step-by-step method ensures you always have access to real-time, asset-specific maintenance margin data directly from Coinbase’s interface.

  Impact of Leverage on Maintenance Margin

  
  Higher leverage amplifies both gains and losses—and also affects maintenance margin. For instance:
• At 2x leverage, the maintenance margin might be 5%.
• At 10x leverage, it could increase to 10% or more depending on the asset.
  This is because higher leverage increases the risk of rapid liquidation. Coinbase dynamically adjusts these thresholds to reflect market risk. Traders must monitor these settings before opening any leveraged position, as a mismatch between leverage and available equity can trigger immediate liquidation.
  

  Calculating Your Maintenance Margin Level

  
  To manually calculate whether your position is at risk:
• Determine your current position size (e.g., $10,000 worth of ETH).
• Check the maintenance margin percentage for ETH on Coinbase (e.g., 3%).
• Multiply position size by the maintenance margin rate: $10,000 × 0.03 = $300.
• Ensure your equity (account balance minus unrealized losses) stays above $300.
  If equity dips below this figure, Coinbase will begin liquidating the position. This calculation must be done regularly, especially during volatile market conditions when prices move rapidly.
  

  Preventing Liquidation Through Margin Monitoring

  
  To avoid unexpected liquidation:
• Set up real-time alerts for margin levels via Coinbase notifications.
• Add additional funds (margin top-up) if your equity approaches the maintenance threshold.
• Reduce position size to lower the maintenance margin requirement proportionally.
• Avoid holding highly leveraged positions overnight or during high-volatility events like macroeconomic announcements.
  

  These proactive steps help maintain control over your portfolio and prevent automatic liquidations that can occur without warning when maintenance margin is breached.

  ---

  Frequently Asked Questions

  What happens if my equity falls below the maintenance margin on Coinbase?
  
  Coinbase will automatically begin liquidating your position to cover potential losses. This process is instantaneous and cannot be reversed once triggered.

  Do maintenance margin requirements change during the day?
  
  Yes, Coinbase may adjust maintenance margin percentages in real time based on market volatility, liquidity, or regulatory updates. Always check the latest values before trading.

  Can I trade with zero maintenance margin on Coinbase?
  
  No. All leveraged positions require a non-zero maintenance margin. Even small positions must meet the minimum threshold set by Coinbase for that specific asset.

  Is the maintenance margin the same across all cryptocurrencies on Coinbase?
  
  No. Each asset has its own maintenance margin requirement. For example, BTC might have a 2.5% requirement while a less liquid altcoin could require 5% or higher. Always verify per asset.