How to Manage a Position in Isolated Margin Mode?

Understanding Isolated Margin Mode

1. Isolated margin mode allocates a fixed amount of collateral specifically for a single position, separating it from the trader’s overall account balance.

2. This mode prevents cross-contamination between positions—losses on one trade cannot draw from funds assigned to another.

3. Traders must manually set the margin size before opening a position, and adjustments require explicit action rather than automatic reallocation.

4. Liquidation occurs only when the isolated margin falls below the maintenance threshold tied to that particular trade.

5. It offers precise risk control but demands active monitoring since no additional margin is pulled from the wallet unless explicitly added.

Setting Initial Margin Correctly

1. Before entering a trade, the user selects the desired leverage and inputs the exact USDT or BTC value to allocate as isolated margin.

2. The platform calculates the maximum position size based on the chosen leverage and the entered margin amount.

3. Over-leveraging with insufficient margin increases vulnerability to minor price fluctuations and accelerates liquidation risk.

4. Conservative traders often allocate 2–5x the minimum required margin to build a buffer against volatility spikes.

5. Margin values are visible in real time on the order panel, and historical allocations remain traceable in the position history tab.

Adjusting Margin During an Open Position

1. Users can add more margin to an existing isolated position to lower the liquidation price and extend breathing room.

2. Reducing margin is also permitted, though doing so raises the liquidation price and may trigger immediate margin call alerts.

3. Margin top-ups execute instantly and reflect in the position’s updated maintenance level without requiring order re-submission.

4. Each adjustment generates a timestamped record in the margin change log, including the pre- and post-adjustment equity values.

5. Automated margin calls do not occur; all changes rely entirely on manual intervention by the trader.

Liquidation Mechanics in Isolated Mode

1. Liquidation triggers when the position’s margin ratio drops to or below the exchange-defined maintenance margin rate—typically 0.5% to 1.5% depending on asset and leverage.

2. The system calculates the liquidation price using the current mark price, not the last traded price, to prevent manipulation-based forced exits.

3. Once liquidated, the remaining margin—not the full initial allocation—is forfeited after fees and insurance fund deductions.

4. Partial liquidations do not exist in isolated mode; the entire position closes at once upon breach of the threshold.

5. Liquidated positions appear in the closed orders section with a “LIQ” label and include breakdowns of realized PnL, fee deductions, and insurance fund contribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I switch from isolated margin to cross margin for an already open position? No. Switching margin modes is prohibited while a position remains active. The position must be fully closed before changing the margin setting.

Q: Does isolated margin affect funding rate calculations? No. Funding rates are determined solely by the index price, market price, and time interval—not by margin type or allocation method.

Q: What happens to unused isolated margin if I close the position manually? The full remaining margin, minus realized losses and trading fees, returns immediately to your wallet balance in the original asset.

Q: Is isolated margin supported on all perpetual contracts across major exchanges? Most tier-one platforms—including Binance, Bybit, and OKX—support isolated margin for BTC, ETH, and top-20 altcoin perpetuals, though some restrict it for low-liquidity pairs or inverse contracts.