What is the mark price vs last price in futures?

Understanding the Basics of Futures Trading

In futures trading, two critical terms often arise: mark price and last price. These terms are essential for traders to understand because they directly affect trading strategies, risk management, and position liquidation. While both prices are related to the current value of an asset, they serve different purposes and are calculated using distinct methodologies.

Futures contracts are agreements to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price at a specified time in the future. Traders use these contracts to speculate on price movements or hedge against potential losses. Since futures are leveraged instruments, small price changes can lead to significant gains or losses. Hence, accurate price data is crucial.

What is the Last Price?

The last price refers to the most recent transaction price at which a futures contract was traded. It reflects the actual price at which a buyer and seller agreed to exchange the contract. This value is constantly updated as new trades occur on the exchange.

• Real-time data: The last price changes every time a trade is executed.
• Market reflection: It represents the current supply and demand dynamics in the market.
• Visibility: It is the most visible price on trading platforms and often used for quick decision-making.

However, the last price can be misleading during periods of low liquidity or high volatility. In such cases, the last traded price may not accurately reflect the true market value of the contract.

What is the Mark Price?

The mark price is a calculated value used by exchanges to determine the fair value of a futures contract. Unlike the last price, which is based solely on executed trades, the mark price incorporates a broader range of data, including the spot price of the underlying asset, funding rates, and order book depth.

• Risk management: Exchanges use the mark price to assess the liquidation risk of traders' positions.
• Funding rate adjustments: It accounts for the funding payments that occur in perpetual futures contracts.
• Smooth valuation: It helps prevent manipulation and ensures more stable and fair pricing during volatile conditions.

The mark price is often derived from a moving average of the spot price combined with the funding rate component. Some exchanges also use order book mid-prices to calculate the mark price more accurately.

Differences Between Mark Price and Last Price

While both the mark price and last price are used to assess the value of a futures contract, they serve different functions and are calculated differently.

• Purpose: The last price shows the most recent trade, while the mark price reflects the fair value of the contract.
• Volatility sensitivity: The last price can be highly volatile, especially in low-liquidity markets, whereas the mark price is designed to be smoother and more stable.
• Impact on liquidation: Exchanges use the mark price to determine when a position gets liquidated, not the last price. This is crucial for traders to understand to avoid unexpected losses.
• Manipulation resistance: The mark price is more resistant to price manipulation, making it a safer reference point for risk management.

Understanding the distinction between the two prices helps traders better manage their positions and avoid unnecessary liquidations.

Why Mark Price Matters in Perpetual Futures

In perpetual futures contracts, there is no expiration date, and the price is kept close to the spot market through a mechanism called funding rate. The mark price plays a vital role in this system.

• Funding rate calculation: The mark price is used to determine whether funding payments are positive or negative.
• Price convergence: It ensures that the price of the perpetual contract stays close to the spot price.
• Liquidation protection: By using the mark price, exchanges can avoid unfair liquidations caused by sudden price spikes or wash trading.

Traders who ignore the mark price may find themselves liquidated even if the last price hasn’t reached their stop-loss level. This is why it's essential to monitor both values simultaneously.

How to Check Mark Price and Last Price on Trading Platforms

Most major cryptocurrency derivatives exchanges, such as Binance Futures, Bybit, OKX, and BitMEX, display both the mark price and last price on their trading interfaces.

• Binance Futures: Look for the 'Mark Price' indicator next to the chart. It's usually shown in a different color from the last price.
• Bybit: The mark price is displayed under the 'Mark' tab in the order book section.
• OKX: The mark price appears in the contract details section and is updated in real time.
• BitMEX: The mark price is integrated into the liquidation engine and shown on the position panel.

Users can also enable mark price charts on some platforms to visualize how the mark price moves relative to the last price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can the mark price differ significantly from the last price?Yes, especially during periods of high volatility or low liquidity. The mark price is designed to reflect fair value, while the last price reflects the most recent trade, which may not always align.

Q: Does the mark price affect my profit and loss (PnL)?Yes, unrealized PnL is typically calculated using the mark price, not the last price. This ensures a more accurate and stable valuation of open positions.

Q: Why do exchanges use mark price for liquidations instead of last price?To prevent manipulation and unfair liquidations, exchanges rely on the mark price, which is less susceptible to sudden price spikes or wash trading.

Q: Is the mark price the same across all exchanges?No, each exchange uses its own methodology to calculate the mark price. Some may use spot price indices, while others incorporate order book depth or funding rates into the calculation.