Perpetual contract market maker strategy: How to earn commissions through pending orders?

Market makers use pending orders in perpetual contracts to earn commissions by providing liquidity and capturing small spreads.

Jun 15, 2025 at 07:08 am

Understanding the Basics of Perpetual Contracts

Perpetual contracts are derivative financial instruments that allow traders to speculate on the price of an asset without owning it. Unlike traditional futures contracts, perpetual contracts have no expiration date, making them popular among traders seeking long-term exposure. Market makers play a crucial role in these markets by providing liquidity through continuous bid and ask orders.

In this context, market makers use pending orders—limit orders placed above or below the current market price—to create buy and sell opportunities. These orders help narrow the bid-ask spread and improve overall market efficiency. By placing multiple limit orders around the current price, market makers can earn commissions whenever their orders get filled.

The Role of Pending Orders in Market Making

Pending orders refer to limit orders set at specific price levels, waiting to be executed when the market reaches those levels. For a market maker, using pending orders strategically allows capturing small spreads repeatedly. This strategy relies heavily on order book depth and frequency trading algorithms.

Market makers often place both buy limit orders (below market price) and sell limit orders (above market price) simultaneously. When price action hits one side, the filled order earns a commission. The unfilled orders remain active until triggered or canceled manually. The goal is to ensure more orders get filled than canceled, generating net profit from fees.

Key considerations include:

• Placement distance from the current price
• Order size relative to market volume
• Frequency of order updates based on volatility

Setting Up Your Market Making Strategy

To begin earning commissions via pending orders in perpetual contract markets, you need to establish a structured approach. First, select a platform with low trading fees and robust API access for automation purposes.

Next, determine your risk parameters:

• Maximum number of open orders per side
• Minimum profit margin per trade
• Stop-loss mechanisms to prevent large losses during sudden price swings

After defining risk thresholds, decide on the spread width between your buy and sell orders. A narrower spread increases fill probability but reduces profit per trade, while wider spreads offer higher returns but lower execution chances.

It’s also essential to monitor order book activity closely. Tools like depth charts and real-time trade data help adjust pending orders dynamically as market conditions change.

Automating Your Market Making Activities

Manual market making is inefficient due to the speed required to respond to rapid price movements. Hence, many traders opt for algorithmic trading bots that automatically place and update pending orders.

Building or deploying a bot involves several steps:

• Connect to a cryptocurrency exchange via its API
• Set up logic for placing and canceling orders based on price changes
• Implement safeguards against slippage and flash crashes

Popular platforms like Binance, Bybit, and KuCoin offer APIs that support high-frequency trading strategies. Ensure you test your bot in a sandbox environment before going live. Also, configure rate limits carefully to avoid being banned for excessive API calls.

Some advanced bots incorporate machine learning models to predict short-term price movements and optimize order placement accordingly. However, even simple bots can yield consistent income if configured correctly and monitored regularly.

Managing Risks in Market Making

Despite its profitability, market making carries inherent risks, especially in volatile crypto markets. One major risk is adverse selection, where informed traders take advantage of your quoted prices, leaving you with unfavorable positions.

Another common issue is inventory risk, which occurs when your buy orders accumulate too much position during a downtrend or sell orders during an uptrend. To mitigate this:

• Use position rebalancing techniques
• Adjust order sizes dynamically based on directional bias
• Incorporate hedging mechanisms like futures or options

Also, ensure you understand funding rates in perpetual contracts. These periodic payments can significantly impact your PnL if not accounted for in your strategy.

Lastly, always maintain sufficient liquidity buffer to withstand sudden market moves. Over-leveraging can lead to forced liquidations and substantial losses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I start market making with a small account?

Yes, but it requires careful planning. Start with smaller order sizes and gradually increase exposure as you gain experience and confidence in your strategy.

Q: Do exchanges reward market makers differently?

Yes, some exchanges offer maker-taker fee structures where market makers receive lower fees or even rebates. Research each platform’s fee schedule before committing capital.

Q: Is manual market making feasible?

While possible, manual execution is challenging due to the fast-paced nature of crypto markets. Automation tools are highly recommended for consistency and efficiency.

Q: How do I choose the right spread width?

Test different spread widths using historical data or paper trading. Narrower spreads work well in low-volatility environments, while wider spreads suit volatile markets.