Is there a time limit for holding a perpetual futures position on Coinbase?

Perpetual futures on Coinbase let traders hold positions indefinitely, but funding fees every 8 hours and liquidation risks can impact profitability—monitor rates and manage margin closely. (154 characters)

Jul 23, 2025 at 03:15 am

Understanding Perpetual Futures on Coinbase

Perpetual futures contracts on Coinbase are derivative products that allow traders to speculate on the price of an asset without owning it. Unlike traditional futures, which have an expiration date, perpetual contracts do not expire. This means there is no fixed time limit for how long you can hold a position. However, holding a position for extended periods incurs specific costs and considerations that traders must understand to manage their exposure effectively.

Funding Rates and Their Impact on Holding Time

Even though there is no explicit time limit, perpetual futures are subject to a mechanism called funding rates. These are periodic payments exchanged between long and short positions to keep the contract price aligned with the underlying asset’s spot price.

• If the funding rate is positive, long positions pay short positions.
• If negative, short positions pay long positions.
  These payments occur every 8 hours (at 00:00 UTC, 08:00 UTC, and 16:00 UTC). Traders holding positions across these intervals will see these fees automatically deducted or added to their account balance. Over time, these can significantly affect profitability—especially for leveraged positions.
  

  How to Check Funding Rates on Coinbase

  
  To monitor funding rates before entering or while maintaining a position:
• Navigate to the perpetual futures trading interface on Coinbase Advanced.
• Select the specific contract (e.g., BTC-USD PERP).
• Locate the “Funding Rate” indicator near the price chart.
• Click the info icon (ℹ️) next to it to view the next payment time and the current rate.
  This real-time visibility allows traders to anticipate costs and adjust their strategy accordingly. Ignoring this data can lead to unexpected losses over time.
  

  Liquidation Risk and Position Management

  
  While there’s no forced closure due to time limits, positions can still be liquidated if the margin balance falls below the maintenance threshold. This risk increases with:
• Higher leverage (e.g., 10x or 20x).
• Volatile market movements against the position.
• Accumulated funding fees reducing equity.
  To avoid liquidation:
• Monitor your maintenance margin ratio in the position tab.
• Add margin manually if the ratio approaches 100%.
• Set stop-loss orders to limit downside exposure automatically.
  Coinbase sends margin call alerts via email and in-app notifications when your position is at risk.
  

  Practical Example: Holding a Long BTC Perpetual

  
  Suppose you open a long position in BTC-USD PERP with 5x leverage and hold it for 7 days. Here’s what happens:
• Every 8 hours, you pay or receive funding based on the rate at that time.
• If the average funding rate is 0.01% per period, over 7 days (21 periods), you’d pay approximately 0.21% of your position value in funding.
• If BTC price drops 5%, your unrealized loss could trigger a margin call depending on your initial margin.
  This illustrates why funding costs and price movement are more critical than time limits in perpetual futures.
  

  Accounting for Fees and Slippage

  
  Beyond funding, traders must consider:
• Maker and taker fees on entry and exit, which vary by 30-day trading volume.
• Slippage during volatile conditions, especially when closing large positions.
• Spread costs between bid and ask prices, which widen during low liquidity.
  These factors compound over time and can erode gains—even if the market moves in your favor. Always review the fee schedule in your Coinbase account settings before trading.
  

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Can I hold a perpetual futures position indefinitely on Coinbase?
  
  Yes, there is no time-based expiration. However, funding payments, margin requirements, and market conditions will influence whether it’s practical or profitable to do so long-term.

  What happens if I don’t have enough balance to pay funding fees?
  
  If your account lacks sufficient funds, Coinbase will deduct the amount from your available margin. If this causes your equity to fall below the maintenance margin, your position may be partially or fully liquidated.

  Do funding rates change daily?
  
  Yes, funding rates are recalculated every 8 hours based on the difference between perpetual contract prices and the underlying spot index. Rates can be positive, negative, or zero depending on market sentiment and demand.

  Is there a way to avoid funding fees entirely?
  
  You can avoid funding fees by closing your position before each funding interval (00:00, 08:00, 16:00 UTC). However, this requires precise timing and may not be practical for long-term strategies.