What are the margin requirements for Kraken futures

Kraken requires initial and maintenance margin for futures trading, with options for cross or isolated margin modes to manage leverage and liquidation risks.

Aug 05, 2025 at 11:21 pm

Understanding Margin in Kraken Futures Trading

When trading futures on Kraken, users must adhere to specific margin requirements that determine how much capital is needed to open and maintain a leveraged position. Margin acts as collateral to cover potential losses in a futures contract. Kraken offers both cross margin and isolated margin modes, allowing traders to choose how their funds are allocated across positions. In cross margin mode, the entire account balance serves as collateral, potentially reducing the risk of liquidation. In isolated margin mode, traders allocate a fixed amount of margin to a specific position, limiting both risk and profit potential.

Each futures contract on Kraken has defined initial margin and maintenance margin requirements. The initial margin is the minimum amount required to open a position, while the maintenance margin is the minimum amount that must be maintained to keep the position open. If the account equity falls below the maintenance threshold, a margin call may occur, or the position could be automatically liquidated.

Initial Margin Requirements on Kraken

The initial margin on Kraken futures is calculated based on the notional value of the contract and the leverage selected. Kraken supports multiple leverage levels, typically ranging from 2x to 50x, depending on the specific contract and market conditions. Higher leverage reduces the required initial margin but increases the risk of liquidation.

For example, if a trader wants to open a $10,000 BTC/USD futures position with 10x leverage, the initial margin required would be $1,000. This calculation is derived from the formula:
Initial Margin = Notional Value / Leverage.

Kraken automatically calculates this value in the trading interface when placing an order. Traders can adjust leverage using the leverage selector before confirming the trade. It's important to note that Kraken may dynamically adjust leverage limits during periods of high volatility to manage systemic risk.

Maintenance Margin and Liquidation Thresholds

The maintenance margin is a critical component of Kraken’s risk management framework. It represents the minimum equity that must remain in a position to avoid liquidation. This value is expressed as a percentage of the position’s notional value and varies by contract type.

For most standard futures contracts on Kraken, the maintenance margin rate ranges between 0.5% and 2%, depending on the asset and leverage used. For instance, a BTC/USD perpetual futures contract at 25x leverage might have a maintenance margin requirement of 1%. If the position’s margin balance drops below this level due to adverse price movements, the system triggers a liquidation process.

Liquidation occurs when the margin ratio (equity / initial margin) reaches the liquidation threshold, typically slightly above the maintenance margin level. Kraken uses a mark price-based liquidation mechanism to prevent unfair liquidations due to short-term price spikes. The mark price is derived from the underlying spot index and funding rates, ensuring a fair valuation of open positions.

How to Check Margin Requirements on Kraken

To view real-time margin requirements for futures contracts on Kraken, follow these steps:

• Log in to your Kraken Pro account at pro.kraken.com.
• Navigate to the Futures tab located in the top menu.
• Select the desired contract (e.g., BTC/USD Perpetual).
• Hover over or click the info icon (i) next to the leverage selector to view the current initial and maintenance margin rates.
• Observe the estimated liquidation price displayed below the order entry panel, which updates dynamically based on your selected leverage and order size.
• Review the margin usage percentage in the position panel once a trade is open.

These values are updated in real time and may vary based on market volatility and Kraken’s risk parameters. Traders are encouraged to monitor their account health regularly using the Portfolio section, where available margin, used margin, and margin ratio are clearly displayed.

Funding Rates and Their Impact on Margin

In perpetual futures contracts on Kraken, funding rates play a role in margin dynamics. Funding is exchanged between long and short positions at regular intervals (typically every 8 hours) to align the futures price with the spot market. If you hold a long position when funding rates are positive, you pay funding to short holders. Conversely, short positions receive funding in this scenario.

While funding payments do not directly alter the initial or maintenance margin, they affect the realized P&L and thus the equity in your margin account. Frequent or high funding payments can erode available margin over time, increasing the risk of liquidation for undercollateralized positions. Traders can view upcoming funding times and rates in the futures trading interface, usually displayed near the mark price.

To mitigate this impact, consider adjusting your position size or closing positions before funding events if the rate is unfavorable. Kraken displays the funding rate history and next funding time to help traders plan accordingly.

Adjusting Leverage and Margin Mode

Kraken allows users to modify leverage and margin mode on a per-position basis. To change these settings:

• Open the Futures trading interface.
• Select the contract you wish to trade.
• Before placing an order, locate the leverage selector (e.g., 5x, 10x, 25x).
• Click the selector and choose your desired leverage level.
• Toggle between Isolated and Cross margin mode using the switch next to the leverage selector.
• Confirm your selection and proceed with the order.

For existing positions, you can adjust leverage and margin mode only if the position is in isolated margin mode. Cross margin positions cannot have their leverage adjusted post-entry. To modify an isolated position:

• Go to the Positions tab.
• Find the open position and click the gear icon.
• Enter a new leverage value or switch to cross margin.
• Confirm the change, ensuring your margin balance meets the new requirements.

Failure to meet updated margin requirements after adjustment may result in immediate liquidation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my Kraken futures position gets liquidated?

Upon liquidation, Kraken closes the position at the prevailing market price or via auction mechanism. The remaining margin, if any, is returned to your account. A liquidation fee may be charged, typically equal to 0.5% of the position value, which is used to cover potential losses in the insurance fund.

Can I use staked assets as margin for Kraken futures?

No, staked assets such as staked ETH or DOT cannot be used as margin. Only available balances in supported futures trading pairs (e.g., USD, USDT, BTC, ETH) are eligible for margin.

Does Kraken offer margin trading for spot positions?

Kraken provides spot margin trading separately from futures. This is a different product with its own interest rates and requirements. Futures margin is distinct and applies only to derivative contracts.

How does Kraken determine the mark price for liquidations?

Kraken calculates the mark price using a combination of the spot index price and a fair price mechanism that incorporates funding rates. This prevents liquidations due to temporary exchange-specific price deviations.