How to play Kraken's futures contracts? What are the margin requirements?

Trading futures on Kraken requires understanding contract types, margin requirements, and using stop-loss/take-profit orders for risk management.

Apr 28, 2025 at 02:49 am

Playing Kraken's futures contracts involves understanding the platform's mechanics, margin requirements, and trading strategies. Kraken, a well-known cryptocurrency exchange, offers futures contracts that allow traders to speculate on the future price movements of cryptocurrencies. To effectively engage with these contracts, it's crucial to comprehend how they work and the associated margin requirements.

Understanding Kraken's Futures Contracts

Kraken's futures contracts are financial derivatives that obligate the buyer to purchase an asset or the seller to sell an asset at a predetermined future date and price. These contracts are standardized and traded on the Kraken Futures platform. They are typically used for hedging and speculating on the price movements of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

To start trading futures on Kraken, you first need to have a Kraken account. If you don't have one, you can sign up on their website. Once registered, you'll need to deposit funds into your account to meet the margin requirements for trading futures.

Types of Futures Contracts on Kraken

Kraken offers various types of futures contracts, including perpetual futures and quarterly futures. Perpetual futures do not have an expiration date, allowing traders to hold positions indefinitely. Quarterly futures, on the other hand, have a specific expiration date and are settled at the end of each quarter.

Each type of contract has different characteristics and is suited for different trading strategies. Perpetual futures are popular among traders looking for flexibility, while quarterly futures are often used by those who want to lock in prices for a specific period.

Margin Requirements for Kraken's Futures

Margin requirements are crucial for trading futures contracts on Kraken. Margin is the amount of money that traders must deposit to open and maintain a futures position. Kraken uses two types of margin: initial margin and maintenance margin.

• Initial margin is the minimum amount of funds required to open a futures position. This amount varies depending on the contract and the leverage used. For example, if you want to trade a BTC futures contract with 10x leverage, you'll need to deposit an initial margin that covers 10% of the contract's value.

• Maintenance margin is the minimum amount of equity that must be maintained in your account to keep the position open. If your account balance falls below the maintenance margin, you'll receive a margin call, and you'll need to deposit more funds or close your position to meet the requirement.

Kraken provides a margin calculator on their platform to help traders determine the required margin for their trades. You can access this tool by navigating to the futures trading section and selecting the contract you want to trade.

How to Open a Futures Position on Kraken

To open a futures position on Kraken, follow these steps:

• Log in to your Kraken account and navigate to the futures trading section.
• Select the futures contract you want to trade, such as BTC/USD or ETH/USD.
• Choose your position size and the leverage you want to use. Remember that higher leverage increases both potential profits and risks.
• Review the margin requirements for your chosen position. Ensure you have enough funds in your account to meet the initial margin.
• Place your order by selecting whether you want to go long (buy) or short (sell) on the contract. You can set a market order to execute immediately at the current market price or a limit order to execute at a specific price.
• Monitor your position and manage your risk. Keep an eye on your account balance and the market conditions to avoid margin calls.

Managing Risk with Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Orders

Effective risk management is essential when trading futures contracts. Kraken allows you to set stop-loss and take-profit orders to automatically close your positions at predefined price levels. These orders can help limit potential losses and lock in profits.

To set a stop-loss order, follow these steps:

• Go to your open positions in the futures trading section.
• Select the position you want to set a stop-loss for.
• Enter the stop-loss price at which you want to close the position if the market moves against you.
• Confirm the order and monitor your position.

Similarly, to set a take-profit order, follow these steps:

• Go to your open positions in the futures trading section.
• Select the position you want to set a take-profit for.
• Enter the take-profit price at which you want to close the position if the market moves in your favor.
• Confirm the order and monitor your position.

Closing a Futures Position on Kraken

Closing a futures position on Kraken can be done in two ways: manually or automatically through stop-loss and take-profit orders. To close a position manually, follow these steps:

• Go to your open positions in the futures trading section.
• Select the position you want to close.
• Choose the type of order you want to use to close the position. You can use a market order to close the position immediately at the current market price or a limit order to close at a specific price.
• Confirm the order and monitor your account balance to ensure the position is closed successfully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I trade futures on Kraken with a demo account?

A: Kraken does not currently offer a demo account for futures trading. However, you can start with small positions and low leverage to minimize risk while you learn how to trade futures on the platform.

Q: What happens if I cannot meet a margin call on Kraken?

A: If you cannot meet a margin call, Kraken will automatically close your position to prevent further losses. It's crucial to monitor your account balance and market conditions to avoid this situation.

Q: Are there any fees associated with trading futures on Kraken?

A: Yes, Kraken charges trading fees for futures contracts. The fees vary depending on the type of contract and your trading volume. You can find detailed information on fees in the Kraken fee schedule on their website.

Q: Can I withdraw my funds while holding an open futures position on Kraken?

A: Yes, you can withdraw funds from your Kraken account while holding an open futures position. However, ensure that your account balance remains above the required maintenance margin to avoid a margin call.