Perpetual Futures are a type of Futures contract that have no expiration date and have an auto-rolling feature every hour. These contracts feature a funding rate, which is a user-to-user payment designed to keep the price of the perpetual futures contract aligned to its underlying asset’s index price (i.e. the spot price of the underlying asset). If the premium is above zero, then the long positions payout to short positions, and if the premium is below zero, then the short positions pay out to the long positions. Traders will either pay or receive funding depending on the market movements. The price divergence is calculated every hour and funding credits/debits accumulate as unrealised profit/loss settling at the end of each hour or when the net position changes.
Below you can find three sections: a detailed table with the specifications of each contract, funding rate and other important information followed by multiple examples to demonstrate the mechanics of a perpetual contract. All multi-collateral futures use the multi-collateral wallet for margining.
Click below to expand each section:
Contract Specifications Table
Please note:
All multi-collateral contracts have a lot size of 1 unit of the base currency. For example, 1 contract of ETH is equal to 1 ETH.
The quote currency for all contracts is the U.S. Dollar (USD).
Some linear contracts can be in post-only mode, meaning no trades can be executed but orders can be placed. When sufficient liquidity has been established, post-only will be removed on a contract by contract basis.
Index constituents can be found here.
Symbol | Status | Base Currency | Min order | Tick Size | Max Position (Base units) | Impact Mid | Margin Class | First Trading |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PF_ETHUSD | Active | Ethereum (ETH) | 0.001 | 0.1 | 16,000 | 0.09 ETH | Class A | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_XBTUSD* | Active | Bitcoin (BTC*) | 0.0001 | 1 | 1,200 | 0.006 BTC | Class A | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_AAVEUSD | Active | Aave (AAVE) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 50,000 | 1.85 AAVE | Class C | 27-Jun-2022 |
PF_ACHUSD | Active | Alchemy Pay (ACH) | 1 | 0.000001 | 100,000,000 | 6000 ACH | Class D | 26-Jul-2023 |
PF_ADAUSD | Active | Cardano (ADA) | 1 | 0.00001 | 10,000,000 | 350 ADA | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_AGLDUSD | Active | Adventure Gold (AGLD) | 1 | 0.0001 | 3,000,000 | 160 AGLD | Class D | 23-Aug-2023 |
PF_ALICEUSD | Active | My Neighbor Alice (ALICE) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,600,000 | 130 ALICE | Class D | 21-Sep-2022 |
PF_ALGOUSD | Active | Algorand (ALGO) | 1 | 0.00001 | 17,500,000 | 900 ALGO | Class D | 6-Jul-2022 |
PF_ALPHAUSD | Active | Stella (ALPHA) | 1 | 0.00001 | 20,000,000 | 1000 ALPHA | Class D | 19-Jul-2023 |
PF_ANKRUSD | Active | Ankr (ANKR) | 1 | 0.000001 | 50,000,000 | 5,250 ANKR | Class D | 14-Sep-2022 |
PF_ANTUSD | Active | Aragon (ANT) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,600,000 | 50 ANT | Class D | 28-Sep-2022 |
PF_APEUSD | Active | ApeCoin (APE) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,250,000 | 75 APE | Class D | 13-Jun-2022 |
PF_APTUSD | Active | Aptos (APT) | 0.1 | 0.0001 | 50,000 | 20 APT | Class D | 19-Oct-2022 |
PF_ARBUSD | Active | Arbitrum (ARB) | 1 | 0.0001 | 2,000,000 | 110 ARB | Class D | 23-Mar-2023 |
PF_ARPAUSD | Active | ARPA (ARPA) | 1 | 0.00001 | 40,000,000 | 2,000 ARPA | Class D | 19-Jul-2023 |
PF_ATOMUSD | Active | Cosmos (ATOM) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 600,000 | 15 ATOM | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_AUDIOUSD | Active | Audius (AUDIO) | 1 | 0.00001 | 12,000,000 | 700 AUDIO | Class D | 28-Sep-2022 |
PF_AVAXUSD | Active | Avalanche (AVAX) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 120,000 | 8.5 AVAX | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_AXSUSD | Active | Axie Infinity (AXS) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 225,000 | 25 AXS | Class C | 3-Aug-2022 |
PF_BALUSD | Active | Balancer (BAL) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 500,000 | 30 BAL | Class D | 21-Sep-2022 |
PF_BANDUSD | Active | Band Protocol (BAND) | 0.1 | 0.0001 | 2,400,000 | 75 BAND | Class D | 21-Sep-2022 |
PF_BATUSD | Active | Basic Attention Token (BAT) | 1 | 0.00001 | 10,000,000 | 450 BAT | Class D | 20-Jul-2022 |
PF_BCHUSD | Active | Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 30,000 | 1 BCH | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_BLURUSD | Active | Blur (BLUR) | 1 | 0.0001 | 250,000 | 550 BLUR | Class D | 16-Feb-2023 |
PF_CFXUSD | Active | Conflux (CFX) | 1 | 0.00001 | 10,000,000 | 600 CFX | Class D | 09-Aug-2023 |
PF_CHZUSD | Active | Chiliz (CHZ) | 1 | 0.00001 | 45,000,000 | 1700 CHZ | Class D | 20-Jul-2022 |
PF_COMPUSD | Active | Compound (COMP) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 100,000 | 2.75 COMP | Class D | 13-Jun-2022 |
PF_CRVUSD | Active | Curve (CRV) | 1 | 0.0001 | 5,000,000 | 225 CRV | Class C | 27-Jun-2022 |
PF_CVXUSD | Active | Convex Finance (CVX) | 1 | 0.0001 | 500,000 | 33 CVX | Class D | 30-Mar-2023 |
PF_DASHUSD | Active | DASH (DASH) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 50,000 | 4 DASH | Class D | 24-Aug-2022 |
PF_DEFIUSD | Active | DeFi Composite Index (DEFI) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 10,000 | 0.5 DEFI | Class D | 8-Jun-2022 |
PF_DOGEUSD | Active | Dogecoin (DOGE) | 1 | 0.000001 | 150,000,000 | 2000 DOGE | Class C | 20-Jun-2022 |
PF_DOTUSD | Active | Polkadot (DOT) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 1,000,000 | 20 DOT | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_DYDXUSD | Active | dYdX (DYDX) | 1 | 0.0001 | 2,000,000 | 50 DYDX | Class D | 7-Sep-2022 |
PF_EGLDUSD | Active | MultiversX (EGLD) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 60,000 | 4 EGLD | Class D | 7-Sep-2022 |
PF_ENJUSD | Active | Enjin (ENJ) | 0.1 | 0.0001 | 8,500,000 | 350 ENJ | Class D | 13-Jun-2022 |
PF_ENSUSD | Active | Ethereum Name Service (ENS) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 200,000 | 7.5 ENS | Class D | 28-Sep-2022 |
PF_ETCUSD | Active | Ethereum Classic (ETC) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 125,000 | 5.5 ETC | Class C | 3-Aug-2022 |
PF_ETHWUSD | Active | Ethereum PoW (ETHW) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 20,000 | 30 ETHW | Class E | 15-Sep-2022 |
PF_EOSUSD | Active | EOS (EOS) | 1 | 0.0001 | 3,000,000 | 170 EOS | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_FETUSD | Active | Fetch.ai (FET) | 1 | 0.00001 | 5,000,000 | 250 FET | Class D | 23-Mar-2023 |
PF_FILUSD | Active | Filecoin (FIL) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 500,000 | 25 FIL | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_FLRUSD | Active | Flare (FLR) | 1 | 0.000001 | 5,000,000 | 7,000 FLR | Class E | 10-Jan-2023 |
PF_FLOWUSD | Active | Flow (FLOW) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,300,000 | 230 FLOW | Class D | 17-Aug-2022 |
PF_FTMUSD | Active | Fantom (FTM) | 1 | 0.00001 | 25,000,000 | 600 FTM | Class C | 20-Jun-2022 |
PF_FXSUSD | Active | Frax Share | 0.1 | 0.001 | 300,000 | 20 FXS | Class D | 30-Aug-2023 |
PF_GALUSD | Active | Galxe (GAL) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,000,000 | 50 GAL | Class E | 12-Apr-2023 |
PF_GALAUSD | Active | Gala (GALA) | 1 | 0.00001 | 75,000,000 | 6000 GALA | Class D | 3-Aug-2022 |
PF_GLMRUSD | Active | Moonbeam (GLMR) | 1 | 0.00001 | 4,000,000 | 450 GLMR | Class E | 5-Oct-2022 |
PF_GMTUSD | Active | STEPN (GMT) | 1 | 0.0001 | 5,000,000 | 650 GMT | Class C | 30-May-2022 |
PF_GMXUSD | Active | GMX (GMX) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 45,000 | 3 GMX | Class D | 08-Mar-2023 |
PF_GRTUSD | Active | The Graph (GRT) | 1 | 0.00001 | 30,000,000 | 1,700 GRT | Class C | 17-Aug-2022 |
PF_HFTUSD | Active | Hashflow (HFT) | 1 | 0.0001 | 5,000,000 | 300 HFT | Class D | 26-Jul-2023 |
PF_ICPUSD | Active | Internet Computer (ICP) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 400,000 | 25 ICP | Class D | 14-Sep-2022 |
PF_ICXUSD | Active | ICON (ICX) | 1 | 0.00001 | 10,000,000 | 650 ICX | Class D | 28-Sep-2022 |
PF_IMXUSD | Active | Immutable X (IMX) | 1 | 0.0001 | 4,000,000 | 250 IMX | Class D | 12-Oct-2022 |
PF_INJUSD | Active | Injective (INJ) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 500,000 | 20 INJ | Class D | 5-Apr-2023 |
PF_JASMYUSD | Active | JasmyCoin (JASMY) | 1 | 0.000001 | 400,000,000 | 30,000 JASMY | Class E | 5-Apr-2023 |
PF_KAVAUSD | Active | Kava (KAVA) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,500,000 | 160 KAVA | Class D | 10-Aug-2022 |
PF_KNCUSD | Active | Kyber Network Crystal (KNC) | 1 | 0.0001 | 2,000,000 | 175 KNC | Class D | 31-Aug-2022 |
PF_KSMUSD | Active | Kusama (KSM) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 35,000 | 4 KSM | Class D | 17-Aug-2022 |
PF_LDOUSD | Active | Lido DAO (LDO) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,200,000 | 50 LDO | Class D | 08-Mar-2023 |
PF_LINAUSD | Active | Linear Finance (LINA) | 1 | 0.000001 | 100,000,000 | 7000 LINA | Class D | 09-Aug-2023 |
PF_LINKUSD | Active | Chainlink (LINK) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 1,400,000 | 15 LINK | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_LPTUSD | Active | Livepeer (LPT) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 500,000 | 15 LPT | Class D | 20-Jul-2022 |
PF_LRCUSD | Active | Loopring (LRC) | 1 | 0.00001 | 8,000,000 | 450 LRC | Class D | 10-Aug-2022 |
PF_LTCUSD | Active | Litecoin (LTC) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 200,000 | 1.5 LTC | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_LUNA2USD | Active | Terra 2.0 (LUNA2) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 150,000 | 180 LUNA2 | Class E | 1-Jun-2022 |
PF_MANAUSD | Active | Decentraland (MANA) | 1 | 0.0001 | 7,500,000 | 275 MANA | Class C | 27-Jun-2022 |
PF_MASKUSD | Active | Mask Network (MASK) | 1 | 0.0001 | 850,000 | 30 MASK | Class D | 08-Mar-2023 |
PF_MATICUSD | Active | Polygon (MATIC) | 1 | 0.0001 | 14,000,000 | 180 MATIC | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_MINAUSD | Active | Mina Protocol (MINA) | 1 | 0.0001 | 3,500,000 | 270 MINA | Class D | 5-Oct-2022 |
PF_MKRUSD | Active | Maker (MKR) | 0.001 | 0.1 | 5,000 | 0.15 MKR | Class D | 20-Jul-2022 |
PF_MOONUSD | Active | Moons (MOON) | 1 | 0.00001 | 2,000,000 | 400 MOON | Class E | 7-Aug-2023 |
PF_NEARUSD | Active | Near Protocol (NEAR) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,250,000 | 90 NEAR | Class D | 13-Jun-2022 |
PF_OCEANUSD | Active | Ocean Protocol (OCEAN) | 0.1 | 0.00001 | 17,000,000 | 750 OCEAN | Class D | 21-Sep-2022 |
PF_OGNUSD | Active | Origin Protocol (OGN) | 1 | 0.00001 | 16,000,000 | 2,000 OGN | Class D | 31-Aug-2022 |
PF_OMGUSD | Active | OMG Network (OMG) | 0.1 | 0.0001 | 2,500,000 | 220 OMG | Class D | 13-Jun-2022 |
PF_1INCHUSD | Active | 1INCH (1INCH) | 1 | 0.0001 | 6,000,000 | 400 1INCH | Class D | 24-Aug-2022 |
PF_OPUSD | Active | Optimism (OP) | 1 | 0.0001 | 4,000,000 | 115 OP | Class D | 3-Jun-2022 |
PF_PAXGUSD | Active | PAX Gold (PAXG) | 0.001 | 0.1 | 1,000 | 0.05 PAXG | Class D | 16-Aug-2023 |
PF_PEPEUSD** | Active | Pepe (PEPE) | 1,000 | 0.0000000001 | 100,420,690,000 | 125,000,000 PEPE | Class D | 25-May-2023 |
PF_QNTUSD | Active | Quant (QNT) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 12,000 | 1 QNT | Class E | 12-Oct-2022 |
PF_QTUMUSD | Active | QTUM (QTUM) | 1 | 0.0001 | 700,000 | 50 QTUM | Class D | 24-Aug-2022 |
PF_RENUSD | Active | Ren (REN) | 1 | 0.00001 | 20,000,000 | 2,200 REN | Class D | 14-Sep-2022 |
PF_RLCUSD | Active | iExec RLC (RLC) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,000,000 | 85 RLC | Class E | 12-Apr-2023 |
PF_RNDRUSD | Active | Render (RNDR) | 1 | 0.0001 | 2,000,000 | 90 RNDR | Class E | 30-Mar-2023 |
PF_RUNEUSD | Active | THORChain (RUNE) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,500,000 | 100 RUNE | Class D | 7-Sep-2022 |
PF_SANDUSD | Active | The Sandbox (SAND) | 0.1 | 0.0001 | 5,000,000 | 330 SAND | Class C | 13-Jun-2022 |
PF_SCUSD | Active | Siacoin (SC) | 1 | 0.0000001 | 600,000,000 | 40,000 SC | Class D | 5-Oct-2022 |
PF_SEIUSD | Active | Sei (SEI) | 1 | 0.00001 | 15,000,000 | 800 SEI | Class D | 6-Sep-2023 |
PF_SHIBUSD** | Active | Shiba Inu (SHIB) | 1,000 | 0.000000001 | 100,000,000,000 | 12,500,000 SHIB | Class D | 30-May-2023 |
PF_SNXUSD | Active | Synthetix (SNX) | 1 | 0.0001 | 2,000,000 | 60 SNX | Class D | 6-Jul-2022 |
PF_SOLUSD | Active | Solana (SOL) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 120,000 | 8 SOL | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_SRMUSD | Settled 15-Nov-2022 | Serum (SRM) | 1 | 0.0001 | 3,500,000 | 125 SRM | Class D | 14-Sep-2022 |
PF_STGUSD | Active | Stargate Finance (STG) | 1 | 0.0001 | 3,000,000 | 175 STG | Class D | 26-Jul-2023 |
PF_STORJUSD | Active | Storj (STORJ) | 1 | 0.0001 | 5,000,000 | 450 STORJ | Class D | 7-Sep-2022 |
PF_STXUSD | Active | Stacks (STX) | 1 | 0.0001 | 2,500,000 | 110 STX | Class E | 30-Mar-2023 |
PF_SUIUSD | Active | Sui (SUI) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,500,000 | 160 SUI | Class D | 3-May-2023 |
PF_SUSHIUSD | Active | Sushiswap (SUSHI) | 1 | 0.0001 | 4,000,000 | 180 SUSHI | Class D | 31-Aug-2022 |
PF_SXPUSD | Active | Solar (SXP) | 1 | 0.00001 | 5,000,000 | 300 SXP | Class D | 19-Jul-2023 |
PF_THETAUSD | Active | Theta Network (THETA) | 1 | 0.0001 | 2,500,000 | 160 THETA | Class D | 12-Oct-2022 |
PF_TRXUSD | Active | Tron (TRX) | 1 | 0.000001 | 75,000,000 | 2000 TRX | Class D | 20-Jun-2022 |
PF_TUSDUSD | Active | TrueUSD (TUSD) | 1 | 0.0001 | 2,000,000 | 100 TUSD | Class C | 28-Jun-2023 |
PF_UNIUSD | Active | Uniswap (UNI) | 0.1 | 0.001 | 1,000,000 | 20 UNI | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_USDCUSD | Active | USD Coin (USDC) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,000,000 | 100 USDC | Class C | 11-Mar-2023 |
PF_USDTUSD | Active | Tether (USD) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,000,000 | 100 USDT | Class C | 11-Mar-2023 |
PF_WAVESUSD | Active | Waves (WAVES) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,000,000 | 50 WAVES | Class D | 13-Jun-2022 |
PF_WLDUSD | Active | Worldcoin (WLD) | 1 | 0.0001 | 1,000,000 | 100 WLD | Class D | 2-Aug-2023 |
PF_WOOUSD | Active | Woo Network (WOO) | 1 | 0.00001 | 10,000,000 | 500 WOO | Class E | 5-Apr-2023 |
PF_XLMUSD | Active | Stellar Lumens (XLM) | 1 | 0.00001 | 60,000,000 | 1,200 XLM | Class C | 6-Jul-2022 |
PF_XMRUSD | Active | Monero (XMR) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 30,000 | 0.75 XMR | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_XRPUSD | Active | Ripple (XRP) | 1 | 0.00001 | 10,000,000 | 285 XRP | Class B | 23-Mar-2022 |
PF_XTZUSD | Active | Tezos (XTZ) | 1 | 0.0001 | 5,000,000 | 110 XTZ | Class D | 6-Jul-2022 |
PF_YFIUSD | Active | Yearn Finance (YFI) | 0.0001 | 1 | 750 | 0.020 YFI | Class D | 13-Jul-2022 |
PF_ZECUSD | Active | ZCASH (ZEC) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 50,000 | 2.5 ZEC | Class D | 24-Aug-2022 |
PF_ZRXUSD | Active | 0x (ZRX) | 1 | 0.00001 | 10,000,000 | 600 ZRX | Class D | 12-Apr-2023 |
*BTC is used on the platform UI. XBT is used on the API and account logs. Both refer to Bitcoin (BTC).
**PF_PEPEUSD & PF_SHIBUSD orders must be in increments of 1,000. These contracts are both currently only available on the pro.kraken.com UI.
Details on Margin Categories available on Margin schedule and maximum leverage
Contract specifications changes available on our Futures Platform Parameters Changelog
Funding Rate and Other Important Information
Funding Rate Change, September 2022
On September 29th, 2022 at 12:00 UTC, the funding rate settlement period changed from 4 hours to 1 hour, and the maximum permissible rate changed from 0.1% to 0.25%. The table below has been updated with details of the new funding rate methodology.
To view the old funding rate methodology please see this page.
Additional Information | |
---|---|
Auto-Roll Period | Every 1 hour at the end of the hour |
Rate-setting Calculation Window |
Rate for next period is calculated over current 1-hour period (e.g., rate for 12-13 UTC period is calculated in window between 11-12 UTC) |
Funding Rate |
Between start and end of the Rate-setting Period the Funding Rate is computed as the time-weighted average premium, and standardised to a per-hour basis. Permissible range per 1 hours: [-0.25%, +0.25%]*** (i.e., 600 basis point magnitude for 24-hour realisation period) |
Payout Frequency |
Continuously based on Funding Rate set at the end of the prior Funding Period. Positions will immediately and continuously receive or send funding while open in the perpetual contracts. The funding accumulates as unrealised profit/loss and settles every 1 hour at end of the Funding Period, or when user changes net open position (whichever occurs first). |
Funding Rate Multiplier |
n = 24 This is the coefficient used in the calculation of the funding rate. A value of 1/n means that, ceteris paribus, it will take n hours to realise the Average Premium. Example: if the Average Premium is 0.36% for the 1-hour period, then Funding Rate is equal to 0.015%, meaning that over the course of 24 hours, this 0.36% total will be realised. |
Funding Rate Calculation |
In a given 1-hour Funding Period, Premium values calculated from minutely perpetual contract prices (60 observations) using an Impact Mid are recorded versus the Real Time Platform Ticker. The Impact Mid is the median of the average entry price market-selling x value of contracts and market-buying x value of contracts. See table above for contract-specific values. The Average Premium is calculated as the average of the mid 30 values recorded from the above 60 observations. Finally, this value is weighted by the Funding Rate Multiplier. If Average Premium is greater than 0 for the 1 hour period, those in Long positions will continuously pay out to Short positions, which pushes the price closer to Index. If Average Premium is less than 0 for the 1 hour period, those in Short positions will continuously pay out to Long positions, which pushes the price closer to Index. |
Trading Hours | 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year (excluding maintenance) |
P&L Settlement Method |
Cash settled in USD with optional payout in any of the collateral currencies (profit only, losses are always realised in USD) |
Fee Structure |
Kraken Futures uses a maker-taker fee structure. Fees are calculated as a percentage of the notional order value for a matched trade. No fees are charged on auto-roll or funding payouts -- these occur strictly between counter-parties. |
Contract Expiration |
The perpetual futures are non-expiring, which means that positions in the contract are never “expired” or “matured”, however there is a settlement process every hour that applies funding to anchor the spot value to the Index. See Last Trading for more information. |
Settlement time |
Every 1 hour at the end of the hour: The accumulated unrealised funding is settled and new rate set based on TWAP premium to index in prior rate period. |
Last Trading |
This contract remains trading perpetually and would only expire in an emergency situation if Kraken Futures deems necessary to settle/expire the contract. Kraken Futures reserve the right to set any contract to post-only, suspended, or settle any contract at any time and without warning due to either adverse market conditions or regulatory risk. |
Initial Margin | As low as 2% |
Maintenance Margin | Half of Initial Margin |
Maximum Initial Leverage | Up to 50x |
Mark Price |
Index Price plus the 30 seconds exponential moving average of the order book mid price minus the index price (future's basis). The premium for perpetual contracts is capped at 1%. Calculation: Index Price + EMA_30seconds(Impact Mid Price - Index Price) Note: in the extremely rare circumstance that the Index Price is unavailable for whatever reason, the above caps may not apply and the Mark Price will be equal to the Impact Mid Price. |
Margin & Settlement Currency | USD, but with full collateral options of BTC, ETH, ADA, DOT, LTC, SOL, XRP, USDT, USDC, EUR, and GBP, adjusted for haircut (see Futures Collateral Currencies) |
The funding rate for a given perpetual contract is represented in two different ways:
- absolute rate: The amount of funding an account will receive by maintaining a 1 contract unit short position for 1 hour. This is more useful for account log purposes.
absolute funding payout = # of contracts * absolute funding rate * time elapsed within funding period without position alteration
- relative rate: The absolute funding rate relative to the spot price at the time of funding rate calculation. This is an intermediate value in the calculation of the absolute funding rate and is the number we display in the front end (as a %) as the 'funding rate'.
relative funding payout = # of contracts * (relative funding rate*spot price) * time elapsed within funding period without position alteration
Funding Rate Examples
In order to get a complete understanding of the funding rate dynamics of the Perpetual Contract, we present examples to demonstrate the key features.
Click the example titles to expand:
Example Funding Rate 1
Assume time is 12 UTC and that the price of BTC is $37,000 (via bitcoin-dollar real-time index) and the Perpetual trades at $37,100 the whole time until 13 UTC. The average premium is computed as 0.27027% for the 1-hour period (100/37,000). This leads to a funding rate of 0.27027 / 24 = 0.01126125% per hour.
Now assume that you are in a short position of 2 BTC, with 1 BTC perpetual contract valued at $37,100. If you hold this position from 13 to 14 UTC, and the premium in the 13 to 14 UTC period remains as 0.27027%, then you will be paid funding of 8.333325 USD for the one-hour period [(2*37000)*0.0001126125]
Example Funding Rate 2
Assume time is 12 UTC and that price of BTC is $37,000 and the Perpetual trades at $39,700 until 13 UTC. The average premium is computed as 7.297297% for the 1-hour period. This leads to a funding rate of 7.297297 / 24 = 0.30405404% per hour.
The maximum funding rate per hour in any given period is 0.25%. The minimum is -0.25%.
As a result, this 0.30405404% hourly rate is floored to 0.25% per hour, so that the maximum 24 hour realisation will not exceed 6%.
Note that there is no "dampening" of rates done in this model: if a 1 hour computed rate is near 0, then it will pay out non-0 value even if it is de minimis.
Example Funding Rate 3
Assume time is 13 UTC and that the index spot price of BTCUSD is $37,000, and the relative rate set for the 1 hour period is 0.05% per hour.
Now assume the time is 13:30 UTC and the perpetual trades at $38,000 and you enter a Short position of 4 BTC at this price.
You will immediately begin receiving funding at an absolute rate of 0.05%*$37,000 = 18.5 USD per hour per unit.
In your available balance you will then see this rate applying in your unrealised PnL through continuous funding payout equal to:
- 18.5 * 4 BTC = $74 per hour
- $1.233 per minute
This will pay out continuously until 14 UTC where the relative funding rate will change based on the market activity between 13-14 UTC.
In your 4 BTC short position at the end of the half hour period you will have $36.99 applied in your account log at 14 UTC.
Assume this new relative funding rate is now 0.03% and the real-time spot index is $37,900 for BTCUSD at 14 UTC.
From 14 UTC to 15 UTC a new absolute funding rate will begin applying of 0.03%*$37,900=$11.37 per hour per unit.
Example Funding Rate 4
Assume time is 14 UTC and you enter a position long 2 BTC on BTCUSD at 37,000. Assume that the funding rate for the one-hour period (13-14 UTC) is set as -0.04% per hour.
At 15 UTC, after you have held this position for one full hour, you will have earned $29.6 [(0.0004*2 BTC)*37,000], which credits continuously throughout the hour period you hold it.
However, during this period, the price was at a premium and so the new one-hour rate set for 14 - 15 UTC is 0.04% per hour. After one hour of holding the position, you have paid $29.6 and you close at 16 UTC.
Your funding for the two hour period you held the position is thus + $29.6 for the first period and then - $29.6 for the first second and your net flows are 0 for this.
Example Funding Rate 5
Assume it's 12 UTC you are in a 5 BTC long position on BTCUSD with spot index at $37,000 and the rate in the funding period is -0.08%. This earns you funding of:
- 0.0008 * 5 * 37,000 = $148 for the period
- $2.4666667 per minute
- $0.04111111 per second
- $0.00004111111 per millisecond
This credits and debits every millisecond to every user with an open position. It credits first as unrealised profit and loss, but you have the funds available right away to use in further positions or transfer into your Cash account.
The funding is booked into your account log and realised when one of the following events occur:
- 1You adjust your open position up or down by any amount
- 2You hold until the end of the Funding Period, at which point it is booked (occurs at the end of every hour)
Example Funding Rate 6
Assume it's 12 UTC you are in a 3 BTC long position on PF_BTCUSD with spot index at $37,000 and the rate in the funding period is -0.05%. Assume that you have set your profit currency as ETH and you hold this position until the end of the funding period at 13 UTC.
0.0015*37,000*3 = $55.5 per hour
At the end of the period at 13 UTC, assume that the price of ETH is 2,500 (from the ether-dollar real-time index)
The conversion can be calculated using the following:
= Amount in USD to be converted / (Target currency index * (1 - 0.25%))
= 55.5 USD / (2,500 ETHUSD * .9975)
= 0.022 ETH
An example of what this would look like in the account logs:
Sequence |
Timestamp |
Wallet |
Type |
Symbol |
Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
136 |
13:00:00 |
MC |
Funding Rate Change |
USD |
55.50 |
137 |
13:00:00 |
MC |
Conversion |
USD |
-55.50 |
138 |
13:00:00 |
MC |
Conversion |
ETH |
0.022 |
The decimal and thousands separators shown in this article may differ from the formats displayed on our trading platforms. Review our article on how we use points and commas for more information.
Last updated: 6 September, 2023