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Futures

trading
derivatives

Futures are derivatives for long or short exposure to an asset; crypto markets commonly use perpetual futures with no expiry.

1
concept

Crypto futures allow traders to gain long or short exposure without holding the underlying asset. Standard futures expire on a set date; perpetual futures have no expiry and use funding payments to track an index price.

2
mechanics

Key elements include margin, leverage, liquidation thresholds, mark price, and maintenance requirements. Exchanges use insurance funds and auto-deleveraging mechanisms to handle bankrupt positions.

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All terms and definitions may update as the Cryptionary improves.