Managing margin
Understanding balance, equity, used margin and order reservations.
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Account funds
Margin is the part of account funds allocated to an open position. It is not a fee and is not the maximum possible loss. Entry checks take all positions and orders in the selected account into account. Use free margin to assess available size rather than relying only on the large balance figure in the dashboard.
| Metric | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Balance | Starting funds adjusted for closes, fees, funding and other completed cash operations. |
| Equity | Balance plus the current unrealized PnL of open positions. |
| Used margin | The total margin allocated to open positions. |
| Reserved margin | Funds held for orders that have not yet filled. |
Free Margin = Equity − Used Margin − Reserved MarginEntry calculation
Margin is calculated from the actual execution price, quantity and selected leverage. For example, 0.1 ETH at 2,000 USDT with 5× leverage requires 40 USDT of margin. A trading fee is charged separately. Margin and fees are rounded up to the nearest cent, so very small trades may differ from a rough calculator estimate.
How funds are released
Cancelling a pending order releases its reservation. A fill allocates the required amount to position margin and releases unused reservation. A full close releases all position margin; a partial close releases the corresponding portion. Releasing margin is not profit by itself: closing PnL and expenses change the balance. Losses on remaining positions may reduce free margin at the same time.
Margin and program limits
Free margin and headroom to a daily or total loss limit answer different questions. Positive free margin does not permit a program-rule breach. If funds are insufficient, reduce the new entry size or cancel unwanted orders. Do not assume risk is limited to one position's margin: the entire trading account is assessed, including unrealized losses, fees and funding.