2026-01-18 10:28:34

Understanding Funding Rates in Perpetual Futures

Funding rates represent the periodic fees exchanged between traders holding long and short positions in perpetual futures contracts. These mechanisms serve a critical purpose: maintaining alignment between perpetual futures prices and actual spot market prices.

How it works: When perpetual futures trade at a premium above spot prices, traders betting on price increases (longs) pay fees to those betting on declines (shorts). Conversely, when futures trade below spot rates, shorts compensate longs. This self-regulating system prevents extreme price divergence and keeps the derivatives market anchored to reality.

For traders, understanding funding rates is essential for calculating true trading costs and managing risk exposure across different market conditions.

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TokenUnlocker

· 20h ago

The funding rate of perpetual contracts, to put it simply, is a mechanism where longs and shorts keep bleeding each other. Keep a close eye on it.

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GasFeeCrier

· 20h ago

The funding rate of perpetual contracts, to put it simply, is like a toll for betting on long or short positions.

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SerLiquidated

· 21h ago

The funding rate logic of Yong Contract is actually an automatic balancer. You don't realize it when things are good, but you understand it when you're being liquidated.

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ZKSherlock

· 21h ago

actually... people still get this backwards lol. funding rates aren't just "fees" – they're a mechanism that enforces this equilibrium through information-theoretic constraints, yeah? it's elegant when u think about it mathematically, but most traders treat it like some random tax smh

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BTCBeliefStation

· 21h ago

The funding rate for perpetual contracts is basically a mechanism where longs and shorts mutually exploit each other.

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GasFeeSobber