Perpetual futures are a type of cryptocurrency derivative. While perpetual futures are very similar to expiry futures, they differ in two significant ways:
Expiry
Where expiry futures have expiry dates set in advance, perpetual futures don’t, meaning buyers and sellers can hypothetically keep their positions open 'perpetually' — as long as their account holds enough margin to cover losses and prevent liquidations.
Funding fees
To avoid perpetual futures diverging significantly from the asset’s spot price, funding fees help discourage major deviations. It's important to note that the funding rate is a fee exchanged between the long and short parties — not a fee collected by the exchange.
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Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk and can fluctuate greatly. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition and risk tolerance. OKX does not provide investment or asset recommendations. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions, and OKX is not responsible for any potential losses. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific circumstances. OKX Web3 features, including OKX Web3 Wallet and OKX NFT Marketplace, are subject to separate terms of service at www.okx.com.
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