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RISK · CROSS MARGIN

Cross-Margin Exposure: A Worked Crypto Example With Fees Included

In cross margin, all positions share the account balance. One losing position can consume margin that others rely on.

By ChartsPod Editorial Team · Reviewed by ChartsPod Research
Published · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

With cross margin, unrealised losses on any position reduce the margin available to all positions, and liquidation considers the whole account (Bybit documents liquidation behaviour by margin mode). Example: $10,000 account with three longs of $6,000 notional each. If all fall 8%, unrealised losses total $1,440 and available margin shrinks for every position at once. Size each position from its own stop and cap total open risk across the account.

Worked example

StepValue
Account$10,000
Positions3 × $6,000 notional
Total notional$18,000 (1.8× account)
8% drop on all−$1,440 unrealised
Fees per position (0.05% × 2)≈ $6
Planned risk at stops3 × $100 = $300
Shared margin consumed by losses ($)Shared margin consumed by losses ($): One position −8% 480 $; All three −8% 1,440 $.SHARED MARGIN CONSUMED BY LOSSES ($)One position −8%$480All three −8%$1,440
Correlated losses drain shared margin together. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Controls

Cross margin delays liquidation for a single position by drawing on the whole balance, which is helpful only if stops are respected. Without stops, one bad position can take the account.

Cross-margin controlsCross-margin controls: Stop on every position; Total open risk cap; Correlation groups capped; Monitor account margin ratio; Avoid adding to losers.CROSS-MARGIN CONTROLSStop on every positionTotal open risk capCorrelation groups cappedMonitor account margin ratioAvoid adding to losers
The account is one risk pool. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Conclusion

Related: Leverage vs Risk per Trade: Why a Small Margin Can Still Lose More, Correlated Altcoin Positions: Why Five Trades Can Be One Bet.

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With cross margin, unrealised losses on any position reduce the margin available to all positions, and liquidation considers the whole account (Bybit documents liquidation behaviour by margin mode).

Compare Cross-Margin Exposure across Binance, Bybit, OKX and Hyperliquid markets.

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Questions readers ask

What is cross margin?

Positions share the account balance as margin.

Is it riskier than isolated?

It can lose more than one position's margin.

How do I control it?

Stops, total-risk caps and correlation limits.

Sources and methodology

Arithmetic uses standard sizing formulas. Fee rates (0.05% taker, 0.02% maker), slippage and funding values are illustrative; check your venue's schedule. Liquidation figures are simplified approximations; exchanges calculate them with their own maintenance-margin rules (see Bybit's documentation).

  1. Bybit: Liquidation process — mark price and margin modes.
  2. ChartsPod: product overview, pricing and FAQ — free terminal, venues, modules, no order placement; checked 17 Oct 2026.

This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.

CHARTSPOD EDITORIAL EDITION · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ONLY · NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.