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MARKET PERSPECTIVES

Perpetual futures: funding is not a price forecast

Separate directional returns, recurring payments and collateral risk

DerivativesExplainerUpdated: October 11, 2026

What funding measures

Funding arrangements commonly help connect perpetual prices with a reference market. A positive or negative rate describes a payment convention under venue rules, rather than a reliable forecast of the next market move

Three components of a result

A position has price profit or loss, funding payments and execution costs. Leverage affects these relative to the posted margin. A favorable price change can still leave a poor net outcome after costs, while collateral pressure can force an early exit

Rules before conclusions

Check funding intervals, mark prices, maintenance requirements and liquidation procedures. These conditions differ across venues. Research should describe the actual contract rather than infer its terms from the product name

General educational analysis. Review actual product terms and risks separately.

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