As Bitcoin's dominance persists, emerging regulatory clarity may catalyze a resurgence in altcoins, particularly for platforms like Ethereum and Solana, which are poised to benefit from a pro-crypto environment.

: Donald Trump’s election signals a pivotal shift in cryptocurrency policy, moving from skepticism to advocacy, which may redefine the regulatory landscape.

: The election result triggered immediate and substantial reactions in the crypto markets, particularly evident in Bitcoin's price surge, reflecting heightened investor optimism.

: A Republican-controlled U.S. Congress could lead to clearer and more favorable regulations for digital assets, fostering innovation and investment in the sector.

: As Bitcoin's dominance persists, emerging regulatory clarity may catalyze a resurgence in altcoins, particularly for platforms like Ethereum and Solana, which are poised to benefit from a pro-crypto environment.

Donald Trump’s re-emergence as the “crypto president” represents a dramatic turnaround in his relationship with the cryptocurrency sector. Once a vocal critic, his 2024 campaign embraced Bitcoin, positioning it as central to his economic strategy. This transformation can be attributed to the substantial financial contributions from crypto firms, which played a crucial role in his campaign, underscoring the industry's growing political influence. By vowing to make America the “crypto capital of the planet,” Trump not only appeals to a burgeoning voter base invested in digital assets, but also aligns himself with the interests of powerful crypto stakeholders. This shift could fundamentally alter the regulatory framework governing cryptocurrencies, potentially easing restrictions and fostering an environment more conducive to innovation.

The immediate aftermath of Trump’s victory was characterized by significant volatility in the crypto markets, particularly with Bitcoin (BTC) experiencing a sharp rally from approximately $70K to nearly $90K. This movement was not merely speculative; it reflected a broader alignment of market sentiment with political outcomes. The use of on-chain prediction markets such as Polymarket illustrated how traders adjusted their positions in real time based on election developments. As Trump's victory appeared more likely, BTC’s correlation with these prediction markets intensified, showcasing a direct link between political events and crypto valuations. This responsiveness highlights the increasing intertwining of traditional financial markets with crypto as investors seek to leverage political insights to inform their trading strategies.

Regulatory Outlook and Congressional Influence

With a Republican majority in both chambers of the U.S. Congress, the potential for significant regulatory reforms in the cryptocurrency space is heightened. Historical context reveals that previous efforts, such as the FIT21 Act, aimed to delineate the regulatory authority over digital assets, although it faced challenges in legislative passage. However, the current political landscape, coupled with substantial financial backing from crypto-friendly Super PACs, sets the stage for a more favorable regulatory environment. The election cycle demonstrated the effectiveness of targeted political spending in reshaping legislative priorities, particularly in key Senate races. 

As newly elected officials take office, their pro-crypto stances could lead to expedited discussions and potential passage of critical regulatory frameworks, thereby reducing ambiguity and fostering a more robust investment climate.

While Bitcoin continues to dominate the market narrative, the potential for altcoins to gain traction is significant, especially in light of a supportive regulatory environment. Historical patterns suggest that Bitcoin's dominance often peaks during bull markets, followed by a capital rotation into altcoins as investors seek higher returns. The recent surge in Bitcoin's price has overshadowed altcoins, and yet the incoming administration's pro-crypto posture may catalyze renewed interest in platforms like Ethereum and Solana. These networks, which facilitate smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, stand to benefit from increased investment as regulatory clarity emerges. The influx of capital into altcoin markets could be accelerated by the anticipated legislative focus on fostering innovation within the cryptocurrency sector, marking a potential shift in market dynamics as investors diversify their portfolios beyond Bitcoin.

In conclusion, Trump's presidency heralds a transformative period for the cryptocurrency landscape, characterized by potential regulatory clarity and increased market participation. As the political and financial realms converge, stakeholders in the crypto ecosystem must remain attuned to the evolving landscape, ready to adapt to new opportunities and challenges that arise in this dynamic environment.

Advanced

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Bybit x Block Scholes Institution Report: Takeaways From the U.S. Election and What to Look For Next

Nansen has partnered with TRON DAO to integrate the TRON network into Nansen V2, enhancing on-chain analytics for the TRON ecosystem. 

Daily Top Performer — Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL)

The S&P 500 climbed 0.4%, driven by a nearly 5% surge in Nvidia shares ahead of its highly anticipated earnings report, which lifted market sentiment despite ongoing geopolitical concerns.  Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was up by 0.15%, with Bitcoin rising by 1.13% and Ether dropping by 1.62%, in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is VIRTUAL, which surged 5.2% after the launch of Agentstarter, empowering founders to build successful AI agents with Virtuals Protocol.

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), founded in 2021, allows users to invest in and co-own AI-driven virtual assets like companions and influencers. Its model fosters community ownership, transforming AI agents into revenue-generating assets across platforms like Roblox and TikTok. The platform attracts contributors from AI and gaming to drive innovation in virtual economies. Virtuals Protocol introduces 

, an AI agent launchpad offering funding, development support, and distribution for creators. It aims to help founders build successful AI agents within a thriving ecosystem and long-term incentive structure.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

 to integrate the TRON network into Nansen V2, enhancing on-chain analytics for the TRON ecosystem. This collaboration aims to provide developers, users, and projects with valuable data to foster growth and innovation. The integration will offer advanced features like Token God Mode, Wallet Profiler, and Smart Alerts, helping optimize decentralized applications (DApps) and improve transparency within the community. TRON’s high-speed, low-cost blockchain infrastructure will benefit from these enhanced analytics to further empower the ecosystem.

Yesterday, total inflows into BTC Spot ETFs amounted to $600.3 million, with $16.2 million coming from GBTC and $584.1 million from non-GBTC sources.

 allows users to earn XP for transactions, quests, gas fees, and referrals in its wallet. XP, while offchain, is tied to wallet addresses and used to level up and unlock exclusive rewards. Key features include free transactions on the ZERϴ Network, daily quests, and retroactive XP for active wallets before mid-October. Rewards enhance the onchain experience but are non-transferable. The program encourages bridging assets to ZERϴ and active participation to maximize XP and rewards.

Beginner

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Nansen Partners with TRON DAO to Enhance On-Chain Analytics for TRON Ecosystem

In our latest Learn 101 livestream session, we gathered an esteemed panel of crypto experts to share insights on the Bybit VIP Program.

The crypto market is highly volatile and moves around the clock, and crypto traders need every advantage available to them. Bybit VIPs have access to a wide range of special tools and features, an amazing community, lower trading fees and other benefits.

, we uncover everything you need to know about Bybit’s VIP Program.

, provides a recap of our Learn 101 livestreams, offering you comprehensive expertise and insights from leading figures in the crypto industry in case you miss the livestream.

Joining the livestream on Nov 14, 2024 were three distinguished guests: Livio Scalet, Bybit VIP; Tradealot, Bybit VIP; and Maxim Orlov, VIP Team Lead at Bybit. Under the moderation of Sabrina Chua, Crypto Evangelist and SEO Editor at Bybit, this episode explores the success stories of our existing VIP traders, the 

 the Bybit VIP Program offers and the way you can become the next 

What's Your Trader Type? Understanding VIP Profiles and Characteristics

Bybit’s VIP program caters to a diverse group of traders, each leveraging their unique strengths and approaches. Maxim, the VIP Team Lead at Bybit, highlights its broad membership, ranging from altcoin enthusiasts and spot traders to long-term investors who prefer to buy and hold.

VIP traders like Livio and Tradealot each adopt distinctive trading strategies tailored to their skills and market conditions. Livio, for example, employs meticulous 

 to refine his strategies, relying on defined entry and exit points and indicator setups. He emphasizes the importance of understanding past market behaviors to anticipate future trends. On the tools front, Livio frequently utilizes Bybit’s 

 and bot strategies to enhance trade precision and efficiency, advocating for copy trading as a beneficial tool for novices to emulate the moves of experienced traders.

Tradealot, on the other hand, focuses on price action rather than traditional indicators. In typical market conditions, he might execute 500 to 600 trades per day, a number that can surge into the thousands when the market heats up. His approach is honed for short-term trading, recognizing that his strength lies in quick, voluminous trading facilitated by Bybit’s reduced fees for VIPs.

 is a critical theme for both traders. Livio approaches trading with a calculated view of risk, opting to increase his trade volume when his strategies show a high success rate. Meanwhile, Tradealot emphasizes the importance of understanding his own trading limitations, especially in volatile markets where poor leverage choices can lead to significant losses.

Community engagement also plays a pivotal role in both traders’ strategies. Each one values the insights and feedback from the Bybit VIP community, which they use as a sounding board to refine their approaches and check their strategies.

Personal trading histories further illustrate their journeys and learning curves. Livio’s turning point came at age 18 after a significant loss that steered him toward mastering risk management and technical analysis. Tradealot’s story began with a modest $600 and a series of early losses that underscored the importance of disciplined trading and risk management.

 not only offers lower trading fees and exclusive events but also fosters a learning environment in which traders can grow and optimize their strategies, drawing on community support and advanced trading tools. Both Livio and Tradealot emphasize the utility of starting with 

 to build confidence and skills in a risk-free environment.

Attaining Bybit VIP status offers a wealth of benefits, tailored to enhance the trading experience significantly. Maxim explains that eligibility for VIP status is determined either by maintaining a minimum account balance of $100,000, or achieving a requisite trade volume. Once VIP status is attained, you gain access to exclusive perks, including dedicated relationship managers available across all time zones, ensuring prompt support whenever needed. Additionally, VIPs enjoy lower transaction fees, enhanced trading features and more lucrative cashback bonuses with the 

The VIP Program also facilitates unique networking opportunities, organizing live events globally for members to connect with peers and industry experts. For those looking to maximize their returns, Bybit offers 

, which are particularly beneficial for VIP members through enhanced terms on investments. 

Livio, though less experienced with Structured Products, is keen to integrate them into his trading strategy. He recognizes the potential these products hold, and plans to explore them further to optimize his investment approach. On the other hand, Tradealot has embraced the use of Bybit's VIP trading bots extensively, leveraging them alongside higher APYs offered through 

 isn’t exclusive to VIPs, he utilizes it and also explores 

, which interfaces seamlessly with several applications he regularly uses.

Tradealot and Livio both share insights on their personal motivations for choosing the Bybit VIP program. Livio cites the lower fees as a crucial factor, enabling him to capitalize profitably on smaller market movements. Tradealot, previously a Binance user, switched to Bybit for its superior platform stability, better fees and higher liquidity, especially under volatile market conditions.

Maxim emphasizes that the journey within the VIP program is progressive, and as members ascend through different VIP levels, they unlock further benefits including higher APYs, exclusive gifts, specialized workshops and access to special events — all coupled with progressively lower fee rates. This tiered system incentivizes and rewards active and high-volume traders, aligning with their evolving trading needs and contributions to the platform.

Unlock the VIP Gateway: How to Join the Elite

Becoming a VIP trader on Bybit is straightforward. It offers two primary pathways: newcomers can opt for a 20-day free trial to experience VIP benefits, and existing VIPs from other platforms can qualify immediately by providing a screenshot of their trading volume or asset balance. For those not meeting these criteria, funding a Bybit account with $100,000 also grants VIP status.

Once established as VIPs, traders such as Livio notice significant changes in their trading approach. For Livio, the ability to capitalize on smaller price movements has become a key advantage, along with access to an engaging trading community, while Tradealot embraces the use of advanced trading bots.

A day in the life of a VIP trader varies, and Livio and Tradealot reflect on their personal routines and trading styles. Livio starts his day gathering information to strategize his morning trades, followed by actual trading in the afternoon. In contrast, Tradealot combines lifestyle activities, such as going to the gym or hiking, with his trading routine. He stays updated with both crypto and global news, ready to trade intensively during volatile market periods.

The VIP Program also includes exclusive trading competitions, as Maxim explains. These competitions not only provide an exciting challenge, but also offer substantial rewards. Winners can expect lavish prizes — such as a gold ring adorned with diamonds during the latest 

 — enhancing the allure of participating in these high-stakes events.

This Learn 101 livestream session offers a comprehensive overview of the Bybit VIP Program, shedding light on the exclusive benefits and features accessible to VIP traders. As a member of the Bybit VIP community, you can enjoy an array of perks, including enhanced features, reduced rates and other advantages designed to elevate your trading experience and maximize your profits. We encourage you to explore the various VIP levels available today to discover how they can enhance your trading journey.

Intermediate

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Learn Live ICYMI: Are You Bybit’s Next VIP?

Aptos (APT) is a scalable Layer 1 blockchain using Move language, offering fast transactions, modular upgrades, and a growing ecosystem of Web3 projects.

Aptos has emerged as a standout in the blockchain space, raising 

 from such venture capitalists as Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Coinbase Ventures, Apollo, Circle Ventures and Franklin Templeton to build its dream project promising a flexible and upgradeable blockchain structure. It lived up to its promises, with a successful mainnet launch on Oct 12, 2022. 

Two years later, Aptos has surpassed $1 billion in 

 (TVL), an impressive feat showcasing its ability to achieve real-world adoption as it attracts millions of users worldwide.

, giving users improved scalability, reliability, security and usability.

The Aptos genesis occurred on October 12, 2022, with Aptos blockchain's mainnet "Aptos Autumn" launched on October 17, 2022. Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain built with a Rust-based programming language called Move. Its key features include a parallel execution engine, high-level security features and low transaction costs.

The Aptos blockchain is generating all this hype because of its intriguing past. The blockchain is based on the Diem blockchain initiative (from Meta) that was recently abandoned. Created by Diem developers, the Aptos crypto uses the programming language originally created for Diem. Its focus is on Diem's original goal of creating a scalable, fast blockchain. 

Aptos’s flexible architecture means it can be constantly upgraded to support emerging new use cases as the 

 world becomes increasingly sophisticated. Currently, Aptos is capable of supporting 

 (AI) on its blockchain. Its myriad use cases have drawn over 8 million users worldwide.

The Aptos network was created by Aptos Labs, while the Aptos Foundation focuses on nurturing the ecosystem through grants, education initiatives, events and partnerships.

Aptos Labs is the team behind the Aptos project. They currently lead a diverse team of developers, engineers and strategists headed by co-founders Mo Shaikh and Avery Ching.

Shaikh and Ching met when they worked together on the Diem blockchain project at Meta. Shaikh specializes in scaling products, and has experience in the private equity and venture capital markets. Meanwhile, Ching was one of the principal software engineers at Meta and has led many exciting and innovative development projects in the past. When Meta chose to discontinue the Diem project, Shaikh and Ching decided to join together to create Aptos Labs.

. Besides the Aptos blockchain, Aptos Labs has a range of products that cater to bridging the gap between Web 2.0 and web3. These include 

, a user-friendly web3 wallet that offers seamless access to 

, a name service that allows users to convert their lengthy and complex 

, a dedicated Aptos AI chatbot developed with OpenAI technology.

, whereby token holders stake tokens to their selected validators to help maintain the network. Aptos can theoretically reach 160,000 

 (TPS) while maintaining security and reliability. The following revolutionary concepts are at work behind Aptos's impressive performance.

 creates an engine that efficiently handles 

. The Aptos blockchain engine relies on parallel execution to handle multiple transactions at once. This makes things a lot quicker because a single failed transaction won't halt the whole chain. Instead, transactions can be processed concurrently, and all of them are validated post-execution. To further improve efficiency, a collaborative scheduler works to prioritize certain transactions on the Aptos blockchain and handle essential validations efficiently. Ultimately, up to 160,000 transactions per second (TPS) may be processed simultaneously.

One of the things that makes Aptos’s network so appealing is 

 for swift, secure transactions that was first designed for the Diem blockchain. Move is a type of executable bytecode language that’s used to 

implement smart contracts and custom transactions

. It uses Move modules, which are grouped in upgradeable packages, to define the state of transactions. 

It’s flexible enough to handle the unique needs of Aptos developers, and its global storage is more secure than the average programming language. Move lets users define custom resources that can’t be copied or discarded, making it much more difficult for malicious entities to control the Aptos blockchain. 

Aptos has also made multiple improvements to the Move ecosystem to further enhance its security, such as the 

, a formal verifier for Move smart contracts which boosts protection for contract invariants.

Aptos employs a modular data model, in which a ledger state records the interaction of transactions and accounts. Accounts are representations of users’ control over their assets, from on-chain currency to NFTs, and must be created before they can execute transactions. Transactions submitted by any user modify the ledger state and trigger events coded via Move modules. These events, uniquely identified by keys, are then stored as data within the ledger. This design also ensures flexibility and user privacy, as it supports flexible key management and hybrid custodial options, and allows users to create multiple pseudonymous accounts via cryptographic key pairs.

Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) Consensus Protocol

Instead of using a consensus protocol that has to follow the order of transactions, Aptos decouples the two processes and lets them run parallel to each other. This reduces latency (the time it takes to confirm network transactions) while increasing speed. To ensure accuracy, Aptos has created a Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT) engine that analyzes individual states on-chain and then automatically updates validators as needed.

The Aptos ecosystem is robust, with over 190 projects in the realms of DeFi, GameFi, NFTs, social media, education, AI, infrastructure and more.

. Once an APT holder stakes their APT tokens to a validator node, they’re eligible to vote for various protocol changes, such as blockchain upgrades and changes to blockchain parameters. There was 

 of 1 billion APT tokens, distributed as follows:

 isn’t merely used for governance, as APT token holders can also stake their tokens to a validator to help secure the network while earning rewards, which can be received at 

There’s a minimum stake of 1 million APT and a maximum of 50 million APT, with the staked tokens automatically locked for a fixed duration. The maximum annual reward rate, evaluated at every epoch, began at 7% in 2022, with an annual decline rate of 1.5% (until it eventually reaches 3.25%, which Aptos estimates will take over 50 years). 

To further facilitate decentralization, Aptos also started offering delegated staking for users from April 2023. Delegated staking features a low minimum staking requirement whereby users with as little as 11 APT can collectively stake in a trusted validator node. This move encourages more active participation, allowing more users to stake and earn rewards while helping to sustain a stable and efficient network. 

Staking rewards raise the total supply, making APT an 

 token. However, the rewards mechanism may be modified via on-chain governance.

Aptos is available on Bybit’s Spot market as a swap pair with USDT (

As of Nov 19, 2024, APT’S price is $11.68, which is 41.4% lower than its ATH of $19.92 on Jan 26, 2023 and 279.2% higher than its ATL of $3.08 on Dec 29, 2022. 

Price prediction experts generally have a positive outlook on the APT token. Changelly, while 

 a slight dip to $9.85 in 2025, anticipates APT will exceed $100 by 2030 and hit an astonishing average of $4,727 in 2040. CoinCodex is more conservative in its predictions, 

 APT will trade at an average rate of $31.22 in 2025 and $37.05 in 2030. 

There are several factors working together to make Aptos crypto seem like a great opportunity. First of all, the venture is a continuation of a Meta-founded project that was already getting positive results before it was canceled. Furthermore, the developers working on it are experienced, highly-trained people who've worked on exciting projects in the past.

Aptos’s innovative technology has captured the interest of many venture capitalists, making it one of the top-funded blockchain projects at a total of $350 million (split into two rounds). 

Aptos accepted its first big set of investments in March 2022. Several large venture capital groups, including a16z Crypto, Multicoin Capital, Hashed, Tiger Global, Three Arrows Capital, FTX Ventures and Coinbase Ventures contributed a total of $200 million. Aptos then went on to receive another $150 million in June from FTX Ventures and Jump Crypto. Previous investors, such as a16z crypto and Multicoin Capital, have contributed to multiple rounds of funding.

Thanks to its unique architecture, which separates consensus from execution, and its use of Move as a programming language for added security, Aptos certainly stands out from the crowd of Layer 1 projects. 

In a mere two years, Aptos has achieved a TVL of over $1 billion and attracted over 190 projects, including top DeFi platforms like PancakeSwap, Ondo Finance (the biggest stablecoin by market cap) and USDT.

Aptos has also secured partnerships with industry giants and global asset management leaders, such as BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, and entertainment titan NBCUniversal, further contributing to its credibility as one of the top Layer 1 blockchains.

All of these factors point to a bright future ahead for Aptos. Nevertheless, the crypto market is inherently volatile. As with any other cryptocurrency, before buying APT, please make sure you do 

Aptos, often dubbed the “Solana killer,” possesses plenty of features that help it stand out among other Layer 1 chains — including a highly active community, strong partnerships, and access to unique engines and programming languages. 

One of the Aptos blockchain's main competitors is 

, which is currently the hottest high-performance Layer 1 available. 

Theoretically, Solana can support up to 65,000 TPS, while Aptos is capable of supporting 160,000. While the actual performance of both blockchains falls far below their theoretical speeds, they’re still considered high-speed blockchains, with Solana 

. Apart from their fast speeds, both Aptos and Solana also appeal to many users due to their meager transaction costs, which average around $0.0001 per transaction. 

, having had notable outages and downgrades. Meanwhile, the Aptos blockchain adds redundancy to its network, rendering it less prone to failure. Each block in Aptos is synced with leader nodes and nearby nodes. In case the leader node fails, one of the other nodes can take over. This results in slightly more computational requirements, so Aptos' hardware needs are a little larger than Solana's. Ultimately, Aptos offers more reliability than Solana in exchange for slightly higher hardware requirements.

 use Move programming language, though Sui’s version is modified into an object-centric model, unlike Aptos’s account-centric model. 

Additionally, Aptos records its ledger on a blockchain, whereas Sui stores and organizes its data in a 

Both Aptos and Sui are built to be scalable, with Aptos presenting a high throughput of 160,000 TPS in its testnet days and Sui’s test throughput achieving 120,000. When both networks are launched on the mainnet, however, their maximum throughputs over the past 30 days have fallen to 

While the two networks’ scalability allows for varied use cases, Sui’s focus is on NFT games, with a recent expansion into DeFi. In contrast, Aptos is built to be more general purpose, encompassing a diverse range of applications from DeFi, GameFi and NFTs to social media, entertainment and even AI.

The Aptos blockchain has already managed to outperform 

 in terms of speed. While Ethereum's time to finality is over a minute, Aptos can finalize transactions in less than a second, due to both hardware and design differences. Ethereum only has one CPU core, while Aptos operates on 16.

However, Ethereum’s reliability is undeniably superior. While Aptos doesn't have many problems with outages, it can't compare to Ethereum's stability: Its performance is almost impossible to disrupt. As long as users are fine with paying more fees and waiting longer times, Ethereum still remains the more popular choice.

The Aptos project promises to increase blockchain scalability and reliability. 

Indeed, thanks to its innovative technology, Aptos has proven its credibility in just two short years, drawing over 190 projects to join its ecosystem and enabling it to scale rapidly and evolve to match market demand. 

While it remains to be seen whether Aptos will really be a “Solana killer,” its network is rapidly catching up to Solana’s popularity, as evidenced by its growing ecosystem and partnerships with industry leaders. 

The addition of the world’s largest stablecoin, USDT, to the Aptos blockchain further cements its position as the top blockchain of choice for users and developers seeking a scalable, secure and user-friendly platform. 

With its focus on modularity and upgradeability, Aptos continues to attract significant attention from the web3 community, revealing itself to be a formidable player in the race for blockchain dominance.

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What Is Aptos (APT): A Scalable Modular Layer 1 for Seamless Upgrades

Trading

A margin call is a demand from an asset lender, typically a broker, to increase the amount of assets held as collateral in a margin account. 

Bitcoin_Margin_Call.png

 is a cornerstone of many speculative accounts. To achieve consistent returns, it’s critical to understand both the ins and outs of margin trading and the causes behind margin calls. This article explores the fundamental concept of margin calls, provides an illustrative example, identifies triggers, outlines the consequences when a margin call isn’t met, and gives pointers on how to cover margin calls and prevent them from occurring in the first place.

At its core, a margin call serves as a protective measure, acting as a safety net for traders and investors engaging in leveraged positions within financial markets.

Margin trading essentially allows individuals to borrow funds from a broker in order to trade larger positions than equity in their accounts would typically permit. While buying on margin can magnify potential profits, it equally elevates the level of risk involved. A margin call is a mechanism that prevents traders from falling into a position where they could incur losses exceeding their initial investment.

In more practical terms, a margin call occurs when a trader's margin account balance dips below the minimum threshold, called a maintenance margin, required to maintain open positions. This triggers a demand from the broker, insisting the trader deposit cash into their margin account to cover potential losses, or sell assets in the account to reduce the minimum maintenance margin requirement. The objective is to mitigate the broker's risk by ensuring that traders don’t accumulate debts beyond the value of their assets and collateral.

At their core, margin accounts for stocks, forex, futures and crypto are similar, with some minor differences. Even within the Bybit exchange itself, maintenance margin is calculated differently for its various trading products and margin modes. Therefore, if you decide to open a margin account, make sure to review the broker’s margin requirements and margin call processes so you can be familiar with how they operate. 

To grasp the concept of a margin call more clearly, let's jump into an illustrative example using Bybit's 

Imagine you have 500 USDT in your trading account, and you decide to purchase 0.5 BTC (Bitcoin) at $30,000 on margin. If Bybit’s maintenance margin rate is 0.5%, then $75 of your account must be allocated toward keeping your 0.5 BTC trade open.

 Position Average Entry Price × Maintenance Margin Rate

If the trader starts with $500 in their account and the price of Bitcoin falls by $850.02 to $29,149.98, then the value of their trading account would fall by $425.01, leaving no excess equity to cover the maintenance margin. As a result, a margin call would be issued. 

Failure to heed the margin call and allowing the account balance to remain below the margin maintenance requirement could have dire consequences. In such a situation, the broker retains the authority to liquidate the trader's open positions to meet the margin call, often resulting in a significant financial setback for the trader.

Below are several factors that can serve as triggers for a margin call. The best medicine for a margin call is avoidance, which we'll cover below.

But first, understanding the triggers is crucial for managing risk effectively in a margin account:

: Sudden and substantial price fluctuations in the assets you hold can lead to receiving a margin call. If the market moves against your position, it will cause spreads to widen and losses in your account equity, potentially pushing it below the maintenance margin amount.

: If you pick the incorrect direction for a trend, your margin account is at risk of a margin call. As the market moves against your position, it erodes the market value of your account. If this decline surpasses the broker's prescribed limit, a margin call will be initiated.

: Overleveraging is one of the biggest pitfalls in margin trading. Using too much leverage and leaving too little room for price swings dramatically increases the risk of a margin call. Even the slightest price movements at high amounts of leverage can result in significant losses relative to your account balance.

: Each broker sets specific margin requirements, indicating the minimum account balances needed to support open positions. Brokers can change margin requirements if market variability or a political event threatens to create significant volatility.

 or adequately diversifying your portfolio — can increase the likelihood of margin calls. Some traders don't place a stop-loss, and when the market moves against their positions, significant losses and even margin calls can result.

When a margin call does occur, it’s typically the result of one or more of the factors discussed above. Avoiding margin calls will help protect your capital so you have enough margin to make a trade on tomorrow’s trend.

It's crucial to grasp that in the event of a margin call, the broker (or lender) can liquidate your open positions without requiring your authorization. This is a precautionary measure that you likely agreed to when opening a margin account. It serves to protect both you and the broker in times of market volatility, preventing a scenario in which your account's equity could dip into negative territory, potentially exposing the broker to losses.

The broker may allow you time to add additional funds to your account, or to decide if you want to close your positions. The key point to remember is that the broker already has a signed agreement from you stating that they can liquidate a portion or all of your open positions immediately upon a margin call.

To make things worse, if market prices are extremely volatile and trending against the general positioning of market participants, margin calls by the brokerage firm can make for even greater price volatility.

For example, if a downtrending market causes a lot of clients to receive margin calls, then liquidating those clients' positions will only add a greater imbalance of sellers. This influx further drives down the market, triggering another wave of margin calls for accounts that have recently depleted their margins.

This scenario can result in a nasty cycle that causes extreme pricing dislocations. One of the last times this occurred in the crypto market was during the COVID-19 collapse in 2020.

“Covering” a margin call means raising funds to bring the equity level back above the margin requirements, a critical step in preserving your margin account and preventing further losses. If you’re trading in a market or with a broker that allows you time to decide how to meet the margin call, you generally have three choices to make.

Following are the basic strategies for covering a margin call.

: The most straightforward way to meet a margin call is to deposit cash into your trading account. This replenishes your account balance, bringing it back above the required maintenance margin level.

: If you have other assets in your portfolio, consider selling them to raise the necessary funds. These assets could be outside of the margin account, but then you'd have to deposit the sale proceeds into the margin account, which may take too much time.

: Another option is to close out some or all of your open positions in the account that has received a margin call. By doing so, you can free up capital and lower your margin requirements. 

Remember that timely action is crucial when trading on margin. Failing to promptly address a margin call could lead to further losses or the liquidation of your positions by the broker.

Preventing a margin call is the ideal scenario for traders and investors engaged in margin trading. Following are some strategies to help you avoid a margin call.

: One of the most effective ways to avoid a margin call is to practice sound risk management. This includes setting stop-loss orders for your trades, diversifying your portfolio and using leverage conservatively.

: Familiarize yourself with your broker's margin requirements and regularly monitor your account balance. Ensure you maintain a cushion above the minimum required balance to account for potential market fluctuations.

: Avoid excessive leverage. Higher leverage multiplies both profits and losses. Additionally, consider using lower leverage ratios.

: Keep a close eye on your open positions. Create a custom-made alert at some comfortable level above the margin maintenance requirement. That way, if the alert triggers, you’ll have time to adjust your account positions before market losses trigger a margin call.

What Happens if I Fail to Meet a Margin Call?

Failing to meet a margin call can have significant consequences for traders and investors.

: If you do not promptly cover a margin call, your broker may liquidate some or all of your open positions to recover the funds required to bring your account balance back to the required level. This can result in substantial losses as positions are closed outside of your trading plan.

: Any losses incurred beyond the value of your account can potentially lead to a debt owed to your broker. Although some brokers offer negative equity protection, other markets and brokers do not. Therefore, irresponsible margin management could add to your debt levels, making trading a very costly endeavor.

The inability to meet the minimum maintenance margin margin can be financially detrimental. It underscores the importance of responsible trading practices, proper risk management and a thorough understanding of the margin requirements set by your broker to mitigate the risk of margin calls in the first place.

A margin call appears after market losses erode capital from a margin account, and is meant to protect both trader and broker. The best way to safeguard your account is to avoid a margin call by taking adequate risk management precautions before losses eat away at your equity.

What Is a Margin Call: Understanding and Managing It

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards