What Should I Do If I Get a Margin Call on Crypto Futures?

When you receive a margin call on Crypto Futures, you have two effective responses: add balance to your USDT margin wallet to bring your Margin Level back down, or close some or all of your open positions to cut your exposure directly. Both actions restore room between your current Margin Level and the liquidation threshold, but they solve different problems — adding margin keeps the position open, while closing positions locks in your current result and stops further losses immediately. Waiting without acting is the one response that doesn't work, because a margin call is a live warning that your Margin Level is climbing toward the point where Pluang's system closes the position for you automatically.

Choosing between the options:

• Adding balance to your USDT margin wallet increases your available margin, giving your open position more room to absorb price moves before hitting the liquidation threshold.
• Closing your open positions removes or reduces your exposure directly, stopping further losses on that position immediately.
• Partial closes are allowed — trimming part of a position reduces exposure and can bring your Margin Level down without exiting the trade entirely.
• The stage of your margin call matters — a later-stage call may restrict you to closing positions only, so options narrow the longer you wait.
• Acting quickly matters — waiting reduces your room to respond before the position is liquidated automatically.

Related questions:

Q: What happens if I ignore a margin call?
If your Margin Level keeps rising and you take no action, your position is liquidated automatically once it hits the liquidation threshold — there's no grace period beyond the margin call itself. The position closes at the mark price, with margin below the maintenance requirement forfeited per your margin mode.

Q: Which wallet do I need to top up to respond to a margin call?
Your USDT margin wallet — Crypto Futures positions are margined and settled in USDT, not your Spot wallet. If your margin balance is low, buying USDT tops it up directly; a low Spot wallet balance doesn't limit your Futures margin since the two are managed separately.

Q: Can I just close part of my position instead of all of it?
Yes. Closing part of your position reduces your exposure and can improve your Margin Level without exiting the trade completely — useful if you still want a smaller version of the same position.

Q: Does adding margin guarantee my position won't be liquidated?
No. It improves your Margin Level and buys more room against price moves, but doesn't eliminate liquidation risk if the market keeps moving against you. You may need to add margin more than once, and at some point closing the position may be more sensible than continuing to fund it.

Q: Does it matter if I'm at the Initial or Final Margin Call stage?
Yes. At the Initial stage you can still add margin or close positions freely, including opening new ones. At the Final stage, Pluang only allows closing positions or opening ones that reduce your exposure — worsening orders are rejected outright.