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Futures Trading

Perpetual vs Quarterly Futures Explained

Compare perpetual and quarterly contracts to choose the right instrument for your strategy.

Funding Cost Calculator

See how funding rates affect your position over time

$10,000
0.010%
30 days

Total Funding Cost

-$90.00

You pay longs

Annualized Rate

10.9%

per year

Pro Tip: Monitor funding rates before opening positions. High positive rates mean longs are paying premium - consider shorting or waiting.

Side-by-Side Comparison

FeaturePerpetualQuarterly
ExpirationNeverEvery quarter
Funding FeesEvery 8hNone
Price TrackingVery close to spotCan deviate from spot
LiquidityVery HighModerate
Best ForShort-term tradingLong-term positions

Key Takeaways

1

Perpetual futures are best for short-term trading due to high liquidity and no expiry.

2

Quarterly futures suit long-term positions as they have no funding costs.

3

Funding rates can significantly impact profitability - factor them into your strategy.

4

Watch expiry dates on quarterly contracts to avoid unwanted settlement.

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