What are Perps and How to Use Them
Learn about perpetual futures (perps) and how to trade them on platforms like Hyperliquid with proper risk management.
Perpetual futures, commonly called "perps," are derivative contracts that allow traders to speculate on the price direction of assets with leverage, without an expiration date. They've become one of the most popular trading instruments in digital finance.
Moai.cash provides access to leading perpetual futures platforms, enabling sophisticated trading strategies with proper risk management tools built-in.
What are Perpetual Futures?
Perpetual futures are contracts that track the price of an underlying asset (like Bitcoin or Ethereum) but with several key differences from traditional futures:
- No expiration date: Positions can be held indefinitely
- Leverage: Trade with borrowed capital to amplify exposure
- Funding mechanism: Periodic payments keep prices aligned with spot markets
- Cash settlement: No physical delivery of the underlying asset
How Perpetual Futures Work
Long vs Short Positions
Long (Buy): You profit when the asset price increases. If you're long Bitcoin at $40,000 and it rises to $45,000, you profit from the $5,000 difference multiplied by your position size.
Short (Sell): You profit when the asset price decreases. If you short Bitcoin at $40,000 and it falls to $35,000, you profit from the $5,000 decline.
Leverage
Leverage allows you to control a larger position with less capital:
- 2x leverage: $1,000 controls $2,000 worth of assets
- 10x leverage: $1,000 controls $10,000 worth of assets
- 50x leverage: $1,000 controls $50,000 worth of assets
Funding Rates
To keep perpetual futures prices close to spot prices, platforms use funding rates - periodic payments between long and short traders:
- Positive funding: Longs pay shorts (when perp price > spot price)
- Negative funding: Shorts pay longs (when perp price < spot price)
- Typical frequency: Every 8 hours
Major Perpetual Futures Platforms
Hyperliquid
Hyperliquid has emerged as a leading decentralized perpetual futures exchange offering:
- On-chain orderbook: Fully decentralized trading with CEX-like performance
- High leverage: Up to 50x on major assets
- Low fees: Competitive maker/taker fees
- Wide asset selection: Hundreds of tradeable markets
- Advanced features: Stop losses, limit orders, portfolio margin
Other Notable Platforms
- dYdX: Pioneer in decentralized perpetuals
- GMX: Decentralized perpetual exchange with unique liquidity model
- Binance Futures: Largest centralized perpetuals platform
- ByBit: Popular among retail traders
Risk Management
Perpetual futures offer powerful tools for experienced traders but require careful risk management. Start with education, practice with small amounts, and always trade within your risk tolerance. The potential for amplified gains comes with equally amplified losses.
Moai.cash integrates with leading perpetual futures platforms to provide seamless access, risk management tools, and educational resources for safe trading.
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