Coinbase Wants More Margin for Futures Follies
Published Date: 9/24/2026
Notice
Summary
Coinbase Derivatives wants to change the rules on how much money customers need to keep as a safety net when trading security futures. This affects anyone trading these products on Coinbase starting soon, aiming to keep things fair and safe. The SEC is now asking for public feedback before these new margin rules kick in.
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Minimum Customer Margin: 15% Rule
If you trade security futures on Coinbase Derivatives, the Exchange proposes that the minimum initial and maintenance margin for customer positions will follow the SEC standard of at least 15% of the current market value. The rule says margin must be calculated daily using the Daily Settlement Price.
Offsets for Offsetting Positions
The Exchange proposes a table of margin offsets that lets customers holding offsetting security futures and related positions reduce the margin they must post. The offsets align with the SEC/CFTC 2020 Customer Margin Release and may lower required margin for qualifying position combinations.
Liquidation and Net-Capital Deductions for Undermargined Accounts
If a customer fails to meet a margin call within a reasonable time, the Participant Firm or Clearing Firm must take a deduction for the underfunded account when computing its net capital and must liquidate accounts with a liquidating deficit in accordance with SEC and CFTC rules. This affects customers whose accounts become undermargined.
Exchange Can Add Emergency or Product-Specific Margins
The Exchange may establish additional concentration, emergency, or product-specific margin requirements under published procedures. That means margin requirements could be raised for particular products or during emergencies.
Market Makers and Exempted Persons Exempt
Certain groups called 'Exempted Persons' and registered Market Makers are treated as non-Customers and are therefore exempt from the Exchange's customer margin rules. To qualify as a Market Maker, a firm must register with the Exchange as a Security Futures Dealer and meet specified registration and recordkeeping requirements.
What Assets Can Count as Margin
The Exchange says Participant and Clearing Firms may accept cash, margin securities, exempted securities, assets allowed under Regulation T, and other assets permitted by SEC/CFTC rules as margin. The rule also states the Exchange would permit payment stablecoins as margin only if the SEC, CFTC, or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System amend applicable rules or provide relief.
Funding Payments Count as Variation Settlement
For perpetual security futures, periodic 'Funding Payments' between counterparties will be treated as variation settlement and credited or debited to customer accounts at the close of trading each day. Those daily credits/debits will be included in account equity for margin calculations.
Daily Settlement Price Published Regularly
The Exchange intends to regularly publish the Daily Settlement Price for security futures, and margin will be calculated using that Daily Settlement Price determined under Exchange rules. Publishing the settlement price informs daily margin calculations.
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