Why Do I Have Assets but Can’t Open a Position?

Sometimes users encounter a situation where they clearly have assets in their account but are unable to open a futures position. This usually happens for two main reasons: frozen assets or insufficient margin.


1. Frozen Assets

When assets are being used for other transactions, they may become temporarily frozen and unavailable for futures trading.

  • Example: If you have 100 USDT in your account and place a limit order worth 60 USDT in spot trading, that 60 USDT will be locked. As a result, you can only use the remaining 40 USDT to open a futures position.

Solution:

  • Cancel the pending spot order to release the frozen funds, or

  • Transfer additional USDT from another account to your futures account.


2. Insufficient Margin

Futures trading operates on a margin system. Opening a position requires enough margin to cover the contract.

  • If your account balance is too low to meet the required margin, the position cannot be opened.

  • Since market prices fluctuate, the margin required for each contract also changes.

Solution:

  • Reduce the order size to fit within your available margin, or

  • Transfer more funds into your futures account to increase available margin.

Example: If your available margin allows you to open a position worth up to 100 USDT, it’s safer to open a slightly smaller one (e.g., 90 USDT or 95 USDT). This way, you leave a buffer for price fluctuations and transaction fees.

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