# What types of margin are available in Tiger.com Broker?

## What is Margin?

Margin is your available balance that serves as collateral for opening and maintaining futures positions. The type of margin used determines the amount of available funds in your account and affects protocols related to **auto-deleveraging and position liquidation**.\
Depending on the exchange you trade on via **Tiger.com Broker**, you can configure different types of margin.\
In this article, we will describe the distinctive features of each margin mode available for **Binance** and **Bybit**.

The selected margin type is particularly important if you are trading **futures with leverage**. You can read more about how leverage works [here](https://broker-docs.tiger.com/english-2/interface/leverage).

## Binance

When trading on **Binance**, you can choose from three margin modes:

1. **Single-Asset Mode + Isolated Margin**
2. **Single-Asset Mode + Cross Margin**
3. **Multi-Asset Mode + Cross Margin**

You can switch from **isolated** to **cross margin** on the [**Leverage** page](https://account.tiger.com/leverage):

<figure><img src="https://3857619824-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fyw4jlbyXBiRSgCIsu0tg%2Fuploads%2F0WUDyEONhA2hrJKQemIH%2F%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA%20%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%202025-02-04%20%D0%B2%2016.48.31.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d416d42c-5835-417c-bfae-844c0d84cc70" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The preferred asset mode can be set in your [**profile settings**](https://account.tiger.com/profile)**:**

<figure><img src="https://3857619824-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fyw4jlbyXBiRSgCIsu0tg%2Fuploads%2F6qcPQNTyDsYFCHbs1I66%2F%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA%20%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%202025-02-04%20%D0%B2%2016.49.45.png?alt=media&#x26;token=1495cff3-a355-46a7-94e3-39b2c5fbe53f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### **Example: How Different Margin Modes Affect Collateral**

Let's say you deposit **1,000 USDT** to your Binance account via **Tiger.com Broker** and allocate it as follows:

* **500 USDT** in your **spot wallet**
* **500 USDT** in your **futures wallet**

Then, you buy **BTC/USDT** worth **300 USDT** from your spot wallet, leaving you with **200 USDT** in free funds.\
Similarly, you buy **ETHUSDT** worth **200 USDT** from your futures wallet, leaving you with **300 USDT** in free funds.

Now, you set **10x leverage** for a **BNBUSDT futures** trade and plan to open a position worth **1,500 USDT**.\
The way your **available balance** is distributed depends on the chosen **margin mode**:

<table><thead><tr><th width="193">Margin mode</th><th>Balance distribution</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Single-Asset Mode + Isolated Margin</td><td><p></p><p>With <strong>isolated margin</strong>, you risk only the margin allocated to a specific position.</p><ul><li>In this case, <strong>1/10 of the BNB position size</strong> (150 USDT) will be locked in your futures wallet.</li><li>If the position is liquidated, <strong>only 150 USDT</strong> will be lost.</li><li>The remaining <strong>150 USDT</strong> (from the free balance) is <strong>not affected</strong> by the liquidation.</li><li><strong>Spot BTC and free USDT in your spot wallet are not used as collateral</strong> for the position.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>Single-Asset Mode + Cross Margin</td><td><p></p><ul><li><strong>Your entire available portfolio balance</strong> can be used as collateral.</li><li>The available margin is <strong>dynamic</strong>, meaning it changes based on the <strong>unrealized PnL of other open positions</strong> (such as BTCUSDT).</li><li>Example: If your <strong>BTC position</strong> has an <strong>unrealized loss of -50 USDT</strong>, your portfolio value decreases by 50 USDT.</li><li>If the <strong>BNB price moves against you</strong>, all available balance will be used to maintain the position until the exchange liquidates it.</li><li><strong>If the BNB position is liquidated, your BTCUSDT position may also be forcibly closed</strong> by Binance.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td><p></p><h4><strong>Multi-Asset Mode + Cross Margin</strong></h4></td><td><p></p><ul><li>In this mode, you can <strong>use other assets</strong> (not just USDT) as collateral.</li><li>The following coins can be used as collateral for futures trading:<br><strong>BTC, XRP, TUSD, BNB, ETH, USDT, USDP, USDC.</strong></li><li><p><strong>Important:</strong></p><ul><li>With the current balance allocation (<strong>500 USDT in spot, 500 USDT in futures</strong>), your <strong>total collateral remains 500 USDT</strong>.</li><li><strong>Spot and futures wallets are separate</strong>, meaning margin from the spot wallet <strong>cannot</strong> be used for futures trades <strong>unless manually transferred</strong>.</li><li>If you want to use <strong>spot BTC/USDT as collateral for a BNBUSDT futures position</strong>, you must <strong>first</strong> <a href="https://broker-docs.tiger.com/english-2/financial-operations/binance-transfer"><strong>transfer</strong></a> <strong>BTC from your spot wallet to your futures wallet</strong>.</li></ul></li></ul><p>Margin calculation and <strong>liquidation procedures</strong> follow the same rules as in <strong>Single-Asset Mode + Cross Margin</strong>.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Bybit

On **Bybit**, you can choose between **Isolated Margin** and **Cross Margin**.

#### **Key Difference: UTA Accounts on Bybit**

* Bybit via **Tiger.com Broker** uses **UTA (Unified Trading Accounts)**.
* Your entire balance **serves as a single margin pool** for both **futures positions** and **spot trading**.

***

#### **Example: Margin Distribution on Bybit**

You deposit **1,000 USDT** into your Bybit UTA account and allocate funds as follows:

* Buy **BTC/USDT (spot)** worth **300 USDT**
* Buy **ETHUSDT (futures)** worth **200 USDT**
* **500 USDT** remains as free funds
* Set **10x leverage** for a **BNBUSDT futures** trade and plan to open a **1,500 USDT** position.

How the balance is allocated depends on the selected **margin mode**:

<table><thead><tr><th width="116">Margin mode</th><th>Balance distribution</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Isolated Margin</td><td><p></p><ul><li>You <strong>only risk</strong> the margin allocated to a specific position.</li><li><strong>1/10 of the position size</strong> (150 USDT) will be locked as margin.</li><li>If the <strong>BNBUSDT position is liquidated</strong>, only <strong>150 USDT</strong> is lost.</li><li>The remaining <strong>350 USDT</strong> (free funds) <strong>will not be affected</strong>.</li><li><strong>Only the initial margin is used as collateral</strong>.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td><p></p><h4><strong>Cross Margin</strong></h4></td><td><p></p><ul><li><strong>Your entire available portfolio</strong> can be used as collateral.</li><li><strong>Margin is dynamic</strong>, depending on the <strong>unrealized PnL</strong> of other open positions.</li><li>Example: If your <strong>BTC position</strong> has an <strong>unrealized loss of -50 USDT</strong>, the portfolio value decreases by 50 USDT.</li><li>If the <strong>BNB price moves against you</strong>, all available balance will be used to maintain the position until <strong>Bybit liquidates it</strong>.</li><li><strong>If the BNB position is liquidated, your BTCUSDT position may also be forcibly closed</strong> by Bybit.</li><li><strong>All assets in your unified trading account are used as collateral</strong>.</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table>

## **Conclusion**

* If you want to **limit risk**, **use Isolated Margin**—only the allocated margin will be at risk.
* If you want to **maximize collateral** and **use your entire balance as margin**, **use Cross Margin**.
* On **Binance**, you can choose between **Single-Asset or Multi-Asset modes**.
* On **Bybit**, all balances are in a **Unified Trading Account**.