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Options Trading Rules

Gate Options Margin | Gate

05/12/2026 (UTC)
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Basic Definitions

  1. Premium: The fee paid by the option buyer to the seller to obtain the right to exercise the option at expiration.
  2. Option Out-of-the-Money (OTM) Amount: The OTM amount indicates how far an out-of-the-money option deviates from the underlying price. For in-the-money (ITM) and at-the-money (ATM) options, the OTM amount is 0.
  3. Initial Margin: Initial margin (opening margin) is the minimum margin required to open a position.
  4. Maintenance Margin: The minimum margin required to maintain a position. If the margin falls below this level, forced liquidation will be triggered.
  5. Order Margin: The funds frozen when a user places an order to ensure execution; ensures the buyer can fully pay the premium, the seller has sufficient margin to maintain the position, and prevents excessive order placement without cost.

Premium Calculation

Transaction Type Calculation Formula
Buy Call/Put Option Premium = Order Price × abs(Order Quantity) × Contract Multiplier

Example: Buy 1 BTC call option, order price $220, contract multiplier 0.01: Premium = 220 × 1 × 0.01 = $2.20

Option Out-of-the-Money (OTM) Amount

Option Type Formula
Call Option OTM = max(0, Strike Price − Underlying Price)
Put Option OTM = max(Underlying Price − Strike Price, 0)

Example

  • Underlying price $115,000, strike price $116,000, call option → OTM = 1,000
  • Underlying price $115,000, strike price $112,000, put option → OTM = 3,000

Initial Margin Calculation

Option Type Formula
Sell Call Option [max(Initial Margin Rate 1 × Underlying Price, Initial Margin Rate 2 × Underlying Price − OTM) + Mark Price] × abs(Position Quantity) × Contract Multiplier
Sell Put Option [max(Initial Margin Rate 1 × Underlying Price × (1 + Mark Price/Underlying Price), Initial Margin Rate 2 × Underlying Price − OTM) + Mark Price] × abs(Position Quantity) × Contract Multiplier

Example (Sell Call Option)

  • Underlying price $115,000, strike price $116,000, OTM = 1,000, mark price $200, contract multiplier 0.01
  • Initial margin = [max(0.10×115,000 , 0.15×115,000 − 1,000) + 200] × 0.01 × 1 = [max(11,500 , 16,250) + 200] × 0.01 = 16,450 × 0.01 = $164.50

Example (Sell Put Option)

  • Underlying price $115,000, strike price $112,000, OTM = 3,000, mark price $150
  • Initial margin = [max(0.10×115,000×(1+150/115,000), 0.15×115,000 − 3,000) + 150] × 0.01 = [max(11,515 , 14,250) + 150] × 0.01 = 14,400 × 0.01 = $144.00

Maintenance Margin Calculation

Option Type Formula
Sell Call Option (Maintenance Margin Rate × Underlying Price + Mark Price) × abs(Position Quantity) × Contract Multiplier
Sell Put Option [max(Maintenance Margin Rate × Underlying Price, Maintenance Margin Rate × Mark Price) + Mark Price] × abs(Position Quantity) × Contract Multiplier

Example (Sell Call Option)

  • Underlying price $115,000, mark price $200, contract multiplier 0.01
  • Maintenance margin = (0.075×115,000 + 200) × 0.01 = 8,825 × 0.01 = $88.25

Example (Sell Put Option)

  • Underlying price $115,000, mark price $150
  • Maintenance margin = [max(0.075×115,000 , 0.075×150) + 150] × 0.01 = [max(8,625 , 11.25) + 150] × 0.01 = 8,775 × 0.01 = $87.75

Order Margin Calculation

Transaction Type Formula
Buy Option Order Margin = Premium + Fee
Sell Option Premium' = min(Mark Price, Order Price) × abs(Order Quantity) × Contract Multiplier
Order Margin = Initial Margin + Fee

Example (Sell Order Placement)

  • Sell BTC call option, order price $210, mark price $200
  • Premium' = min(200, 210) × 0.01 = $2.00
  • Initial margin $164.50
  • Order margin = 164.50 + Fee(1) = $165.50

Risk Rate

Item Formula / Definition
Position Value Mark Price × Position × Contract Multiplier
Total Position Value Σ (Mark Price × Position × Contract Multiplier)
Total Margin Balance USDT balance in the options account
Total Available Balance Total Margin Balance − Total Initial Margin (Total IM)
Total Initial Margin Rate USDT Margin Balance ÷ USDT Initial Margin × 100%
Total Maintenance Margin Rate USDT Margin Balance ÷ USDT Maintenance Margin × 100%
USDT Maintenance Margin Σ (Maintenance margin requirements for all short option positions)
USDT Initial Margin Σ (Initial margin requirements for all short option positions + open orders)

Example:

  • Options account USDT balance $5000;
  • Only holding 1 short call option (maintenance margin $100)
  • Total maintenance margin rate = 5000/100 = 5000%

Fees

Type Formula
Trade min(Trading Fee Rate × Underlying Price, 0.1 × Order Price) × abs(Order Quantity) × Contract Multiplier
Call Option Settlement min(Settlement Fee Rate × Settlement Price, 0.1 × (Settlement Price − Strike Price)) × abs(Position Quantity) × Contract Multiplier
Put Option Settlement min(Settlement Fee Rate × Settlement Price, 0.1 × (Strike Price − Settlement Price)) × abs(Position Quantity) × Contract Multiplier

Margin Parameter Table

Underlying Initial Margin Rate 1 Initial Margin Rate 2 Maintenance Margin Rate
BTC_USDT 0.1 0.15 0.075
ETH_USDT 0.1 0.15 0.075
DOGE_USDT 0.15 0.2 0.1
LTC_USDT 0.15 0.2 0.1
SOL_USDT 0.15 0.2 0.1

Disclaimer

The content provided herein is for reference and educational purposes only and does not constitute any financial, investment, trading, or legal advice, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any digital assets. Gate makes no express or implied representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information contained herein. Product features, interfaces, rules, and fee structures may be updated or adjusted at any time. Please refer to the latest announcements and the actual information displayed on the Gate platform for the most accurate details.
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