Perpetual futures (or Perps) let you trade crypto price movements without owning the coins. You can profit when prices rise (long) or when they fall (short), and you can use leverage to increase the size of your trade.

Inside xPortal, Perps are powered by HyperLiquid, one of the fastest on-chain perps engines in the world. Everything is integrated directly in your wallet: no accounts to create, no extra KYC, no complicated setup.

Perps, Explained Super Simply

• Long or Short

• Long = you make money when the price goes up.
  
  
• Short = you make money when the price goes down.
  
  Think of it like predicting whether a coin is about to rise or fall.
  
  

• Leverage (Trade Size Multiplier)

Leverage lets you open a bigger position than the amount you put in.

• 2x leverage doubles your exposure.
  
  
• Higher leverage = bigger potential gains and bigger potential losses.
  
  Beginners should always start low (1–2x).
  
  

• Margin (Your Risk Capital)

Margin is the amount of crypto you lock in to open your trade. If the market moves against you too much, you can lose this amount, so only use money you can afford to lose.

• Stop-Loss & Take-Profit

Smart tools that help you manage risk:

• Stop-loss closes your trade automatically if the loss gets too big.
  
  
• Take-profit closes your trade once your target profit is reached.
  
  They help you trade more safely and avoid emotional decisions.
  
  

• No Expiry

Perpetual futures don’t expire. You can hold your trade as long as you maintain enough margin and keep an eye on funding fees, which are small periodic payments between traders.

Why Trade Perps?

• You can profit whether the market goes up or down.
  
  
• You get more flexibility than spot trading.
  
  
• You can start small and learn step-by-step.
  
  
• Everything works directly from your wallet, fully on-chain.
  
  

How to Start Trading Perps in xPortal

1. Open the Perps section in the app.
   
   
2. Top up your Perps account with supported crypto. Don’t have any? Just use the Swap feature to convert your existing assets.
   
   
3. Choose a trading pair, such as BTC or ETH.
   
   
4. Select Long or Short, set a low leverage (1–2x for beginners), insert your amount, and tap Trade.
   
   
5. Add a stop-loss and take-profit to protect your position and secure your gains.
   
   

Your funds stay in your wallet, and trades are executed through HyperLiquid’s on-chain engine.

Common Questions, Answered

Can I really win or lose big?

Yes. Leverage multiplies everything: both gains and losses. Start small, and use the lowest leverage until you understand how the market moves.

Is this safe for beginners?

Perps involve risk, but the interface is simple and intuitive. Always set a stop-loss, and never trade with money you’re not comfortable risking.

Do I need deep crypto knowledge?

No. You can learn by doing, starting with very small trades.

What happens if my margin gets too low?

Your position may be liquidated (automatically closed) to prevent further losses. Keeping enough margin is key.

How long can I keep a trade open?

As long as you maintain margin and pay funding fees. There’s no expiry.

How do I close a trade?

Just tap Close Position at any time to lock in your profits or limit your losses.

A Simple Way to Learn: Start Small

Try opening a small trade,  even $10–$50,  to understand how Perps work in real time. It’s the easiest, safest way to get hands-on experience.

Everything you need is already inside your xPortal app.

Open Perps, explore, and trade with confidence.

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How a $500 Position Can Be Opened With Much Less Money

One of the most confusing (and powerful) things about Perps is leverage. Let’s break it down with a simple example.

The Basic Idea

Leverage lets you control a larger position than the amount you actually put in.

The money you put in is called margin.

Formula (don’t worry, it’s simple):

Position Size = Margin × Leverage

Example: Opening a $500 Position

Let’s say you want to open a $500 trade on BTC.

Option 1: No Leverage (1x)

• Margin: $500
  
  
• Leverage: 1x
  
  
• Position size: $500
  
  

You need the full $500 upfront.

Option 2: 5x Leverage

• Margin: $100
  
  
• Leverage: 5x
  
  
• Position size: $500
  
  

You only put in $100, but you control a $500 position.

Option 3: 10x Leverage (Advanced / Risky)

• Margin: $50
  
  
• Leverage: 10x
  
  
• Position size: $500
  
  

This requires very little capital, but small price moves can quickly liquidate your position.

What This Means in Practice

If BTC moves +2% in your favor:

• 1x leverage → +2% gain
  
  
• 5x leverage → +10% gain
  
  
• 10x leverage → +20% gain
  
  

But if BTC moves against you by the same amount:

• Losses are multiplied the same way.
  
  
• With high leverage, liquidation can happen very fast.
  
  

Why Beginners Should Use Low Leverage

Low leverage gives you:

• More room for price fluctuations
  
  
• Lower liquidation risk
  
  
• More time to learn how Perps behave
  
  

Recommended for beginners:

👉 1x–2x leverage

👉 Small position sizes

👉 Always use stop-loss

Key Takeaway

You don’t need hundreds or thousands of dollars to start trading Perps.

Leverage lets you start small while controlling larger positions, but the higher the leverage, the higher the risk.

Think of leverage like a volume knob:

• Low volume = controlled and safe
  
  
• High volume = powerful but dangerous
  
  

Start low. Learn the mechanics. Increase only when you’re confident.

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