What is maintenance margin?

Initial margin supports the opening of a position. Maintenance margin is the minimum amount the venue requires while the position remains open. If the account falls below that level, liquidation may begin.

The required amount can change with position size, leverage, market, and risk tier. A position that looks safe at entry can become fragile as price moves or fees and funding accumulate.

Use the venue’s liquidation estimate as a warning, not a target. A prop-firm drawdown rule can fail the account before the venue’s maintenance-margin threshold is reached.