How Do Regulatory Limits on Leverage Affect Market Stability?

Regulatory limits on leverage, such as those seen in traditional financial markets and some crypto jurisdictions, generally increase market stability. By restricting the maximum leverage available, regulators reduce the potential for massive, sudden liquidation cascades that destabilize the market.

Lower leverage ensures traders have larger capital buffers, making them less susceptible to margin calls from minor volatility spikes.

How Is Value at Risk (VaR) Used in Setting Position Limits?
Is There a Maximum Leverage Limit Imposed by Exchanges?
What Is the Relationship between Capital Efficiency and Risk Management?
How Does Market Volatility Influence the Maximum Leverage Offered by an Exchange?
How Does the Concept of “Capital Efficiency” Apply to the Choice of Derivatives Collateral?
Why Do Exchanges Use a ‘Tiered Margin System’?
How Do Margin Requirements Influence the Likelihood of Liquidation Cascades?
How Does a CEX’s Self-Clearing Differ from a Regulated CCP?

Glossar