How Does a “Single-Asset” Margin Account Compare to a Cross-Collateral Account?
A single-asset margin account uses only one type of asset (e.g. BTC) as collateral for all positions, and only that asset's value determines the margin level.
A cross-collateral account allows multiple assets (e.g. BTC, ETH, USD) to be pooled as collateral.
The single-asset account isolates risk to that asset, while the cross-collateral account links the risk across all pooled assets, offering more capital efficiency but higher contagion risk.
Glossar
Margin Account
Leverage ⎊ A margin account in cryptocurrency, options, and derivatives trading represents an equity-backed loan from a broker, enabling traders to control a larger position than their available capital would otherwise permit.
Cross-Collateral
Mechanism ⎊ Cross-collateralization, within cryptocurrency and derivatives markets, represents a risk mitigation strategy where multiple positions or loans are linked, such that the collateral posted for one impacts the maintenance margin requirements of others.