Why Do Exchanges Reduce Maximum Leverage during High Volatility?

Exchanges reduce maximum leverage during periods of high market volatility to manage the increased risk of mass liquidations. High volatility means prices move rapidly, increasing the chance of a sudden, large loss that could deplete the exchange's insurance fund.

Lowering leverage increases the margin requirement, creating a larger buffer and reducing the strain on the risk engine.

How Does the Maintenance Margin Change with Increased Leverage?
How Does Dynamic Margin Adjustment Help Mitigate the Risk of High Leverage?
How Do Insurance Funds on Exchanges Work during Mass Liquidation Events?
What Is the Significance of the “Spread” between These Two Prices for the Insurance Fund?
How Does Margin Utilization Impact the Insurance Fund’s Size?
Does the Insurance Fund Treat Cross Margin and Isolated Margin Liquidations Differently?
How Can an Oracle Exploit Be Used to Drain the Insurance Fund of a Decentralized Futures Platform?
Why Do Exchanges Limit the Maximum Leverage on Volatile Assets?

Glossar