Start with the trading model
Use the trader route when your first question is about how trading works on DerivaDEX, not how to integrate with it programmatically.Use this route when
| If your first question is… | Start here because… |
|---|---|
| what a strategy is and how trading balances are organized | this page explains the product model before you dive into interface steps or exact formulas |
| which price matters for margin and liquidation | this page routes you from the trading model into the right explanation and reference pages |
| how funding, checkpoints, and withdrawal timing affect trading outcomes | this page frames those timing concepts before you need detailed parameters |
| which public route to use as a trader | this page distinguishes tutorials, how-to guides, reference, and support from the trader point of view |
What to understand first
- Your Ethereum account owns one or more strategies, which are cross-margined position containers.
- You trade with collateral deposited into a strategy rather than with custodied exchange balances.
- The mark price determines margin and liquidation behavior. It is not the same thing as the last traded price.
- Funding and settlement timing matter because DerivaDEX uses perpetual swaps rather than expiring futures.
Trading interface landmarks
The exchange interface is organized around a few recurring areas:- the left-side order entry panel where you choose side, order type, amount, and price
- the order book and mark-price region that shows current market context
- the lower account tabs for open orders, filled orders, and positions
- the strategy summary area where collateral, strategy value, and available margin are visible
Pricing, funding, and checkpoints
- Mark price is the risk price used for margin, liquidation, and execution safeguards.
- Funding keeps the perpetual market anchored and is applied on the platform’s settlement boundaries rather than on every trade event.
- Checkpointing is the on-chain state-commitment process that anchors balances and governs withdrawal finality.
Choose the right next route
| Need | Best next route |
|---|---|
| first end-to-end testnet trade | Your First Trade on DerivaDEX |
| interface orientation before acting | Understanding the Trading Interface |
| optimize the screen and working posture before trading more actively | How to Optimize Your Trading Setup |
| migrate an existing Binance- or Bybit-style workflow | How to Migrate from Binance or Bybit to DerivaDEX |
| place more intentional order-entry variants safely | How to Use Advanced Order Types Effectively |
| a concrete risk-management task | How to Manage Risk During High Volatility |
| liquidation-response steps | How to Handle Liquidations and Margin Calls |
| exact margin, mark-price, or funding lookup | Reference pages such as Margin Requirements, Price Feeds and Mark Price Inputs, and Funding Rate Logic |
| a docs mismatch or blocked workflow | FAQ, Troubleshooting, or Support Channels |
Recommended path
- Complete Your First Trade on DerivaDEX.
- Use Understanding the Trading Interface when you want a guided visual walkthrough of the main screen before trading more actively.
- Use How to Optimize Your Trading Setup before you increase activity or size.
- Use How to Migrate from Binance or Bybit to DerivaDEX if the workflow starts from a CEX trading client or exchange-style account model.
- Use How to Use Advanced Order Types Effectively before relying on post-only, market, or other more intentional order-entry choices.
- Use How to Manage Risk During High Volatility before increasing position size.
- Use How to Handle Liquidations and Margin Calls when margin approaches maintenance thresholds.
- Use Margin Requirements and Price Feeds and Mark Price Inputs for exact parameters.
- Use Advanced Risk Management Techniques when your next step is not a new signal but a stronger exposure-control layer around an existing workflow.
- Read Price Formation, Risk Controls, and Solvency, Consumer Protection Mechanisms, and Central Limit Order Book in DeFi for system context.
- Use Trading Education Resources when you want the broader learning path rather than one immediate task.
- Use FAQ or Troubleshooting when blocked.
Questions this route should answer
- What do I deposit and what signs my actions?
- Which price matters for liquidation and risk?
- How do funding and checkpoints affect my position or withdrawal flow?
What this route is not
- It is not the builder integration route; use For Builders when the primary question is about APIs, signing pipelines, session keys, or transport selection.
- It is not the exact reference carrier for formulas or limits; once you know which mechanism matters, continue into the owning reference page.
- It is not the operator boundary page; use For Node Operators if the question is about restricted surfaces or operational responsibilities.