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Perpetuals On-Chain

  1. What Are “On-Chain” Perpetuals

“On-chain” means that positions, margin, settlement, and liquidation are executed via blockchain and smart contracts, rather than centralized exchange systems.This includes:

  • Margin management

  • PnL calculation

  • Funding rate settlement

  • Liquidation triggers

All handled transparently through smart contracts, oracles, and on-chain logic.


  1. Key Architecture Components

  • Smart Contracts + Collateral: Users deposit assets (e.g., USDC, ETH) as margin. Smart contracts manage positions, PnL, and liquidation logic.

  • Oracle Mechanism: Smart contracts rely on price oracles to fetch real-time spot/index prices for calculations.

  • On-Chain Funding & Liquidation: Funding rates are periodically settled, and liquidation is triggered automatically when margin falls below thresholds.

  • Liquidity & Leverage Models: Some protocols use AMMs or hybrid systems, rather than traditional order books.


  1. Advantages of On-Chain Perpetuals

  • Decentralization / Non-Custodial: Users retain control of assets in their own wallets

  • Composability: Integrates with DeFi (lending, LP, tokenized positions, etc.)

  • Transparency: Positions, risk, and liquidation data are publicly verifiable

  • 24/7 Global Access: Fully aligned with crypto’s always-on market

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