Funding interval
Definition
A funding interval is the scheduled period separating funding settlement events on a perpetual market.
How funding interval works
Holding a perpetual across its funding settlement can create a payment or a receipt.
The interval is therefore part of the holding plan, alongside the rate and position value. Schedules differ across venues and pairs, so copying a timetable from another contract can mislead a trader. A displayed countdown helps locate the upcoming event, while the payment history shows what actually settled. Future rates can still change before later events.
The countdown beside a perpetual position tells you when the next funding settlement is expected. The interval describes the spacing between those settlement events. It is separate from the funding rate, which describes the payment applied at the event.
Schedules can vary by exchange and trading pair. A schedule familiar from another market should therefore be checked against the selected contract. Check the current timetable on the contract specification rather than assuming a standard interval.
Holding a position at settlement determines whether funding is paid or received under the contract rules. The payment calculation uses position value, so the collateral posted to open the trade is not the whole basis for estimating its effect. Before carrying exposure through the countdown, read the contract’s settlement schedule and rate display together. A predicted rate describes an estimate; the clock describes timing. Neither label by itself establishes the final payment for a position.
Example
Before keeping a perpetual position open overnight, a trader checks that market’s countdown and funding history.