Equity Depletion
Equity Depletion occurs when the value of a trader's account equity is eroded by trading losses, fees, or funding rate payments. In a leveraged position, the equity is the difference between the value of the position and the borrowed funds.
As the position value drops, the equity decreases, bringing the account closer to the maintenance margin threshold. Equity depletion is the natural result of a trade moving against the trader's expectations.
If not managed properly, this process leads to a state where the account can no longer support the leverage, triggering a liquidation. Traders must monitor their equity closely, especially in high-volatility environments where depletion can happen in seconds.
This is a central concept in understanding the life cycle of a leveraged trade and the inevitable risk of ruin in the absence of stop-losses.