Leverage & Margin Calls
How 1:100 leverage still kills you via margin, not just drawdown.
Leverage is 1:30–1:100 on FX, but margin call is separate from drawdown. Goat 80% margin cap means if your used margin hits 80% of equity, trades are auto-closed at payout review. Futures use SPAN margin — 1 ES needs ~$500 margin, but firm caps at 5 contracts.
Applies to 2 firms • Risk Management
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Why this rule exists
Leverage is 1:30–1:100 on FX, but margin call is separate from drawdown. Goat 80% margin cap means if your used margin hits 80% of equity, trades are auto-closed at payout review. Futures use SPAN margin — 1 ES needs ~$500 margin, but firm caps at 5 contracts.
How traders get caught
Risk floors are enforced tick by tick against live equity including spread and swaps. Server-time resets and intraday peaks shrink usable room far below what the headline percent suggests.
How to stay safe
Check the Source Inspector for the exact FAQ excerpt, test your equity distance in the simulator, and keep a 20% buffer above the nearest floor.
The Formula
How it is calculated
Real Dollar Example
$100K account, 1:100, open 10 lots EURUSD (~$10K margin each = $100K) = 100% margin → breach even though daily loss is fine.
Common Traps & Mistakes
Using max leverage to hold many lots — margin breach before drawdown.
Forgetting swap/commission counts toward equity and margin.
Firms using this rule
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Try it live
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