Key Takeaways
- With an easy signup process, zero maker fees, and up to 200x leverage, MEXC futures is a beginner-friendly option that doesn’t sacrifice pro-level features.;
- MEXC lets you choose the position mode, margin mode, and leverage mode;
- You can choose between USDT-M and Coin-M perpetual contracts, giving you options to settle in either stablecoins or crypto.
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If you're ready to level up your crypto trading journey, futures trading can be your next big step. In my opinion, learning how to trade futures on MEXC is one of the best ways to get started.
MEXC makes futures trading accessible, suitable for traders looking to increase profits using leverage or simply explore more advanced trading strategies. Its standout features, like zero maker fees, up to 200x leverage, and support for hundreds of trading pairs, make it a strong alternative even to popular platforms like Bybit and Binance.
So, if you’ve been curious about crypto futures but weren’t sure where to start, don’t worry; I’ll break it down step by step and get you confidently trading on MEXC futures (or decide if another platform suits you better).
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Table of Contents
- 1. Understanding MEXC Futures
- 2. Modes and Order Types
- 2.1. Modes
- 2.2. Order Types
- 3. How to Trade Futures on MEXC
- 3.1. How to Create and Verify Your MEXC Account
- 3.2. How to Fund Your Futures Wallet
- 3.3. How to Trade USDT-M Perpetual Futures on MEXC
- 3.4. How to Trade Coin-M Perpetual Futures on MEXC
- 4. MEXC Futures Fees and Costs
- 5. How MEXC Futures Compares to Other Platforms
- 5.1. MEXC Futures VS Bybit Futures
- 5.2. MEXC Futures VS Binance Futures
- 6. Conclusions
Understanding MEXC Futures
Before diving into the detailed guide on how to trade futures on MEXC, it's important to understand how this exchange works behind the scenes. It's because the features determine how your trades behave, the level of risk you take on, and the flexibility of your strategy.
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On MEXC, futures trading is categorized into two main types:
- USDT-M perpetual futures;
- Coin-M perpetual futures.
USDT-M (Tether-Margined) perpetual futures are contracts that use USDT as collateral. This means your profits and losses are settled in USDT, making it ideal for traders who prefer the stability of a dollar-pegged asset.
These are the most beginner-friendly contracts, as they allow users to trade major cryptocurrencies like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT without holding the underlying asset.
Coin-M (Coin-Margined) perpetual futures, on the other hand, are denominated in USD but settled using the underlying cryptocurrency. For example, if you trade BTC/USD under Coin-M futures, your margin and settlements are done in BTC.
These MEXC BTC futures are generally preferred by more advanced or retail traders[1] who already hold crypto and want to grow their coin holdings directly.
At first, MEXC offered two Coin-M perpetual contract types: BTC/USD and ETH/USD. However, this MEXC BTC futures continuously adds options for users. At the time of writing, there are 10 perpetual contract types, including LTC/USD and SUI/USD.
Each contract represents a fixed USD value ($100 for BTC contracts and $10 for ETH contracts). When it comes to leverage, both BTC/USD and ETH/USD Coin-M futures support flexible leverage settings ranging from 1x up to 125x.
Modes and Order Types
Understanding how to trade futures on MEXC won't be complete if you're not aware of the different trading modes and order types available on the platform. From choosing between "Cross" or "Isolated Margin" to deciding whether to use Market, Limit, or Trigger orders, MEXC gives you full control.
Modes
In terms of trading mechanics, Coin-M perpetual futures function similarly to USDT-M futures, including position, margin, and leverage modes. You can and must choose all three – they’re independent, but each affects how your futures trades behave. Think of it like layers:
1
You start by choosing position mode (how you trade).
2
Then, you pick your margin mode (how much risk you're exposed to).
3
Finally, you set your leverage mode (your risk/reward multiplier).
Although research shows that investor attention tends to lead the spot market[2] (but not the futures market), having flexible control over these modes gives you more options to tailor strategies to their risk appetite and market view. This way, you can stay agile in a fast-moving environment.
MEXC futures lists two types of position modes: "Hedge Mode" and "One-Way Mode". The key difference between them is whether you're allowed to hold both long and short positions on the same trading pair at the same time.
For instance, if you're trading BTC/USDT perpetual futures, "Hedge Mode" lets you open both a long and a short position simultaneously on that pair. In contrast, "One-Way Mode" only allows you to hold either a long or a short position (not both at once).
Regarding margin modes, MEXC offers two types: "Cross Margin" and "Isolated Margin".
In "Cross Margin Mode", all the funds in your futures wallet are shared across your open positions. This provides additional support for your trades and helps prevent liquidation. However, if the total balance drops too low or below a certain level (maintenance margin), the system automatically closes your position to prevent further losses (liquidation).
When liquidation happens in "Cross Margin Mode", you can lose all the USDT in your futures wallet (not just the money tied to that one position). The reason is that all of it is used as shared margin.
In simple terms, if your trade goes bad, the system may close it and take all the funds in your futures wallet to cover the loss.
In "Isolated Margin Mode", on the other hand, each trade has its own separate margin. If the market moves against you, the system doesn’t automatically use money from your other trades or wallet, and you need to add more margin manually when needed.
For leverage modes, MEXC also offers two options: "Simple Mode" and "Advanced Mode". The key difference is whether your long and short positions use the same or different leverage and margin settings.
In "Simple Mode", both your long and short positions use the same leverage and margin settings. This means you set one leverage level, and it applies to both directions.
Meanwhile, you can set different leverage and margin settings for long and short positions in "Advanced Mode", giving you more flexibility in managing risk and strategy. For example, you could use 25x leverage with isolated margin for a long trade, and 20x leverage with cross margin for a short trade.
📚 Read More: How to Leverage Trade Crypto
Order Types
After selecting the mode, choose among the available order types on MEXC futures, namely limit orders, market orders, trigger orders, trailing stop orders, and post-only orders. Here’s a quick overview summarizing the five types of futures orders on MEXC:
Description | Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|---|
Limit | Set a specific price to buy or sell; executes at that price or better; supports GTC, IOC, FOK. | Control over execution price; can add liquidity. | May not fill immediately; execution not guaranteed. |
Market | Executes immediately at the best available market price. | Fast execution; no need to set price. | Price uncertainty; might suffer slippage. |
Trigger | Activates a limit or market order when a specific trigger price is reached. | Automates entry/exit; good for planning. | Trigger may not execute if conditions fail. |
Trailing Stop | A stop order that follows price movement by a specified distance or percentage. | Locks in profits; follows trend automatically. | Volatile markets can trigger early or unexpectedly. |
Post Only | Ensures the order is only added to the book (maker), never taken (taker). | Zero maker fees; adds liquidity. | Order may be canceled if it matches immediately. |
Table: Available order types on MEXC
When placing a limit order, you can choose how long it stays active using these three time settings:
- GTC (Good 'Til Cancelled). The order stays open until it's filled or you cancel it.
- IOC (Immediate or Cancel). The order is filled as soon as possible. Any part that can't be filled immediately is canceled.
- FOK (Fill or Kill). The order must be filled completely and instantly. If not, the entire order is canceled.
For example, if you choose to place a limit order on the USDT-M Perpetual Futures, there are two common situations where it's often used. First, let’s say the current BTC perpetual futures price is 40,000 USDT, and you want to buy at 39,000 USDT. By setting a limit order at that price, the order is only filled if the market price drops to 39,000 USDT or lower.
The second case is when the BTC price is still 40,000 USDT, but this time you want to sell at 41,000 USDT. A limit order can be placed at that price and only executed if the market rises to 41,000 USDT or higher.
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How to Trade Futures on MEXC
Are you ready to start your futures trading journey? Then, it’s time for me to walk you through the entire process, from creating your MEXC account to placing your first trade. You’ll learn how to register, transfer funds into your futures wallet, and place a trade step-by-step.
How to Create and Verify Your MEXC Account
Before learning how to use MEXC futures, you must create and verify your account. Don’t worry; getting started on MEXC is quick and beginner-friendly. I used a computer to register, but it’s possible to do it via the mobile app.
If you have a referral code, you can enter it during this step. If not, you can leave it blank. Don’t forget to check the box to agree to the User Agreement and Privacy Policy, then click [Sign Up].
If you’re signing up through a referral link, the referral code will be filled in automatically and can’t be changed.
After creating the account, it’s important to verify it to fully access the platform. MEXC futures lists two types of identity verification: Primary KYC and Advanced KYC, each with different requirements and withdrawal limits.
With Primary KYC, users are required to submit basic personal information. Once verified, this level allows for a 24-hour withdrawal limit of up to 80 BTC.
Meanwhile, Advanced KYC includes all the requirements of Primary KYC but adds an extra layer of security through proof of identity submission and facial recognition verification. Users who complete Advanced KYC can enjoy a higher 24-hour withdrawal limit of up to 200 BTC.
On MEXC, you're not required to complete Primary KYC before starting Advanced KYC; you can proceed directly to Advanced verification if you prefer. Below, I’ll show you how to directly complete Advanced KYC.
Click the user icon in the top-right corner and select [Identification].
As you haven’t completed Primary KYC, you should be asked to select both your country and ID type. So, do it as requested and upload clear photos of your ID's front and back. Use the local upload option if needed. Next, hit [Continue] once done.
The verification process typically takes up to 24 hours to complete. During this time, the MEXC team carefully reviews your submitted documents and facial verification to ensure everything is accurate and secure. So, be patient while your information is being processed, as you receive a notification once your KYC status is updated.
How to Fund Your Futures Wallet
Before you start trading futures on MEXC, ensure your futures account is funded with USDT, which is the required asset for trading. If your futures wallet doesn’t have USDT yet, you can easily move funds from your spot wallet. The good news is, there’s no fee for internal transfers.
Here are the steps to fund your futures wallet on MEXC:
Once your USDT has been successfully transferred, you're all set and can start following the MEXC futures tutorial more freely.
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How to Trade USDT-M Perpetual Futures on MEXC
After you’ve funded the fund, you’re free to choose between two kinds of MEXC perpetual futures: USDT-M or Coin-M. In this section, I focus on the first option. Be careful when choosing options, as you can’t switch them until you close everything after opening a position or placing an order.
Follow these steps to set your position mode on the trading interface since MEXC futures API isn't supported:
After making your selection, click [Confirm] to apply the changes.
Remember that you can only change the position mode when you have no open positions or active orders, so be sure to adjust it before trading.
Once your order has been triggered and results in profit or loss, you can choose how you close your position in one of three different ways: Flash Close, Close Long, and Reverse. Alternatively, proactively [Close] your position by setting up TP/SL functions before or after placing an order.
How to Trade Coin-M Perpetual Futures on MEXC
If you're ready to start MEXC's Coin-M Perpetual Futures, the process is straightforward and beginner-friendly. Here's a quick guide to help you place your first trade:
Just like what you read in the USDT-M MEXC futures tutorial, you can close your position in different ways. This way, you have greater flexibility and control over your exit strategy depending on market conditions and your trading style.
MEXC Futures Fees and Costs
MEXC is known for offering some of the lowest trading fees among major crypto exchanges, making it an attractive platform for both beginner and high-volume traders.
With zero maker and deposit fees and competitive taker fees (as low as 0.02%), MEXC helps you maximize your returns by minimizing costs. The platform also offers fee discounts if you use MX tokens. Here's a breakdown of the MEXC futures fees.
Deposit fee | Free |
Maker fee | 0% on most perpetual futures pairs. |
Taker fee | 0.020% for most pairs. Check specific fees on MEXC’s website. |
Funding rate | Varied based on your position |
Withdrawal fee | Varies by token; Check specific fees on MEXC’s website. |
Table: MEXC futures fees
Let’s break down the MEXC fees you must know:
- Deposit fees. MEXC allows you to transfer cryptocurrencies into your account without any fees, whether you move funds from other wallets or exchanges.
- Maker fees. Maker fees are charged when you place an order that doesn’t get filled right away and instead stays on the order book, waiting for someone else to match it. You’re adding liquidity, so you’re called a “maker".
- Taker fees. These are charged when you place an order that gets filled immediately (e.g., a market order or a limit order that matches an existing one). You’re called a “taker” because you’re taking liquidity from the order book.
- Funding rate. It’s a small fee exchanged between traders to keep the futures price aligned with the spot market price. You only pay or receive this fee if you’re holding a position at the exact time funding is settled. If you close your position before that, you won’t be affected.
- Withdrawal fees and limits. These vary depending on the cryptocurrency and network, which can be as low as 0 USD.
Thankfully, MEXC provides transparent pricing – you can check the Taker fees for both USDT-M and Coin-M Perpetual Futures as well as withdrawal fees on the website, even before you log in.
My tip is to move MX tokens to your futures wallet and use them for paying USDT-M futures trading fees. This way, you can get a 20% trading fee discount.
How MEXC Futures Compares to Other Platforms
With many crypto exchanges offering futures trading, how does MEXC compare to big names like Binance and Bybit? To make sure you choose an exchange suitable for your needs, here are comparisons of MEXC alternatives.
MEXC Futures VS Bybit Futures
When comparing MEXC and Bybit, one of MEXC’s biggest strengths is its low fees: 0% for maker orders and just 0.02% for taker orders.
Bybit, in contrast, charges 0.02% (maker) and 0.055% (taker), which is slightly higher. MEXC also offers a wider range of futures trading pairs, with over 480 listed, compared to Bybit, which provides around 300 pairs.
However, Bybit has the edge in platform design and user experience. Its interface is widely regarded as one of the most intuitive in the industry, especially for futures traders. It also offers powerful features, like:
- Portfolio margin;
- Detailed charting via TradingView;
- Pro Mode for advanced order types.
Additionally, Bybit’s educational resources and trading tools are more robust. The Bybit Learn hub, testnet environment, and built-in strategy automation provide traders with more support compared to MEXC, which is more limited in this area.
While MEXC excels in offering low fees and access to altcoins, Bybit provides a more refined and professional trading experience overall.
📚 Read More: Bybit Futures Trading
- Secure and reliable
- Accepts fiat currencies
- Lots of trading options
- Reputable exchange
- Accepts fiat currencies
- Offers various trading options
- Accepts fiat currencies
- Simple to use
- Supports only trusted cryptocurrencies
- A leading cryptocurrency exchange platform
- Best for all type investors
- Accepts fiat currencies
- Beginner-friendly
- Secure
- Decent trading and withdrawal fees
- Crypto.com Visa Card
- Automated tools & bots
- Ecosystem synergy with CRO
MEXC Futures VS Binance Futures
Compared to Binance, MEXC wins in a few categories, mainly fees and trading pair variety. Binance charges up to 0.05% taker fees (0.02% maker), slightly higher than MEXC’s 0%/0.02%. MEXC also lists more altcoins and futures pairs, making it a better choice for traders focused on niche or emerging tokens.
But where Binance shines is in liquidity, trust, and ecosystem integration. As the world’s largest exchange by volume, Binance offers deep liquidity, reducing slippage even for large orders. For high-frequency and large-volume traders, this is a major advantage.
Moreover, Binance’s ecosystem is unmatched. It offers everything from staking, margin, options, and launchpads to a full DeFi suite and its own blockchain (BNB Chain). MEXC is more focused solely on trading, while Binance offers a one-stop crypto experience.
Another key point: Binance has stronger regulatory positioning and compliance infrastructure in many regions, which adds a level of trust and security for users, especially institutional clients. With features like auto-invest, grid bots, and copy trading, Binance has tools that MEXC currently doesn’t match.
📚 Read More: Binance Futures Trading
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Conclusions
Learning how to trade futures on MEXC can be a good starting point for crypto traders seeking low fees, deep exposure to altcoins, and flexible leverage options. With zero maker fees and just 0.02% for takers, it’s one of the most cost-effective exchanges in the market today.
Moreover, the platform supports both USDT-M and Coin-M perpetual futures, allowing traders to settle in either stablecoins or cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH. You also get full control with customizable modes, from margin type and leverage settings to advanced order types.
That said, it’s important to consider your personal trading needs. While MEXC is intriguing due to its affordability and coin variety, platforms like Bybit offer a more polished user interface, and Binance provides broader ecosystem access and a stronger regulatory presence. These exchanges may appeal more to institutional or long-term investors.
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The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy, sell or hold any kind of cryptocurrency. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.
Scientific References
1. Ferko A., Moin A., Onur E., Penick, M.: 'Who Trades Bitcoin Futures and Why?';
2. Narayanasamy A., Panta H., Agarwal R.: 'Relations among Bitcoin Futures, Bitcoin Spot, Investor Attention, and Sentiment'.
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