How to operate Kraken's leveraged tokens?

Kraken's leveraged tokens allow traders to amplify crypto market exposure with set leverage levels, available only on Kraken for trading, not for staking or lending.

Apr 24, 2025 at 08:42 am

Kraken's leveraged tokens offer a unique way for traders to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency market with increased leverage without the need for margin trading. These tokens are designed to provide a simple and accessible method to amplify potential returns on popular cryptocurrencies. In this article, we will explore how to operate Kraken's leveraged tokens, covering everything from understanding the basics to executing trades and managing risks.

Understanding Kraken's Leveraged Tokens

Kraken's leveraged tokens are ERC-20 tokens that track the performance of an underlying asset, such as Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH), with a set level of leverage. These tokens come in two varieties: long leveraged tokens and short leveraged tokens. Long leveraged tokens aim to deliver returns that are a multiple of the daily performance of the underlying asset, while short leveraged tokens aim to deliver the inverse of that performance.

For example, if you hold a 2x long Bitcoin token, your token's value will aim to increase by 2% for every 1% increase in the price of Bitcoin. Conversely, a 2x short Bitcoin token would aim to increase by 2% for every 1% decrease in the price of Bitcoin.

Getting Started with Kraken's Leveraged Tokens

To begin trading Kraken's leveraged tokens, you need to have an account on the Kraken exchange. If you don't have one, follow these steps to set up an account:

• Visit the Kraken website and click on the "Create Account" button.
• Fill out the registration form with your email address and a strong password.
• Complete the verification process by providing the necessary identification documents.
• Once your account is verified, you can deposit funds into your Kraken account.

After setting up your account, you can access Kraken's leveraged tokens through the trading interface. Navigate to the "Trade" section, and you will find the list of available leveraged tokens under the "Leveraged Tokens" tab.

Buying and Selling Leveraged Tokens

To buy or sell Kraken's leveraged tokens, follow these steps:

• Select the leveraged token you want to trade from the list of available tokens.
• Choose whether you want to place a market order or a limit order. A market order will execute immediately at the best available price, while a limit order allows you to set a specific price at which you want to buy or sell.
• Enter the amount of tokens you want to buy or sell. You can enter the amount in either the token's native unit or in your account's base currency.
• Review your order details and click "Submit Order" to execute the trade.

Once your order is filled, the leveraged tokens will appear in your Kraken account's wallet. You can view your holdings by navigating to the "Portfolio" section of the Kraken platform.

Managing Risks with Leveraged Tokens

Trading leveraged tokens comes with increased risk due to the amplified exposure to market movements. It's essential to manage these risks effectively to protect your investment. Here are some strategies to consider:

• Set stop-loss orders: A stop-loss order can help limit your losses by automatically selling your tokens if their value drops to a certain level. To set a stop-loss order, navigate to the "Orders" section, select the token you want to set a stop-loss for, and enter the desired stop-loss price.
• Monitor your positions regularly: Keep a close eye on the performance of your leveraged tokens and be prepared to adjust your positions if market conditions change.
• Diversify your portfolio: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Consider spreading your investment across different assets and leverage levels to reduce the impact of any single token's performance on your overall portfolio.
• Understand the rebalancing mechanism: Kraken's leveraged tokens are rebalanced daily to maintain their target leverage ratio. This rebalancing can result in higher volatility, so it's important to understand how it works and how it may affect your positions.

Withdrawing Leveraged Tokens

If you want to withdraw your leveraged tokens from Kraken, follow these steps:

• Navigate to the "Funding" section of the Kraken platform.
• Click on "Withdraw" and select the leveraged token you want to withdraw.
• Enter the amount of tokens you want to withdraw and the destination address for the withdrawal.
• Review the withdrawal details and click "Withdraw" to initiate the process.

Keep in mind that withdrawing leveraged tokens will transfer them to an external wallet, and you will no longer benefit from Kraken's rebalancing mechanism. Additionally, some leveraged tokens may have withdrawal fees, so be sure to check the fee schedule before initiating a withdrawal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I trade Kraken's leveraged tokens on other exchanges?

A: No, Kraken's leveraged tokens are only available for trading on the Kraken exchange. They are not listed on other cryptocurrency exchanges.

Q: What happens if the value of a leveraged token drops to zero?

A: If the value of a leveraged token drops to zero, the token will be delisted from the Kraken exchange. Any remaining tokens in your account will be worthless, and you will not be able to trade them.

Q: How often are Kraken's leveraged tokens rebalanced?

A: Kraken's leveraged tokens are rebalanced daily to maintain their target leverage ratio. This rebalancing occurs at 4:00 PM UTC every day.

Q: Can I use Kraken's leveraged tokens for staking or lending?

A: No, Kraken's leveraged tokens are designed for trading purposes only and cannot be used for staking or lending on the Kraken platform or any other platform.