BSX Mastery Series: Demystifying Auto-Deleveraging (ADL)

BSX Team
BSX Labs
Published in
4 min readJun 4, 2024

TL;DR

  1. Streamlined Risk Control: BSX’s ADL system acts as an automatic safeguard that adjusts leverage in real-time to stabilize the platform during market volatilities.
  2. Decoding ADL Mechanics: Understanding your ADL involves two crucial metrics: PnL% that tracks unrealized gains against your balance, and Margin Ratio, which confirms you have adequate funds against open positions.
  3. Strategies to Optimize ADL Ranking: Maintain a lower ADL ranking by moderating your leverage, securing profits regularly, and diversifying your trading portfolio.

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Leverage trading is like sailing in open waters — thrilling but filled with unpredictable storms. In crypto trading, these storms come as market volatility, which can swiftly turn profitable trades into disadvantageous positions.

That’s where Auto-Deleveraging (ADL) comes in, acting as an advanced navigation system that ensures traders and the BSX platform stay solvent when the market gets rough.

This guide will guide you through the intricacies of ADL and demonstrate how you can utilize this system to sail smoothly in the volatile seas of crypto trading.

Understanding ADL and Its Importance

Auto-Deleveraging is a risk management protocol that automatically reduces leverage in positions when a trader’s margin isn’t enough to cover their losses.

The ADL system prioritizes which positions to deleverage first, based on profitability and leverage — ensuring the stability of the platform and protecting the community from a domino effect of liquidations.

Imagine a scenario where a few highly leveraged positions could potentially cause significant liquidity issues if they were to go under. The ADL system steps in as a preventive measure, seamlessly adjusting leverage across the board and keeping the marketplace stable.

ADL is a safety net that catches not just individual traders but the entire trading ecosystem.

Breaking Down the ADL Calculations

The heart of the ADL system lies in its calculations, which can seem daunting at first glance. Let’s demystify these formulas:

PnL% (Profit and Loss Percentage):

PnL% represents the unrealized profits (or lack thereof) relative to the trader’s USDC balance.

The formula max(0,Unrealized PnL) / max(1,USDC Balance) ensures that we never encounter negative percentages or division by zero. For instance, if a trader has an unrealized profit of $200 with a USDC balance of $1000, their PnL% is 20%. This shows a healthy profit relative to their account size.

Margin Ratio:

This ratio compares the funds available in a trader’s account (USDC balance plus unrealized profits) to the maintenance margin required.

It is calculated as Maintenance Margin / (USDC Balance + Unrealized PnL).

If the maintenance margin is $300 and the sum of the balance and unrealized profit is $1200, the Margin Ratio is 0.25. This low ratio indicates that the account has ample funds to cover the margin requirements.

ADL Score:

The ADL Score is the product of PnL% and Margin Ratio.

It’s the cornerstone of the ADL ranking system.

A higher ADL Score suggests that a trader has high profits and is utilizing their leverage effectively. However, it also means they are higher in the queue for deleveraging when the market turns.

ADL Ranking:

Your ADL Ranking is where you stand in the ADL queue, determined by your ADL Score relative to other traders on the platform.

It is the ultimate metric that decides the order of deleveraging, with those at the top of the list being adjusted first.

The ADL in Action

To illustrate, let’s follow Trader A, who has a high PnL% due to substantial unrealized profits and a favorable Margin Ratio.

Consequently, Trader A has a high ADL Score. During a market downturn, positions must be deleveraged.

Trader A, being high on the ADL Ranking, is one of the first to be deleveraged, protecting the platform’s liquidity and, by extension, the investments of other traders.

On the flip side, Trader B with a lower PnL% and a higher Margin Ratio has a lower ADL Score and thus a lower ADL Ranking. This means that Trader B is less likely to face immediate deleveraging, providing a buffer against rapid market movements.

Practical Tips for Managing Your ADL Score

So, how can you ensure your ADL Ranking doesn’t propel you to the top of the deleveraging queue? Here are some strategies:

  • Keep Your Leverage in Check: High leverage can inflate your ADL Score, so moderate leverage is key to maintaining a lower ranking.
  • Monitor Your Profits: Take profits when appropriate. Unrealized profits contribute to a higher PnL% and, by extension, a higher ADL Score.
  • Balance Your Positions: Diversify your trades to avoid a concentration in highly volatile assets that can swing your PnL% and Margin Ratio drastically.

Concluding Thoughts

Auto-Deleveraging ensures that BSX can sustain a robust and fair trading environment for all users.

By keeping an eye on your ADL calculations and understanding what they imply, you can navigate through market volatility with more confidence and agility.

Remember, the goal is not to avoid ADL altogether but to trade in a way that manages risk efficiently while still aiming for profitability. With this guide, you are now better equipped to chart your course through the choppy waters of leveraged crypto trading.

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