Starting April 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM (UTC+8), OKX will implement a strategic update to the minimum order quantity and order size precision for select perpetual and delivery futures contracts. This enhancement is designed to improve trading accessibility, reduce entry barriers, and offer greater flexibility—especially for traders managing smaller positions or executing precision strategies.
The adjustment primarily affects ETH/USDT contracts, both perpetual and expiry-based, allowing users to trade in much finer increments. These changes align with OKX’s ongoing commitment to refining user experience, lowering trading costs, and supporting diverse trading styles—from algorithmic systems to beginner-level participation.
What Are Minimum Order Quantity and Order Size Precision?
To fully understand the impact of this update, it's essential to clarify two foundational concepts in futures trading: minimum order quantity and order size precision.
Order Size Precision
This refers to the smallest incremental unit by which a contract order can be increased or decreased. It defines how granular your trade size can be. For example:
- Previously, the ETH/USDT perpetual contract had an order size precision of 1 contract, meaning you could only place orders in whole numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3 contracts).
- After the update, the precision improves to 0.1 contracts, enabling orders like 1.1, 1.5, or 2.3 contracts.
Each contract has a defined face value—in this case, 0.1 ETH per contract. So a 0.1-contract increment equals just 0.01 ETH, significantly lowering the capital required per step.
Minimum Order Quantity
This is the smallest number of contracts you can trade in a single order. It must always be a multiple of the order size precision.
- Before: Minimum was 1 contract (0.1 ETH).
- After: Minimum drops to 0.1 contract (0.01 ETH).
This means traders can now open positions with only 1/10th of the previous minimum, dramatically improving capital efficiency and risk control.
How This Change Benefits Traders
1. Lower Entry Threshold
With the ability to trade as little as 0.1 contract, new or risk-averse traders can enter the ETH futures market with significantly less exposure. This democratizes access and supports micro-positioning strategies.
2. Finer Risk Management
Precision trading allows for more accurate hedging and position sizing. Traders can now adjust their exposure in small increments, which is especially valuable during volatile market conditions.
3. Improved Strategy Execution
Algorithmic traders, grid bots, and automated strategies benefit from tighter step sizes. Smaller lot increments allow for denser order ladders and more responsive rebalancing—critical for high-frequency or mean-reversion models.
👉 See how advanced trading tools work seamlessly with refined lot sizes on a top-tier exchange.
Updated Contract Specifications
The following table outlines the changes for affected instruments:
| Instrument Type | Trading Pair | Previous Min Qty & Step Size | New Min Qty & Step Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perpetual | ETH/USDT | 1 contract | 0.1 contract |
| Delivery | ETH/USDT | 1 contract | 0.1 contract |
These updates apply uniformly across all trading interfaces—including web, mobile, API, and third-party integrations such as copy trading and strategy bots.
Impact on Position and Order Display
After the adjustment, all positions and open orders will support decimal display when the order size precision is less than 1.
For example:
- A trader holding 1.7 contracts of ETH/USDT will see that exact value reflected in their portfolio.
- Open limit orders can now show quantities like 5.3 or 10.9 contracts, providing clearer visibility into active strategies.
This change applies to:
- Open positions (long and short)
- Active limit and stop orders
- Partially filled orders
- Conditional and trigger-based orders
Users leveraging APIs, trading bots, or copy trading systems will also experience seamless integration with these updated parameters—no additional configuration needed beyond ensuring your software reads the latest lotSz and minSz values from the exchange.
Order Submission Rules After Adjustment
All new orders must comply with the updated precision and minimum thresholds:
- Order quantity must be a multiple of 0.1 contract
- Minimum allowable order size is 0.1 contract
For instance:
- ✅ Valid: 0.1, 0.5, 1.2, 3.0 contracts
- ❌ Invalid: 0.05, 0.15 (not multiples of 0.1)
These rules apply universally—whether placing orders via the UI, API, WebSocket streams, or through automated strategies.
Exchange systems will automatically reject non-compliant orders, so traders should verify their settings ahead of the change.
API and Integration Updates
Developers and institutional users should note that the following API fields will be updated post-adjustment:
lotSz: Now returns 0.1 for affected ETH/USDT contractsminSz: Also updated to 0.1
WebSocket channels broadcasting instrument details will reflect these values in real time.
We recommend:
- Refreshing instrument metadata before launching new strategies
- Validating order size logic in trading algorithms
- Testing in sandbox environments if available
No downtime is expected during the transition window (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM UTC+8), and all existing orders, positions, and account functions—including fund transfers and leverage adjustments—will remain fully operational.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: When exactly will the change take effect?
A: The update goes live on April 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM (UTC+8). No action is required from users—the system will automatically apply new rules for all new orders after that time.
Q: Will my current open orders or positions be affected?
A: No. Existing orders and positions remain unchanged. Only new or modified orders must follow the updated size rules.
Q: Does this change affect leverage or margin requirements?
A: Leverage settings remain unaffected. However, since you can now open smaller positions, your margin usage scales proportionally—allowing finer control over risk per trade.
Q: Can I still place large orders?
A: Yes. There is no upper limit reduction. You can continue placing large-volume trades; they simply now have more flexible increment options (e.g., increasing by 0.1 instead of 1 contract).
Q: Is this change permanent?
A: Yes. This is a permanent improvement to contract specifications aimed at long-term usability.
Q: Are other trading pairs affected?
A: Currently, only ETH/USDT perpetual and delivery contracts are included. Future expansions to other pairs may occur based on user feedback and market demand.
This refinement reflects OKX’s focus on building a more inclusive, precise, and responsive trading environment. By reducing minimums and enhancing granularity, the platform empowers traders at every level—from casual participants to professional quant teams—to operate with greater efficiency and control.
As digital asset markets evolve, expect continued innovations in contract design, execution quality, and risk management tools—all aimed at delivering superior trading experiences.