# Position Count Limit

The position count limit is a risk management feature that allows exchange operators to set a maximum number of positions that each account can hold simultaneously. It is an exchange-wide setting that applies uniformly to all trading accounts. When configured, it restricts the number of distinct instrument positions that any single account can hold at one time.

# How Position Count Limit Works

# Position Counting

The position count limit counts all of the following toward the limit:

  • Active Positions: Any non-zero position on any instrument
  • Unterminated Orders: All resting orders, including:
    • Limit orders in the order book
    • Stop orders waiting to be triggered
    • Contingent orders

This comprehensive counting ensures that even orders that haven't yet resulted in positions are accounted for in the limit.

# Order Rejection Criteria

Orders on instruments where the account has no existing position or orders are rejected if the account is at the limit.

# Allowed Operations

Even when at or over the position count limit, accounts can still:

  • Trade Existing Positions: Place orders on instruments where the account already has a position or unterminated orders
  • Close Positions: Use reduce-only or close orders to exit existing positions
  • Modify Existing Orders: Amend or cancel existing orders

# Closing Positions

When an account closes a position (reduces it to zero and has no unterminated orders on that instrument), the capacity is freed:

  • The position count decreases by one
  • The account can now open a position on a different instrument
  • This allows accounts to rotate between instruments while respecting the limit

# Limit Reduction

If the exchange operator reduces the position count limit downward, accounts that are already over the new limit are grandfathered:

  • Existing Positions Protected: The account can continue trading its existing positions
  • New Positions Blocked: The account cannot open positions on new instruments until it falls below the new limit
  • Gradual Compliance: Accounts naturally come into compliance as they close positions

# Liquidation Account Exception

The liquidation account can receive positions through the liquidation process even if such positions would cause it to exceed the position count limit.

# Reference

# API Endpoints

All position count limit endpoints are part of the Exchange-Wide Controls API and are accessible via the control gateway (port 8181).

# Set Position Count Limit

Configure the maximum number of positions allowed per account across the entire exchange.

POST /ExchangeWideControls/PositionCountLimit?limit={count}

Parameters

Parameter Type Required Description
limit number Yes Maximum number of positions per account (must be positive)

Example

curl -X 'POST' \
  'http://control-gateway:8181/ExchangeWideControls/PositionCountLimit?limit=100' \
  -H 'accept: application/json' \
  -d ''

This sets the position count limit to 100 positions per account across the entire exchange.

Response

Returns confirmation of the position count limit configuration.

# Get Position Count Limit

Retrieve the current position count limit setting.

GET /ExchangeWideControls/PositionCountLimit

Example

curl -X 'GET' \
  'http://control-gateway:8181/ExchangeWideControls/PositionCountLimit' \
  -H 'accept: application/json'

Response

Returns the current position count limit value, or indicates if no limit is set.

# Delete Position Count Limit

Remove the position count limit, allowing accounts to hold unlimited positions.

DELETE /ExchangeWideControls/PositionCountLimit

Example

curl -X 'DELETE' \
  'http://control-gateway:8181/ExchangeWideControls/PositionCountLimit' \
  -H 'accept: application/json' \
  -d ''

Response

Returns confirmation that the position count limit has been removed.

# Related Documentation