When using Futures Grid, some users notice that the Total Profit shown on their account doesn't match what they'd expect from the price movement alone — for example, the price has already moved in the direction of the position, yet Total Profit is still negative. This is because Total Profit isn't a single figure; it's made up of several components. This article explains what each component means and how they relate to one another.
1. What Makes Up Total Profit
Total Profit for Futures Grid is the sum of two parts, Grid profit and Trend PnL:
Total Profit = Grid profit + Current trend PnL
Grid profit is the profit realized by the grid strategy through completed buy-low, sell-high trades. Once generated, this profit is treated as realized and will not be given back due to later price movements.
Trend PnL is the profit or loss that comes from holding a directional position (long or short). Because Futures Grid keeps a base position while profiting from price oscillation, that base position accrues unrealized PnL as the price moves up and down — this is Trend PnL.
2. What Makes Up Trend PnL
Trend PnL can be broken down further into:
Current trend PnL = Total trend PnL + Balance of Funding Fee
Total trend PnL is the PnL driven by the position's direction. It includes unrealized PnL, trading fees, and the directional spread from position changes (e.g. adjusting the price range), but excludes funding fees.
Balance of Funding Fee is the funding fee settled periodically between long and short position holders in futures trading. This fee isn't directly tied to the grid strategy or price movement — it depends only on the current position direction and the market funding rate.
3. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: The price has already moved in the direction of my position — why is Total Profit still negative?
A: You need to factor in the Balance of Funding Fee. If the funding rate has been unfavorable for your position direction over time, Total Profit can still turn negative from ongoing funding fee deductions, even when Grid profit and Trend PnL both look healthy.
Q: Why is withdrawing profit restricted?
A: When the account has a large unrealized loss, the system uses Grid profit to hedge risk and reduce the chance of liquidation, so withdrawals are temporarily restricted during this time. Once the unrealized loss falls back to a safe level, withdrawals can resume as normal.