# Margin & Leverage Margin refers to the amount of money required to open and maintain a futures position. This is set by the exchange and the broker or FCM, and is specific to each futures product based on characteristics like the volatility and risk. **Initial Margin vs Maintenance Margin:** \ The Initial Margin Requirement is the amount of money required to open a new futures position. Once the position is opened, the trader must post at least the Maintenance Margin Requirement in order to keep the position open. Because the margin requirement is typically much less than the full value that underlies the future, futures trading is Leveraged, meaning smaller price moves can have an amplified impact on a traders profits and losses. This is a way in which futures trading is inherently risky, but can have capital efficiency benefits. \ \ In Architect, each product's margin information is available in the [Product Info](/user-guide/architect-platform/trade/margin-rates-and-product-info.md). \ \ The account's margin status is available in the [Balances](/user-guide/architect-platform/home-page/positions-and-balances.md). --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.architect.co/user-guide/futures-101/margin-and-leverage.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.