Futures account mode per exchange (Hedge Mode, Cross margin, Unified Account)

Alpha Crypto holds many long and short positions at once across different coins (one direction per coin) and shares margin across all positions. When a coin flips direction at a rebalance, the Engine closes the old leg before opening the new one; Hedge Mode makes sure the exchange records that switch as intended. For that, your futures account has to be in the right mode. Normally you never have to think about it: when you connect, the Engine sets the mode through the API.

Your funds always stay on your exchange. AlphaSet never holds your assets. Changing the account mode moves no money anywhere; it only changes how the exchange counts positions and margin.

Required mode per exchange

When you see the "Account mode not set" card

The Engine tries to set the mode automatically when you connect and when an Alpha starts. The exchange refuses in two cases:

• The account has open positions or pending orders you placed yourself. Exchanges do not allow a mode change while positions exist.
• The exchange temporarily blocks mode changes over the API.

Your Dashboard then shows an "Account mode not set" error card with the exchange name. The Alpha will not run until the mode is correct. AlphaSet never closes your positions to change the mode.

How to fix it

1. Close positions and cancel pending orders you placed yourself on that futures account (positions opened by the Engine are handled by the Engine).
2. Switch to the mode in the table above, in the position settings of the exchange's Futures interface:
   • Bybit: go to Derivatives, open position settings, choose Hedge Mode; choose Cross margin. The account must be a Unified Trading Account (Bybit upgrades it for free under Assets).
   • BingX: go to Perpetual Futures, open settings (the gear icon next to the order panel), set Position Mode to Hedge Mode; choose Cross margin.
   • Hyperliquid: go to Portfolio and check that Account Type is Unified Account. If it is Standard, switch to Unified and reconnect.
3. Return to the Dashboard. The error card re-checks every few minutes; you can also press Check again on the card. Once the mode is correct the card disappears and the Alpha resumes.

🖼️ [IMAGE PLACEHOLDER] Screenshot of Bybit Futures position settings with Hedge Mode and Cross circled in red.

🖼️ [IMAGE PLACEHOLDER] Screenshot of BingX Perpetual Futures settings with Position Mode = Hedge Mode and Margin Mode = Cross circled in red.

Why Hedge Mode and Cross

• Hedge Mode: the exchange keeps long and short positions separate, so when the Engine flips a coin's direction at a rebalance (closing the old leg, then opening the new one), each step is recorded as intended. In One-way Mode an opposite order gets netted into the existing position, which can leave the size off versus the target portfolio. The Engine still holds one direction per coin.
• Cross margin: all positions share the account's margin balance, so a position that is temporarily underwater is not liquidated early just because its own isolated margin is small. The Engine manages risk at the account level this way.

Quick tips

• Use a dedicated futures account (or sub-account) for the Alpha and do not place orders on it yourself. Then the mode only needs to be set once.
• Changing the mode does not affect your balance or your API key.
• If you change the API key or switch accounts, check the mode again: every account has its own setting.