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Negative Funding During an Uptrend: How to Read the Data With Price Context

Negative funding while price climbs means shorts pay to bet against the rally. That can be fuel for more upside or a sign of hedged positioning.

By ChartsPod Editorial Team · Reviewed by ChartsPod Research
Published · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

Negative funding during an uptrend means perpetuals trade below spot and shorts pay longs. Common causes: traders shorting a rally they distrust (fuel for squeezes if price keeps rising), basis or hedging trades (holders shorting perps against spot, less directional), or spot-led buying while perps lag. Distinguish them with OI (rising OI with negative funding suggests new shorts), spot vs perp CVD (spot-led rally) and liquidation records (short liquidations during pushes).

Three causes

CauseOISpot vs perpImplication
Directional shortsRisingPerp sellingSqueeze fuel
Hedged holdersRisingSpot held elsewhereLess directional
Spot-led rallyFlatSpot buying strongerHealthy, perps lagging
Squeeze fuel vs hedgingSqueeze fuel vs hedging. Left, Squeeze fuel: Short liquidations on pushes; Funding deepens negative; Price grinds up anyway. Right, Hedging: Few liquidations; Stable basis; Large spot holdings.SQUEEZE FUELShort liquidations on pushesFunding deepens negativePrice grinds up anywayHEDGINGFew liquidationsStable basisLarge spot holdings
Liquidations separate them. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

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Example

Illustrative: price +8% over a week; funding −0.01% to −0.03% per 8h; OI +7% in coins; each push higher brings short liquidations. Shorts are adding and being forced out repeatedly.

Illustrative short liquidations on three pushes (BTC)Illustrative short liquidations on three pushes (BTC): Push 1 300 BTC; Push 2 520 BTC; Push 3 900 BTC.ILLUSTRATIVE SHORT LIQUIDATIONS ON THREE PUSHES (BTC)Push 1300 BTCPush 2520 BTCPush 3900 BTC
Growing liquidations show shorts are fuel. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Conclusion

Related: Spot CVD vs Perpetual CVD: Interpret Disagreement Before a Breakout, Positive Funding During a Downtrend: How to Read the Data With Price Context.

Read negative funding in an uptrend through OI, spot leadership and short liquidations to tell squeeze fuel from hedging.

See Negative Funding During an Uptrend on live data in the free ChartsPod terminal.

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Questions readers ask

Why is funding negative when price rises?

Perps trade below spot; shorts pay longs.

Is it bullish?

If shorts are directional and being liquidated, it can fuel upside.

Could it be hedging?

Yes; check liquidations and basis stability.

Sources and methodology

Definitions follow Binance's USD-M market data documentation, Hyperliquid's funding documentation and Bybit's liquidation rules, read 17 October 2026. Examples are illustrative, not recorded market data.

  1. Binance: USD-M market data (long/short ratios, OI statistics, klines) — ratio definitions, 30-day retention, kline open/close time.
  2. Hyperliquid docs: Funding — hourly payments, 1/8 of the 8-hour rate, oracle price for notional.
  3. ChartsPod: product overview, pricing and FAQ — free terminal, venues, modules, no order placement; checked 17 Oct 2026.

This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.

CHARTSPOD EDITORIAL EDITION · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ONLY · NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.