How to start trading on Variational

1. Create an account

1. Omni runs on Arbitrum and needs an EVM-compatible wallet. Open omni.variational.io, click "Connect Wallet" and pick a supported wallet. source ↗
2. Omni is in private beta, so you must enter an access code; the docs say codes are shared in the Variational Discord or on X. Then accept the Terms of Use, wait for portfolio creation, and click "Authenticate" to sign a gas-free login message. source ↗
3. The onboarding steps contain no identity-verification (KYC) step. Restricted persons may not use the app, and an "Access Restricted" message means you are connecting from a restricted location. source ↗

2. Deposit collateral

1. Deposits are USDC on Arbitrum only. If your funds are on another chain, bridge them to Arbitrum first. source ↗
2. Click "Deposit" (top right), enter the USDC amount, click "Deposit" and sign the gasless allowance. You do not need ETH for gas; funds arrive a few seconds after on-chain confirmation. source ↗
3. A flat 0.1 USDC fee is charged on each deposit and is deducted from the amount. source ↗

3. Open your first position

1. Pick a market with the selector in the top left (or press '/'). Omni has no order book: the Omni Liquidity Provider (OLP) quotes you a price for your size. source ↗
2. In the order form set leverage (1x to 50x) and margin mode: cross (your USDC balance backs all positions) or isolated (USDC added to one position). Isolated/cross toggling is available on certain markets. source ↗
3. Choose Market, Limit or Pro (trigger and TP/SL orders), enter the size, and press Buy to go long or Sell to go short. The size you enter is the position size after leverage. source ↗
4. Check the Trade Information panel (estimated liquidation price, quoted price, slippage) and set a slippage limit so a market order is rejected if the fill strays too far from the mark price. source ↗

4. Know how liquidation works

1. Liquidation starts when maintenance-margin usage reaches 100%, measured with a very fast EMA of the mark price. Omni liquidates partially and closes at the quote minus 0.5% for longs or plus 0.5% for shorts (the liquidation penalty). source ↗
2. The mark price, built from the oracle index price plus other data such as funding and OLP's risk profile, is used for unrealized PnL, margin and liquidations. source ↗

5. Withdraw

1. Click "Deposit", switch to the "Withdraw" tab, enter the USDC amount and confirm. "Available to Withdraw" can be lower than your portfolio value while positions are open. source ↗
2. Funds can only be withdrawn to the wallet connected to your account. Each withdrawal costs a flat 0.1 USDC. source ↗

6. Common mistakes

1. Limit orders are all-or-nothing (no partial fills) and are checked every 0.1 seconds, so a brief price touch may not fill them. Limit and trigger orders expire 120 days after placement. source ↗
2. Displayed quotes are indicative; the firm quote created when you click buy or sell can be better or worse. Use a slippage limit to control the price you accept. source ↗
3. Lowering leverage raises margin requirements and can move your estimated liquidation price closer. source ↗

Before you trade

Perpetual futures use leverage: a small price move against you can liquidate your collateral. Start with a small amount and low leverage, and read the venue’s current fee and margin pages, which can change after this guide was checked.