KuCoin’s new perp rule can turn one funding-rate extreme into 36 hours of hourly settlements

Aug. 18, 2026 at 7:00 am GMT • 2 min read 01 KuCoin now shifts USDT- and USDC-margined perpetuals to hourly funding when a contract hits its rate cap or floor. 02 That compresses potential debits and credits for open positions, even though funding formulas, limits, and positions stay unchanged. 03 A return to four-hour settlements needs 36 straight hourly readings within 0.002%, and any breach resets the counter.KuCoin activated a rule after 08:00 UTC on Aug. 17 that moves USDT- and USDC-margined perpetual contracts to hourly funding settlement once their contract-specific funding cap or floor is reached.The change applies starting with the next funding period and will happen without a separate announcement, shortening the time between potential funding debits and credits for traders who keep positions open.Under the mechanism, the trigger is the funding rate at a scheduled settlement. If that rate is at or above the contract's upper limit, or at or below its lower limit, KuCoin switches the contract to a one-hour interval unless it is already settling hourly.Trigger conditionWhat KuCoin changesWhat does not changeTrader impactFunding rate hits or exceeds contract capContract moves...