Cross margin trading, while offering flexibility and extended position lifespans, poses significant risks by pooling all available account balances into a single margin. Unlike isolated margin, where each position has its own margin bucket, cross margin allows all positions to draw from the same pool, potentially leading to larger losses if multiple trades go awry simultaneously. This interconnectedness means that a downturn in one position can quietly erode the buffer available to others, especially in correlated markets like BTC and ETH. While cross margin can help positions survive short-term volatility, it also risks holding losing positions longer, potentially increasing losses. Traders should carefully consider their strategies, particularly when holding multiple directional bets, as cross margin can amplify risks rather than mitigate them.