In contract trading, the profit or loss from a single trade often fails to capture the full extent of a user’s engagement on the platform. The Gate Futures Points system is designed precisely to address this need. More than just a counter, it’s a dynamic scoring system that evaluates trading activity and determines eligibility for airdrop rewards and various platform events.
At its core, the points system operates on a rolling 15-day window. A user’s current total points always reflect the sum of points earned over the past 15 days. As time passes, expired points are automatically removed. The final points balance is calculated by subtracting any points already redeemed from the cumulative total. This rolling mechanism ensures that points always reflect recent activity, rather than permanently locking in past behavior.
Points are earned through three independent channels: Balance Points, Trading Points, and Invitation Points. Each is calculated separately on a daily basis, then consolidated into a single total. This multi-dimensional structure means that no single activity can maximize your points alone. Points data is updated daily before 04:00 UTC, providing timely and transparent information.
Three-Tier Points Earning Structure
Balance Points
Balance Points measure the value of assets held in your account. Each day, the system snapshots the USDT and BTC balances in your futures account, as well as the USDx balance in your TradFi account. These are converted to their USD value to calculate that day’s points.
The balance-to-points tiers are as follows:
- For balances between $100 and less than $1,000, you earn 1 point per day.
- For balances between $1,000 and less than $10,000, you earn 2 points per day.
- For balances between $10,000 and less than $100,000, you earn 3 points per day.
- For balances of $100,000 or more, you earn 4 points per day.
Balance Points are awarded at a fixed rate each day and are not adjusted for asset price fluctuations after being granted.
Trading Points
Trading Points directly reflect your contract trading activity. The core rule: for every $400 in contract trading volume, you earn 1 point. Double the trading volume, double the points. For example, $400 in daily trading volume earns 1 point, $800 earns 2 points, $1,600 earns 3 points, and so on. The more you trade, the faster you accumulate points.
Starting February 9, 2026, trading volume from TradFi products is also included in the points calculation, counted at 20% of its value as effective contract trading volume. For example, if your TradFi trading volume is $10,000 USDx on a given day, $2,000 is counted toward your contract points. This mechanism bridges the gap between crypto derivatives and TradFi products, enabling cross-product benefits.
Note: Trading volume generated by copy trading and trading bots is excluded from the calculation.
Invitation Points
Invitation Points reward users for expanding the community. For each successful invitation of a new user who participates in activities, you earn 1 point, up to a maximum of 3 points per day. An invitation is considered valid if the invited user earns at least 2 points in total. This ensures the quality of invitations and prevents ineffective expansion.
Synergy Among the Three Channels
Balance Points, Trading Points, and Invitation Points are each calculated independently and then merged into the total points balance. This structure encourages users to engage fully with the platform—by maintaining account balances, trading actively, and contributing to community growth. Each channel operates independently, so points earned in one do not affect the others on any given day. Ultimately, your total points determine your eligibility for activities and rewards.
Points Airdrops and Redemption Mechanism
The main use cases for points are qualifying for airdrop rewards and redeeming points for benefits.
Each reward displayed on the points page comes with a clear minimum points requirement and specifies the number of points needed for redemption. Users can select their desired reward based on their points balance. If you have enough points, you qualify to participate; once redeemed, the corresponding points are deducted from your balance.
Take the recent 118th points airdrop as an example. The event featured two prize pools. The first pool allowed users to redeem 25 GUSD for 15 points, with a minimum balance requirement of 170 points, which decreased over time. The second pool offered a 100 USDT contract trial coupon for 20 points, with a minimum balance requirement of 40 points. Both pools operated on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limited redemption window. The claim period was from May 13, 2026, 10:00 to 15:59 UTC. All participants were required to complete identity verification before claiming rewards.
As one of the main rewards, the contract trial coupon allows users to trade contracts without using their own funds, effectively lowering the cost of trial and error. GUSD, as a stablecoin reward, provides users with direct value.
How to Participate in Points Activities
Participation methods for points activities have continued to evolve, and there are now three main modes.
First-Come, First-Served Redemption
The first-come, first-served model has long been used for points airdrops. Users who meet the minimum points requirement can enter the prize pool via the points page and complete the redemption once the window opens. Each event’s points threshold, redemption cost, and total rewards are announced in advance.
Some prize pools feature a points reduction mechanism. After opening, the redemption threshold decreases at set intervals by a fixed amount until it reaches the minimum. This design gives users at different points levels a chance to participate.
Lottery Mode
On May 9, 2026, the points lottery feature officially launched. Users can switch to the "Lottery" tab on the points page via the app or web to view all ongoing lottery events.
To participate, select an event card, confirm your points balance meets the threshold, and click to join, consuming the required points. The system will draw winners automatically at the specified time, and prizes are distributed directly to winners’ accounts. Note: Once you register, you cannot withdraw, and points spent are not refunded if you do not win.
The first lottery event offered two prize pools. The lottery pool required 20 points for a chance to win 20 GUSD, with 5,000 winning slots and a minimum balance of 50 points. The coupon pool required 20 points for a 100 USDT contract trial coupon, with 3,000 slots and a minimum balance of 40 points. Each user could participate only once per event.
The lottery feature adds a new dimension to participation, balancing the desire to redeem when points are plentiful with the chance to participate when points are limited. Spending a small number of points for a lottery ticket introduces an element of randomness to the rewards process.
Activity Participation Portal
The points page provides a centralized hub for all ongoing and upcoming airdrops and activities, allowing users to view, select, and participate in one place. Both the app and web versions are available, and it’s recommended to keep your app updated for the best experience. All airdrop and lottery times are listed in Beijing Time (UTC+8), and each redemption window is time-limited. Late entries are not accepted.
Ecosystem Integration and Closed-Loop Effect
Futures points are not an isolated system—they’re tightly integrated with the VIP program, events, and product lines.
Trading activity generates points, which unlock eligibility for events and airdrop rewards. Rewards (such as contract trial coupons) lower trading costs, encouraging even more active trading, which in turn leads to more points. Accumulated trading volume also drives VIP level progression, bringing lower fees and exclusive benefits, further improving trading efficiency and returns.
The mechanism for converting TradFi trading volume into points creates synergy between product lines. Activity on the TradFi side can impact your futures points, enabling cross-product benefits. This design unifies otherwise fragmented trading activities into a comprehensive platform experience.
Additionally, the use cases for futures points continue to expand. Points now cover asset redemption, trading experience, and ecosystem privileges, and are gradually being integrated with more platform benefits.
Key Parameters for Points Management
To manage your points effectively, it’s important to understand the following parameters.
The 15-day rolling window continuously removes expired points, keeping your balance dynamically updated. If you don’t generate new trading activity on a given day, previously accumulated points will gradually decrease, reaching zero after 15 days. This ensures your points balance closely tracks your recent activity.
The exponential growth rule for trading points offers high-frequency traders nonlinear accumulation. The more you trade, the lower the average points cost per unit of trading volume. For example, with $40,000 in trading volume in a single day, and the base rate of 1 point per $400, your points are calculated on a geometric progression.
The daily cap of 3 invitation points and the criteria for valid invitations set clear boundaries for social expansion. Quality, not quantity, is the metric for earning invitation points.
Conclusion
The futures points system transforms users’ daily trading, asset retention, and community contributions into quantifiable, long-term benefits. Through the combined accumulation of balance, trading, and invitation points—each operating independently—and the dynamic 15-day rolling window, your points balance always reflects your recent activity. Airdrop redemptions and lottery events provide clear outlets for using points, while the three participation modes—first-come, first-served, points reduction, and lottery—ensure users at all points levels can find a redemption path that suits them.
For users actively trading contracts on Gate, monitoring your points page, understanding the rolling window’s expiration rules, and regularly reviewing your daily points details are essential for effective points management. As the platform continues to expand the use cases for points, this evaluation system will increasingly connect with more product lines and benefits, becoming an indispensable part of the contract trading experience.
