Why a 1% move can wipe you out at 100x
Leverage multiplies both your gains and the speed at which you get liquidated. Your margin is the buffer between your entry and your liquidation price. At 10x, your margin is 10% of the position, so a ~10% move against you erases it. At 100x, your margin is just 1% — so a 1% move, which crypto can do in seconds, ends the trade.
The exact number is a little lower than 1 ÷ leverage because exchanges also require a small maintenance margin and charge fees, both of which pull liquidation closer to your entry. That's why the table above is an estimate — for your specific entry, use the liquidation price calculator, and size the trade from risk with the position size calculator.
FAQ
At what % do you get liquidated at 10x? Roughly 10% against you (a bit sooner with maintenance margin and fees).
And at 50x or 100x? About 2% at 50x and about 1% at 100x — extremely tight.
What leverage is "safe"? There's no safe leverage, only safer. Most blow-ups happen above 20x. Beginners are usually better at 2–5x with a real stop.