# Collateral and margin

Your balance serves as collateral for perpetual trading. When you open a position:

* A portion of your balance is allocated as margin (shown as "Amount utilized")
* Unrealized PnL is reflected in your account balance
* Realized PnL settles in your stablecoin of choice.

The Cash section shows:

* **Amount available** — Free collateral you can withdraw or use for new positions
* **Amount utilized** — Collateral locked in open positions
* **Unrealized** — Current profit/loss on open positions

For details on how margin works, see [What are Perpetuals](https://docs.dreamcash.xyz/getting-started/what-are-perpetuals) and the [Hyperliquid margining documentation](https://hyperliquid.gitbook.io/hyperliquid-docs/trading/margining).