Funding rates are far more than just fees—they're the exchange's harvesting baton! When rates are positive, longs send money to shorts; when negative, shorts subsidize longs. Once funding rates on one side skyrocket continuously, say exceeding 0.1%, that's basically shouting: "Ready to liquidate this side!" In real trading, when you see funding rates exceed 0.1% three times in a row, don't fight it—contrarian positioning often means you can lock in profits.