# Subaccounts

Subaccounts separate orders, positions, balances, and linked signers under one owner wallet. Margin and liquidation do not cross subaccount boundaries.

## Margin Pools Inside a Subaccount

A subaccount can contain more than one quote-token balance. Each quote token is a separate margin pool.

* Cross-margin products that use the same concrete USD quote token share one pool.
* An isolated product uses a synthetic quote token and a separate pool.

Cross margin applies only to positions with the same quote token, not to every balance in the subaccount.

## Linked Signers

A linked signer can authorize trading requests for its subaccount. Withdrawals and signer changes require the owner wallet.

See [Accounts and Signers](/developer-guides/trading-api/accounts-and-signers).

## System Subaccounts

Meridian also uses system subaccounts:

* The fee collector receives configured protocol fees.
* The liquidator receives positions from liquidated margin pools and reduces the exposure later.

These accounts have protocol roles and are not user accounts.