diff --git a/api/handler_user.go b/api/handler_user.go
index 5f82cb9d..aa9f9a2a 100644
--- a/api/handler_user.go
+++ b/api/handler_user.go
@@ -262,13 +262,14 @@ func (s *Server) createDefaultStrategies(userID string, lang string) error {
 		c.CoinSource.VergexLimit = 10
 		c.CoinSource.VergexMarketType = "all"
 		c.CoinSource.VergexChain = "hyperliquid"
-		c.RiskControl.MaxPositions = 2
-		c.RiskControl.BTCETHMaxLeverage = 10
-		c.RiskControl.AltcoinMaxLeverage = 10
-		// 4× equity notional per position: at 10x leverage two full positions
-		// use ~80% of margin — concentrated but solvent.
-		c.RiskControl.BTCETHMaxPositionValueRatio = 4.0
-		c.RiskControl.AltcoinMaxPositionValueRatio = 4.0
+		c.RiskControl.MaxPositions = 4
+		c.RiskControl.BTCETHMaxLeverage = 20
+		c.RiskControl.AltcoinMaxLeverage = 20
+		// 5× equity notional per position: 4 positions = 20x total account
+		// notional (full margin at 20x). Bigger single positions with room for
+		// a balanced long/short book.
+		c.RiskControl.BTCETHMaxPositionValueRatio = 5.0
+		c.RiskControl.AltcoinMaxPositionValueRatio = 5.0
 		c.RiskControl.MaxMarginUsage = 1.0
 		c.RiskControl.MinConfidence = 78
 		c.RiskControl.MinRiskRewardRatio = 3.0
diff --git a/api/handler_user_default_strategy_test.go b/api/handler_user_default_strategy_test.go
index 3dfe6f9b..9182bac4 100644
--- a/api/handler_user_default_strategy_test.go
+++ b/api/handler_user_default_strategy_test.go
@@ -54,16 +54,16 @@ func TestCreateDefaultStrategiesUsesOneReadyToRunClaw402Preset(t *testing.T) {
 	if trendCfg.CoinSource.SourceType != "vergex_signal" || trendCfg.CoinSource.VergexLimit != 10 || trendCfg.CoinSource.VergexMarketType != "all" {
 		t.Fatalf("default strategy should use the Claw402/Vergex all-market signal ranking, got %+v", trendCfg.CoinSource)
 	}
-	if trendCfg.CoinSource.UseAI500 || trendCfg.RiskControl.MaxPositions > 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("default strategy should be Claw402/Vergex native with at most two positions, got coin=%+v risk=%+v", trendCfg.CoinSource, trendCfg.RiskControl)
+	if trendCfg.CoinSource.UseAI500 || trendCfg.RiskControl.MaxPositions != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("default strategy should be Claw402/Vergex native with a 4-position balanced book, got coin=%+v risk=%+v", trendCfg.CoinSource, trendCfg.RiskControl)
 	}
-	if trendCfg.RiskControl.BTCETHMaxLeverage != 10 || trendCfg.RiskControl.AltcoinMaxLeverage != 10 {
-		t.Fatalf("default strategy should use 10x leverage for all Claw402 opens, got risk=%+v", trendCfg.RiskControl)
+	if trendCfg.RiskControl.BTCETHMaxLeverage != 20 || trendCfg.RiskControl.AltcoinMaxLeverage != 20 {
+		t.Fatalf("default strategy should use 20x leverage for all Claw402 opens, got risk=%+v", trendCfg.RiskControl)
 	}
-	if trendCfg.RiskControl.BTCETHMaxPositionValueRatio != 4 ||
-		trendCfg.RiskControl.AltcoinMaxPositionValueRatio != 4 ||
+	if trendCfg.RiskControl.BTCETHMaxPositionValueRatio != 5 ||
+		trendCfg.RiskControl.AltcoinMaxPositionValueRatio != 5 ||
 		trendCfg.RiskControl.MaxMarginUsage != 1.0 {
-		t.Fatalf("default strategy should size Claw402 opens at 4x equity notional (two positions ≈ 80%% margin at 10x), got risk=%+v", trendCfg.RiskControl)
+		t.Fatalf("default strategy should size Claw402 opens at 5x equity notional (4 positions = 20x total at 20x), got risk=%+v", trendCfg.RiskControl)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/kernel/engine_prompt_test.go b/kernel/engine_prompt_test.go
index d6e3a3d0..bc3b535d 100644
--- a/kernel/engine_prompt_test.go
+++ b/kernel/engine_prompt_test.go
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ func TestBuildSystemPromptUsesVergexClaw402Prompt(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(prompt, "Direction must be data-driven") {
 		t.Fatalf("prompt should explain that direction is data-driven, not long-only:\n%s", prompt)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(prompt, "every open position must use exactly 10x") {
-		t.Fatalf("prompt should force 10x leverage for Claw402 opens:\n%s", prompt)
+	if !strings.Contains(prompt, "every open position must use exactly 20x") {
+		t.Fatalf("prompt should force 20x leverage for Claw402 opens:\n%s", prompt)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(prompt, "use the full max notional per position") {
 		t.Fatalf("prompt should force full-size Claw402 opens:\n%s", prompt)
diff --git a/store/strategy.go b/store/strategy.go
index 20a168b3..1553c09d 100644
--- a/store/strategy.go
+++ b/store/strategy.go
@@ -1014,11 +1014,11 @@ func GetDefaultStrategyConfig(lang string) StrategyConfig {
 			PriceRankingLimit:      10,
 		},
 		RiskControl: RiskControlConfig{
-			MaxPositions:                 2,   // Concentrated book: two full-size positions (CODE ENFORCED)
-			BTCETHMaxLeverage:            10,  // BTC/ETH exchange leverage (AI guided)
-			AltcoinMaxLeverage:           10,  // TradeFi exchange leverage (AI guided)
-			BTCETHMaxPositionValueRatio:  4.0, // Per-position notional = equity × 4; at 10x two positions ≈ 80% margin
-			AltcoinMaxPositionValueRatio: 4.0, // Per-position notional = equity × 4; at 10x two positions ≈ 80% margin
+			MaxPositions:                 4,   // Room for ~2 long + 2 short (CODE ENFORCED)
+			BTCETHMaxLeverage:            20,  // BTC/ETH exchange leverage (AI guided)
+			AltcoinMaxLeverage:           20,  // TradeFi exchange leverage (AI guided)
+			BTCETHMaxPositionValueRatio:  5.0, // Per-position notional = equity × 5; 4 positions = 20x total (full margin at 20x)
+			AltcoinMaxPositionValueRatio: 5.0, // Per-position notional = equity × 5; 4 positions = 20x total (full margin at 20x)
 			MaxMarginUsage:               1.0, // Claw402 Autopilot intentionally uses full margin when opening
 			MinPositionSize:              12,  // Min 12 USDT per position (CODE ENFORCED)
 			MinRiskRewardRatio:           3.0, // Min 3:1 profit/loss ratio (AI guided)
diff --git a/web/src/pages/StrategyStudioPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/StrategyStudioPage.tsx
index 20c99853..cae8749a 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/StrategyStudioPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/StrategyStudioPage.tsx
@@ -1388,13 +1388,14 @@ export function StrategyStudioPage() {
       }),
       risk_control: defaultRisk({
         ...base.ai_config?.risk_control,
-        max_positions: 2,
-        btc_eth_max_leverage: 10,
-        altcoin_max_leverage: 10,
-        // 4× equity notional per position — at 10x leverage two full
-        // positions use ~80% of margin (concentrated but solvent)
-        btc_eth_max_position_value_ratio: 4,
-        altcoin_max_position_value_ratio: 4,
+        max_positions: 4,
+        btc_eth_max_leverage: 20,
+        altcoin_max_leverage: 20,
+        // 5× equity notional per position — 4 positions = 20x total account
+        // notional (full margin at 20x). Bigger single positions, room for
+        // a balanced long/short book.
+        btc_eth_max_position_value_ratio: 5,
+        altcoin_max_position_value_ratio: 5,
         max_margin_usage: 1.0,
         min_confidence: 78,
         min_risk_reward_ratio: 3,