> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.derive.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# public/start_auction

> Opens a Dutch-auction liquidation against a subaccount whose maintenance margin is breached. Permissionless: it takes only the target subaccount and needs no signer, nonce or session-key scope, and the engine validates the breach before opening. Fails if an auction is already running on that account. The liquidation keeper calls this automatically, so it is rarely needed by hand.



## OpenAPI

````yaml /openapi.json post /public/start_auction
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Derive v3 API
  version: 0.2.0
  description: JSON-RPC 2.0 methods, served over WebSocket and HTTP POST.
servers:
  - url: https://api.derive.xyz/v3
    description: Production (HTTP POST base)
  - url: https://testnet.api.derive.xyz/v3
    description: Testnet (HTTP POST base)
security: []
tags:
  - name: Subaccounts
    description: >-
      List, inspect, and label subaccounts, portfolios, positions, and
      collateral.
  - name: Session Keys
    description: Register, edit, and list delegated signing keys.
  - name: Account
    description: Wallet-level account information and settings.
  - name: Orderbook
    description: Place, replace, cancel, and query orders, trigger orders, and algos.
  - name: RFQ
    description: 'Request-for-quote: send RFQs, quote, and execute block trades.'
  - name: Liquidations
    description: >-
      Open a Dutch auction against a breaching subaccount, quote the auctions
      running right now, bid on them, and review past ones.
  - name: Vault Shareholders
    description: >-
      Deposit into and withdraw from vaults, and track shares, requests, and
      performance.
  - name: Vault Curators
    description: >-
      Create and operate curated vaults: settle deposit and withdrawal requests,
      and manage vault metadata.
  - name: History
    description: >-
      Per-account historical records: orders, trades, transfers, and
      settlements.
  - name: Market Maker Protection
    description: Configure, read, and reset market-maker protection.
  - name: Transfers & Withdrawals
    description: Move collateral between subaccounts, to other wallets, and on-chain.
  - name: Onchain Actions
    description: >-
      L1 onchain actions submitted via OnchainActionManager: register deposit
      addresses, list pending deposits, and inspect onchain action history.
  - name: System
    description: Rate limits and transaction lookups.
  - name: Market Data
    description: Instruments, currencies, tickers, and market-wide feeds.
  - name: Maker Scoring
    description: Maker programs, score breakdowns, and detailed scoring snapshots.
  - name: Referrals
    description: Referral codes and program performance.
  - name: Other
    description: Uncategorized.
paths:
  /public/start_auction:
    post:
      tags:
        - Liquidations
      summary: public/start_auction
      description: >-
        Opens a Dutch-auction liquidation against a subaccount whose maintenance
        margin is breached. Permissionless: it takes only the target subaccount
        and needs no signer, nonce or session-key scope, and the engine
        validates the breach before opening. Fails if an auction is already
        running on that account. The liquidation keeper calls this
        automatically, so it is rarely needed by hand.
      operationId: public_start_auction
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/PublicStartAuctionRequest'
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Success
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/PublicStartAuctionResponse'
        default:
          description: JSON-RPC error (see Error Codes)
components:
  schemas:
    PublicStartAuctionRequest:
      type: object
      required:
        - subaccount_id
      properties:
        subaccount_id:
          description: Subaccount to auction.
          type: integer
          format: uint64
          minimum: 0
    PublicStartAuctionResponse:
      type: object
      required:
        - op_uuid
        - operation_id
      properties:
        op_uuid:
          type: string
        operation_id:
          type: integer
          format: uint64
          minimum: 0

````

## Related topics

- [public/get_live_auctions](/api-reference/liquidations/publicget_live_auctions.md)
- [public/get_liquidation_history](/api-reference/liquidations/publicget_liquidation_history.md)
- [Auctions watch](/api-reference/channels/auctionswatch.md)