Kraken debuts U.S. perpetual futures as crypto derivatives move onshore
CoinDesk 2026-06-15 14:07:22
Context: Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange, has begun offering Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)-regulated perpetual futures to U.S. customers through Kraken Pro. This development brings a key crypto derivatives product into the U.S., after years of activity concentrated in offshore venues.
Key Facts
- Kraken began offering CFTC-regulated perpetual futures to U.S. customers through Kraken Pro, initially covering major cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, ether, and solana, with plans to expand the range of contracts and collateral options over time.
- Perpetual futures, often called "perps," allow traders to take long or short positions on assets without owning them and without a contract expiration date, with annual perpetual futures volume surpassing $60 trillion in 2025.
- The contracts are available through Kraken Pro and are listed on Bitnomial, a CFTC-regulated exchange acquired earlier this year by Kraken's parent company, Payward.
- Kraken's perpetual futures debut follows recent guidance from the CFTC that cleared the way for regulated platforms to list perps, and follows Kraken's purchase of Bitnomial and other futures infrastructure.
- At launch, Kraken's perpetual futures cover major cryptocurrencies including BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK, DOGE, LTC, and AVAX.