Kraken announced on May 29 plans to launch CFTC-regulated perpetual futures for eligible U.S. traders, with an expected launch within 30 days. The products will be listed on Bitnomial Exchange, a CFTC Designated Contract Market acquired by Payward, Kraken's parent company, and cleared by NinjaTrader Clearing, doing business as Kraken Derivatives US. The move aims to bring one of crypto's most popular derivatives products into a regulated domestic market structure. Perpetual futures have historically traded primarily on offshore venues, with more than $60 trillion in crypto derivatives perpetual volume in 2025, according to Kraken.
Kraken Perpetual Futures Use CFTC-Regulated Structure
The perpetual contracts will be available for eligible U.S. retail and institutional clients. Kraken said users will be able to trade perpetuals alongside spot, margin, and CME-listed futures through Kraken Pro.
Perpetual futures have no fixed expiration date and typically use funding payments to keep contract prices aligned with spot markets. Kraken's products will use continuous pricing and an eight-hour funding rate.
NinjaTrader Clearing is registered as a Futures Commission Merchant and NFA Member. Bitnomial Exchange operates as a CFTC Designated Contract Market.
Initial Asset Lineup Includes Nine Cryptocurrencies
Kraken said the initial lineup will include BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK, DOGE, LTC, and AVAX. The inclusion of assets such as Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, and Avalanche extends the platform beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The products carry risk. Perpetuals can be volatile, leveraged, and sensitive to funding-rate changes. The availability of a regulated venue may appeal to traders and institutions that have avoided offshore derivatives platforms due to counterparty, compliance, or operational concerns.
Regulated Derivatives Expand in U.S. Market
The launch fits a trend of large crypto exchanges bringing advanced trading products into regulated U.S. channels. Kraken cited that most of the global perpetual futures market has operated on offshore venues.
A domestic, regulated perpetuals market could give U.S. traders access to crypto derivatives inside a compliance and supervision framework. Liquidity, funding efficiency, fees, and user experience will determine how much trading activity migrates to regulated venues.
FAQ
What did Kraken announce on May 29?
Kraken announced plans to launch CFTC-regulated perpetual futures for eligible U.S. traders, with an expected launch within 30 days. The products will be listed on Bitnomial Exchange and cleared by NinjaTrader Clearing, doing business as Kraken Derivatives US.
Which cryptocurrencies will be included in Kraken's perpetual futures?
The initial asset lineup is expected to include BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK, DOGE, LTC, and AVAX.
