Bitcoin · CoinDesk
Kraken launches U.S. perpetual futures as crypto derivatives move onshore
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Kraken began offering regulated perpetual futures to U.S. customers, marking a significant step in bringing one of crypto's most popular trading products into the country after years of activity concentrated on offshore venues.
Key facts
- In May, combined exchange volumes fell 3.45% to $4.41T; the lowest since September 2024
- UPDATE (June 15, 2026, 17:30 UTC): Adds CFTC action on shifting earlier perp-style contracts to true perps
- At launch, Kraken's perpetual futures cover major cryptocurrencies including BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, LINK, DOGE, LTC and AVAX
- The company acquired NinjaTrader in May 2025 and Bitnomial a year later to gain regulated futures infrastructure
Summary
Kraken began offering CFTC-regulated perpetual futures to U.S. customers through Kraken Pro, bringing a key crypto derivatives product into the world's largest economy. The move follows recent guidance that cleared the way for regulated platforms to list perps, and the CFTC in recent days has added to that policy to also clear a path for firms to shift perp-style futures contracts into actual true perps. The perpetual futures at Kraken, following its purchase of Bitnomial and other futures infrastructure, initially cover major cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, ether and solana, with plans to expand the range of contracts and collateral options over time.