Kraken has started offering CFTC-regulated perpetual futures to eligible US customers through its Kraken Pro platform. The contracts are listed on Bitnomial, the exchange acquired by Kraken's parent company Payward.
The launch brings a major crypto derivatives product onshore after years of trading activity centered on offshore venues. Contracts initially cover Bitcoin, Ether, Solana and several other major cryptocurrencies, with plans to expand the range and collateral options later.
Perpetual futures allow traders to take long or short positions without owning the underlying assets or facing an expiration date. According to Kraken, such products generated more than $60 trillion in volume globally in 2025.
The move follows recent CFTC guidance that cleared the way for regulated platforms to offer perpetual futures. A no-action letter issued late Friday permits exchanges to convert certain perp-style contracts into true perpetual products, subject to customer protections.
Kraken's head of derivatives John Palmer said adoption could follow the path of spot Bitcoin ETFs, beginning with sophisticated traders before broader institutional participation.
