Kraken Enters US Perpetual Futures Market with Bitnomial Acquisition

Kraken has launched perpetual futures trading in the United States, marking a significant shift in crypto derivatives access for American traders. The move follows Kraken's acquisition of Bitnomial, a CFTC-regulated exchange, clearinghouse, and brokerage.

The launch comes just weeks after US regulators approved the first sanctioned Bitcoin perpetual futures products, which have traditionally been traded on offshore exchanges such as Binance and Bybit. Perpetual futures allow traders to speculate on crypto prices without owning the asset, using funding rates to stay close to spot prices.

Kraken's entry into the market expands access to regulated crypto derivatives for US traders, who previously had limited options. The CFTC has pushed for crypto derivatives trading to move back into regulated US markets, and Kraken's launch fits this direction.