BitMEX Reports Surge in Traditional Finance Perpetual Swaps Trading Volumes

BitMEX has released its Q1 2026 derivatives report, detailing a sharp increase in trading activity for traditional finance perpetual swaps (TradFi Perps). The report attributes the growth to increased demand for tokenized commodities and equities, with weekly trading volumes reaching $30.7 billion.

The report highlights the significant rise in commodity perpetuals, which grew from 0.03% of total crypto derivatives volume in December 2025 to 1.72% by the end of Q1 2026. Precious metals and crude oil trading accelerated in March amid geopolitical tensions, reaching $6.9 billion in weekly volume.

Equity perpetuals also saw significant growth, rising more than 900% to $4.9 billion in weekly volume. Activity was concentrated in crypto-adjacent equities and major technology stocks, reflecting continued convergence between digital asset markets and traditional finance instruments.