Kraken Pro will launch the first CFTC-regulated perpetual futures contracts in the US within 30 days. Eligible traders on Kraken Pro can trade contracts listed on Bitnomial Exchange, a CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market owned by Kraken's parent company Payward. Access will be through NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC, which does business as Kraken Derivatives US and is a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant.
Perpetual futures are the biggest product in crypto derivatives by volume — global annual trading topped $60 trillion in 2025. Until now, US traders had to use offshore platforms that don't face US regulation. This launch gives them a CFTC-supervised onshore route to get continuous leveraged exposure without fixed expiration dates. The timing isn't accidental: regulators have been tightening scrutiny on unregistered offshore offerings, and Kraken is betting that a compliant structure wins market share.
The mechanics
The setup splits roles across three regulated entities. Bitnomial Exchange (a DCM) will list and trade the perpetual contracts. NinjaTrader Clearing (an FCM) will handle clearing and customer accounts. Kraken Pro serves as the front-end trading platform. That means US clients get the same type of contract that's wildly popular elsewhere — perpetuals on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Cardano, Chainlink, Dogecoin, Litecoin, and Avalanche — but with full CFTC oversight. No offshore shell companies, no jurisdiction arbitrage.
The launch is expected within the next 30 days. Kraken hasn't yet detailed which states will be eligible or the specific margin requirements, but the company is calling this a first step. If it works, expect other exchanges to follow with their own regulated perpetual products. For now, US traders who've been sidelined from the perpetual futures market have a clear on-ramp — one that regulators approved rather than chased.
