Kraken Breaks Ground with US Crypto Futures Launch Amid Regulatory Green Light

Kraken just flipped the switch on US-regulated crypto futures—right as Washington finally stops pretending blockchain is a passing fad.

The move comes as regulators begrudgingly acknowledge what traders knew years ago: derivatives are crypto's gateway to Wall Street's big leagues.

No more offshore gymnastics—Kraken's offering brings legit leverage to the masses. Just don't expect the SEC to start handing out participation trophies.

One small step for compliance, one giant leap for crypto's institutional invasion. Now if only they'd fix those T+2 settlement times...

The move comes as Congress passes major cryptocurrency laws, creating a more friendly environment for digital asset companies.

The new service, called Kraken Derivatives US, lets American traders access futures contracts listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) through Kraken’s main trading platform. Users can now manage both spot crypto trades and futures contracts from the same interface.

“With this launch, Kraken clients in the U.S. can now trade futures alongside one of the world’s most liquid cryptocurrency spot markets,” said Shannon Kurtas, Head of Exchange at Kraken, in the company’s official announcement.

How the NinjaTrader Deal Made This Possible

Kraken’s entry into US futures trading became possible through its $1.5 billion purchase of NinjaTrader earlier this year. NinjaTrader is a trading platform that already had the licenses needed to offer futures trading in America.

The acquisition gave Kraken access to NinjaTrader’s status as a Futures Commission Merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This regulatory approval was essential for offering derivatives trading to US customers legally.

Since March, Kraken has been working to connect NinjaTrader’s systems with its own platform. The result is a single interface where traders can MOVE money instantly between spot crypto accounts and futures trading accounts.

Timing Aligns with “Crypto Week” in Congress

Kraken’s launch happened during what Republicans called “Crypto Week” in Washington. The House of Representatives passed the GENIUS Act with strong support from both parties, creating the first major federal law governing cryptocurrency.

President TRUMP signed the GENIUS Act, which sets up rules for stablecoins – digital currencies tied to the US dollar. The House also approved the CLARITY Act, which decides whether crypto assets are securities or commodities for regulatory purposes.

This new legal framework gives crypto companies more certainty about what rules they need to follow. It also shifts more oversight to the CFTC, which many in the industry prefer over the Securities and Exchange Commission’s enforcement-heavy approach.

Growing Competition in Crypto Derivatives

The derivatives market for cryptocurrencies has grown rapidly. By 2025, experts expect total crypto derivatives trading to exceed $23 trillion.

Kraken now competes directly with established players like CME Group and Coinbase in regulated derivatives trading. CME Group reported record cryptocurrency derivatives volumes earlier this year, with average daily volume reaching 183,000 contracts worth $8.9 billion in April – up 129% from the previous year.

Coinbase has also been aggressive in this space. The company recently bought options trading marketplace Deribit for about $2.9 billion and launched its own 24/7 futures trading for US customers.

What This Means for Traders

Kraken Derivatives US offers several benefits for traders:

• Instant funding: Money moves quickly between spot and futures accounts
• Tax advantages: Futures trading may qualify for better tax treatment under 60/40 rules
• Lower costs: Kraken charges 0.5 basis points on all trades
• Deep liquidity: Access to CME’s established Bitcoin and Ethereum futures markets

The platform initially launched in five states and Washington D.C.: Vermont, West Virginia, North Dakota, Mississippi, and the nation’s capital. Kraken plans to expand to more states over time.

For now, the service only offers Bitcoin and ethereum futures, but Kraken has bigger plans. The company wants to add commodity, stock, and currency futures later this year, making it a one-stop shop for different types of trading.

Krakens Reach Expands

Kraken’s launch of US futures trading marks a significant step forward for American crypto traders. The combination of favorable new laws and the NinjaTrader acquisition has opened doors that were previously closed to most retail investors. As competition heats up in the regulated derivatives space, traders will likely benefit from better services and lower costs across the industry.