Bitnomial Shatters Barriers: First Regulated Aptos (APT) Futures Contracts Go Live

Wall Street's crypto playbook just got a major update—and it's not from the usual suspects. A regulated exchange just opened a new front for institutional traders.

The New Derivative on the Block

Bitnomial, a CFTC-regulated exchange, has launched physically-settled futures contracts for Aptos (APT). This marks the first time regulated futures for the layer-1 blockchain token have hit the market. It’s a direct bridge between traditional finance compliance and a newer generation of blockchain assets.

Why This Move Matters

For institutions, regulated futures provide a critical tool: legitimate price exposure without the operational headaches of direct custody. They allow for hedging and speculation within a familiar, supervised framework. For Aptos, it's a stamp of maturity, signaling that its ecosystem has grown large and liquid enough to warrant such a product.

The launch bypasses the lengthy ETF approval queue, offering a faster track for institutional capital to find its way into select altcoins. It’s a niche play, targeting sophisticated players who’ve been waiting for a clean, compliant entry point.

The Fine Print and the Future

Physically-settled means traders actually receive the APT tokens upon contract expiration, tying the derivative's fate directly to the spot market. It demands robust liquidity and infrastructure—a test for both the exchange and the underlying blockchain.

This isn't a mass-market product. It’s for the pros. But where the pros go, attention and capital often follow. One cynical finance veteran might note it’s another way to bet on volatility without ever having to believe in the technology’s utility—just its price.

Bitnomial’s move could spark a wave. If successful, expect other regulated venues to scramble, offering futures on the next batch of ‘institutional-grade’ tokens. The race to financialize crypto assets is accelerating, one contract at a time.

Institutional money is also flowing in: Franklin Templeton and BlackRock have already deployed tokenized funds on Aptos, which now hosts $723 million in real-world assets.

First regulated APT futures open institutional gateway

Bitnomial’s APT futures began trading on January 14 and is available through Bitnomial’s trading partner firms. After launch, institutional clients gained immediate access to trading, while retail traders will participate through Bitnomial’s Botanical platform in the coming weeks.

The futures contracts expire monthly and give traders the option to settle in either Aptos tokens or U.S. dollars. Additionally, traders can put up collateral in either crypto or dollars.

The exchange offers the first Aptos futures that are regulated in the United States. Futures products like Bitnomial’s create the necessary infrastructure for future ETF approvals as regulatory frameworks change.

“U.S.-regulated derivatives are essential for institutional adoption,” stated Solomon Tesfaye, chief business officer of Aptos, who also noted that Bitnomial’s regulated platform provides investors with the compliance framework required to access Aptos.

Aptos has seen RWA explosion

Major financial institutions have recognized Aptos’ potential for regulated applications. Built with the MOVE programming language, Aptos processed about 2 billion mainnet transactions in 2024. Monthly active users surged to over 8 million accounts with daily active addresses up to 1.77 million in December, and total value locked growing approximately 700% through 2024 to exceed $1 billion.

Franklin Templeton chose Aptos to host its On-Chain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX), while BlackRock’s BUIDL tokenized money market fund also deployed on the network. The blockchain is also the third-largest network for real-world assets, with about $723 million issued on-chain. PACT’s micro-lending and credit portfolios in emerging markets represent 78% of the RWA footprint.

Bitnomial’s milestone underscores Aptos’ maturing ecosystem at a moment when institutions seek compliant ways to tap its growth.

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