Coinbase Shakes Up Crypto Markets: Perpetual Futures Launch July 21

Wall Street's worst nightmare just got a crypto upgrade.

Coinbase is flipping the script on traditional finance with its new perpetual-style futures—launching July 21. No expiry dates, no mercy for short sellers.

Why it matters: While banks still argue about blockchain, Coinbase is eating their lunch. Again.

The details: These aren't your grandpa's futures contracts. Perpetuals let traders ride trends indefinitely—perfect for crypto's 24/7 volatility. Expect liquidations, leverage wars, and at least one hedge fund blaming 'market manipulation' by retail traders.

The kicker: Coinbase timed this perfectly. Just as regulators finally admit they'll never understand DeFi, the exchange drops a product that makes crypto derivatives accessible to the masses. Cue the institutional FOMO.

Bottom line: Another step toward crypto eating traditional finance—with zero apologies. (And yes, the suits will still call it a 'bubble'... right up until their bonuses depend on it.)

Coinbase Unveils US Perpetual-Style Crypto Futures Contracts

Coinbase will be launching two futures contracts on July 21: nano Bitcoin Perpetual-Style Futures (0.01 BTC) and nano Ether Perpetual-Style Futures (0.10 ETH). The futures are designed as long-dated futures contracts with 5-year expirations and 24/7 trading hours. They incorporate a funding rate mechanism to keep futures prices closely aligned with spot markets. Unlike traditional US futures, these contracts are meant to stay as close to spot prices as possible and are far more suitable for long-term positions.

Additionally, the Coinbase perpetual-style crypto futures contracts will provide regulated exposure to the crypto market while offering flexibility in position sizing and capital efficiency. “You asked for it, we built it. Perpetual-style crypto futures are coming to the US on July 21,” wrote Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on X.

The CFTC approval is a crucial factor: with the government agency approving Coinbase’s product quickly, investors won’t have to worry about compliance or restraints. CEO Brian Armstrong also announced the futures as “starting with BTC and ETH,” potentially hinting at products suitable for other coins like SOL and XRP in the future. Coinbase became the first CFTC-regulated derivatives platform in the US to offerlast month.