Kraken Unveils U.S. Derivatives Platform, Prepares to Add Commodity and Stock Futures

Kraken Debuts U.S. Crypto Derivatives Platform, Sets Sights on Broader Financial Markets

Crypto exchange Kraken has launched its U.S.-regulated crypto derivatives trading platform as it seeks to expand into traditional asset classes like commodities and equities.

The newly unveiled platform, Kraken Derivatives US, integrates futures trading directly with spot crypto markets, providing traders with a single interface to manage margin requirements and risk exposure. One key feature allows users to instantly transfer collateral between spot and futures accounts, enhancing capital efficiency and trading flexibility.

Currently, the service is live in Vermont, West Virginia, North Dakota, Mississippi, and the District of Columbia, with Kraken planning to expand availability to additional states in the near future, according to an announcement on X.

Kraken also confirmed plans to extend its derivatives offerings later this year to include commodities, fixed income, foreign exchange, and equity futures, signaling its ambition to compete across a broader spectrum of financial products.

This move comes as crypto exchanges increasingly aim to create unified trading platforms that bridge digital assets and traditional markets, responding to growing competition from both traditional trading venues and digital brokers.

Earlier this year, Kraken strengthened its derivatives capabilities by acquiring NinjaTrader, a CFTC-regulated futures trading platform, for $1.5 billion. Other major exchanges are pursuing similar expansions: Coinbase acquired Deribit, an options trading platform, and launched CFTC-regulated perpetual futures in the U.S., while Robinhood purchased Bitstamp to deepen its presence in crypto trading.

Beyond derivatives, Kraken has also ventured into tokenized equities trading through its xStocks Alliance, reflecting its strategy to diversify its offerings and connect crypto with traditional finance.