Kraken Launches U.S. Crypto Derivatives Platform, Eyes Traditional Asset Markets
Kraken has officially launched its U.S.-regulated crypto derivatives platform as it aims to broaden its reach into traditional financial markets.
The new platform, called Kraken Derivatives US, integrates crypto futures trading alongside spot markets, giving traders a streamlined interface to manage margin, risk, and positions. A key feature allows users to instantly transfer collateral between spot and futures accounts, enhancing trading efficiency.
Initially, the service is live in Vermont, West Virginia, North Dakota, Mississippi, and the District of Columbia, with Kraken planning further state rollouts, according to a post on X.
In a press release, Kraken revealed ambitions to expand its derivatives lineup later this year to include commodities, fixed income, forex, and equity futures, underscoring its push to compete with both traditional trading platforms and digital brokers.
The launch follows Kraken’s acquisition earlier this year of NinjaTrader, a CFTC-regulated futures trading platform, for $1.5 billion—a strategic move to bolster its derivatives capabilities.
Competitors are similarly expanding: Coinbase has acquired options exchange Deribit and introduced CFTC-regulated perpetual futures in the U.S., while Robinhood has purchased crypto exchange Bitstamp to broaden its digital asset services.
Alongside derivatives, Kraken is also exploring tokenized equities trading through its xStocks Alliance, highlighting its growing efforts to bridge the gap between crypto and traditional finance.
