Kraken, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has launched Kraken Derivatives US, a newly regulated U.S. crypto derivatives trading platform that integrates CME-listed cryptocurrency futures directly into its Kraken Pro interface. This strategic release marks a major advancement toward combining traditional financial tools with digital asset markets while providing U.S. traders seamless access to futures contracts alongside spot crypto trading.
The initial rollout covers five U.S. jurisdictions — Vermont, West Virginia, North Dakota, Mississippi, and Washington, D.C. — with plans to expand to more states in the near future. By enabling traders to manage both futures and spot positions in one unified interface with instant collateral transfers, Kraken Derivatives US enhances capital efficiency and risk management within a fully regulated framework. This integration offers institutional and retail clients the ability to deploy advanced trading strategies without leaving the familiar Kraken Pro environment.
The platform’s launch is a direct result of Kraken’s $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader, a retail futures trading provider and CFTC-regulated clearing firm, completed earlier in 2025. Leveraging NinjaTrader’s infrastructure allows Kraken to not only provide a broad suite of crypto futures but also pave the way for expanding into additional asset classes such as commodities, fixed income, foreign exchange (FX), and equity futures later this year.
This move positions Kraken among the forefront of crypto exchanges aiming to create multi-asset trading venues that unify digital and traditional market offerings. It also reflects a rising trend in the crypto industry toward regulatory compliance and institutional-grade product development amid increasing U.S. regulatory scrutiny. Kraken’s Head of Exchange, Shannon Kurtas, emphasized that Kraken Derivatives US enriches the trading experience by allowing users to access digital and traditional assets side by side “without compromising on features, performance or liquidity”.
In addition to crypto derivatives, Kraken has recently broadened its product lineup with commission-free equities trading, providing access to over 11,000 stocks and ETFs with 24/7 availability, and has announced tokenized equities offerings. These steps are part of Kraken’s vision to become a comprehensive, unified marketplace bridging crypto and traditional financial assets.
Key highlights of Kraken Derivatives US launch:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial Availability | Vermont, West Virginia, North Dakota, Mississippi, Washington, D.C. |
| Products Offered | CME-listed cryptocurrency futures (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, etc.) |
| Platform | Integrated with Kraken Pro for spot and futures trading |
| Collateral Management | Instant funding transfers between spot and futures |
| Regulatory Oversight | CFTC-regulated via NinjaTrader Clearing LLC, member of NFA |
| Planned Expansion | Commodity, equity, FX, and fixed income futures later in 2025 |
| Strategic Acquisition | $1.5 billion purchase of NinjaTrader futures platform |
Kraken’s entry into regulated U.S. crypto derivatives trading underscores the increasing institutionalization of digital assets and the convergence between conventional and crypto markets. The launch not only expands Kraken’s market offering but also raises the competitive bar as exchanges race to unify asset classes under regulatory-compliant ecosystems.
