- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved the first fully regulated perpetual Bitcoin futures contract in the United States:

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced its approval to list a fully regulated perpetual Bitcoin (BTC) futures contract, according to a post published by the Chair, Mike Selleck, on Friday. The approval centers around the BTCPERP contract offered by Calshi, which is a perpetual futures product with no fixed expiration date.

- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) gives the green light to the domestic perpetual Bitcoin futures market:
Chairman Michael Selleck described this development as "a significant step forward," placing it within broader efforts to make the U.S. a global hub for innovation in digital assets.

Participants from the U.S. have been largely excluded or forced to access these tools through less regulated channels, leading to fragmented liquidity and reduced competitiveness of local firms.

Tareq Mansour, CEO of Calshi, stated: "This marks Calshi's evolution from a leading prediction market company to a next-generation derivatives exchange."

The newly approved products will operate under strict compliance requirements, including leverage controls, reporting obligations, and investor protection standards.

Chairman Selleck wrote: "Today’s move to issue perpetual crypto asset contracts reflects the CFTC’s commitment to promoting responsible innovation while ensuring these new products are traded on regulated exchanges that protect customers and market integrity."

Calshi aims to launch perpetual contracts for more than a dozen cryptocurrencies, pending regulatory review.

This licensing follows the recent regulatory coordination between the CFTC and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In March, both agencies issued joint guidance clarifying the classification of digital assets and establishing a more coordinated regulatory framework.

The Coinbase platform received approval to expand user access to global crypto derivatives.

In related developments, the CFTC also issued guidance allowing Coinbase Financial Markets to provide clients with access to global futures and perpetual options through its subsidiaries, broadening compliant avenues for participation in crypto derivatives.

Under this framework, U.S. clients can access foreign crypto derivatives markets through a single Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) regulated by the CFTC, reducing reliance on unofficial or unregulated channels.

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, wrote on X: "Until now, U.S. users have been deprived of access to about 80% of the global crypto markets (perpetual futures and options). But that won't last! Coinbase is the first and only regulated platform capable of connecting U.S. users to global crypto options and perpetual futures."

Clients will also be able to access major platforms like Deribit, which accounts for a significant share of open positions in global Bitcoin options.

This decision is expected to pave the way for additional listings by other registered trading platforms with the CFTC, potentially strengthening the U.S. position in the crypto derivatives market.
$BTC