Bitnomial Opens Regulated Futures Market for Aptos in the U.S.

Bitnomial Launches Regulated Futures Market for Aptos in the U.S.

Chicago-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitnomial has launched monthly futures contracts linked to the native token of the Aptos blockchain, expanding the availability of APT derivatives on regulated markets in the United States. These contracts will be accessible to institutional clients through Bitnomial's clearing members, with retail access expected in the coming weeks via the company's Botanical platform.

According to a public announcement, the contracts feature monthly expirations and can be settled in U.S. dollars or APT tokens, depending on the held position. Monthly futures are standardized derivatives that allow traders to gain price exposure over a defined period without owning the underlying asset. Michael Dunn, president of Bitnomial, stated that "a regulated futures market is a prerequisite for the approval of crypto spot ETFs under the SEC's general listing standards," adding that these contracts allow institutions to gain exposure to APT using the same derivatives infrastructure already employed for Bitcoin and Ether, including portfolio margining on positions.

The contracts are regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), according to the company. Additionally, the slow expansion of the regulated crypto futures market in the U.S. remains limited, with Bitnomial emerging as one of the few platforms offering native futures linked to altcoins. The launch of these products has involved navigating a complex and continually evolving regulatory landscape.