The launch gives Aptos more access to CFTC-regulated derivatives markets and adds to Bitnomial’s altcoin futures products as more people become interested in altcoins.
Bitnomial, a crypto exchange based in Chicago, has started offering monthly futures contracts linked to Aptos’ native token on the Layer-1 blockchain. This makes APT derivatives more widely available on regulated US markets.
Bitnomial’s clearing members will be able to offer the contracts to institutional clients. Retail clients should be able to access them through the company’s Botanical platform in the coming weeks.
Institutional positioning and ETF implications
Michael Dunn, the president of Bitnomial, said that “a regulated futures market is a prerequisite for spot crypto ETF approval under the SEC’s generic listing standards.” He also said that the contracts let institutions gain APT exposure using the same derivatives infrastructure they already use for Bitcoin BTC$96,729 and Ether ETH$3,343, including portfolio margining across positions.
The corporation says that the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is in charge of the contracts.
Regulatory friction limits US crypto futures expansion
There aren’t many US-regulated crypto futures markets outside of the biggest digital assets. Bitnomial is one of the few places that offers exchange-native futures related to cryptocurrencies. However, bringing those products to market has meant dealing with a complicated and changing set of rules.
Bitnomial filed to offer XRP $2.15 futures through a self-certification with the CFTC in August 2024. However, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said that the contracts needed Bitnomial to register as a securities exchange.
In October 2025, Bitnomial sued the SEC, but they dismissed the case in March and then launched regulated XRP futures for US users later that month, saying it was because of “the SEC’s changing policies on crypto.”
US exchanges take a cautious approach to derivatives
Other US exchanges have been more gradual in their approach to regulated crypto futures.
Under CFTC rules, Coinbase Derivatives Exchange started offering institutional futures contracts related to Bitcoin (BTC$96,804) and Ether (ETH $3,346) in June 2023. However, it didn’t make retail-sized contracts available until May 2025.
Kraken launched a US derivatives platform in July 2025, enabling US dealers to trade bitcoin futures listed on CME Group. On its global platform, the exchange also offers an APT perpetual futures product.
Kraken announced in March 2025 that it would purchase NinjaTrader for about $1.5 billion. Kraken intended to enhance its derivatives capabilities by leveraging NinjaTrader’s CFTC-registered infrastructure through the purchase.