Crypto Perpetual Futures May Launch Soon in US: CFTC

CFTC’s Mersinger: Crypto Perpetual Futures Could Go Live “Very Soon” in the US

Crypto perpetual futures may soon be legally traded onshore in the United States, according to outgoing Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner Summer Mersinger.

Speaking to Bloomberg TV on May 22, Mersinger stated that regulatory approvals for perpetual crypto futures contracts are progressing quickly. “We’re seeing some applications, and I believe we’ll see some of those products trading live very soon,” she said, expressing optimism about bringing the trading of such products back within U.S. jurisdiction.

Perpetual futures allow traders to speculate on the price of cryptocurrencies without actually owning them. Unlike traditional futures, these contracts have no expiration date and often involve high leverage. Currently, they are banned in the U.S. and are mostly traded on offshore exchanges such as Binance, OKX, and Bybit — with Binance alone processing nearly $95 billion in daily trading volume.

Summer Mersinger on Bloomberg TV. Source: YouTube

Mersinger emphasized that U.S.-regulated crypto derivatives would be a major step forward for the industry, stating it would “benefit markets broadly” and reinforce the legitimacy of the asset class.

Her remarks come as U.S. lawmakers move forward with the GENIUS stablecoin bill, signaling increased acceptance of crypto within the financial system. “This asset class is clearly here to stay,” she noted.

Mersinger will depart the CFTC at the end of May to take over as CEO of the Blockchain Association, a leading crypto industry trade group. She will replace Kristin Smith on June 2.

Commenting on the future of crypto regulation, Mersinger said, “We have a very strong incoming [CFTC] chairman who has a great voice for the crypto industry,” and expressed her hopes to further support the industry in her new role.