TL;DR
- On July 21, Coinbase will launch the first U.S.-regulated perpetual-style futures for Bitcoin and Ether, bringing onshore access to continuously traded, CFTC-compliant contracts.
- The exchange is debuting nano-sized futures, 0.01 BTC and 0.10 ETH, lowering the entry barrier for retail traders while letting institutions fine-tune large positions.
- With round-the-clock trading and an hourly funding-rate mechanism that mirrors spot prices, these perpetuals eliminate rollovers and offer seamless, real-time BTC/ETH exposure.
On July 21, Coinbase will roll out the first U.S.-regulated perpetual-style futures for Bitcoin and Ether, closing a long-standing gap in domestic crypto markets. These new contracts mirror the globally dominant perpetual futures structure, powerful, continuously traded instruments, while fully complying with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission rules.
By offering a homegrown alternative, Coinbase aims to lure liquidity back from offshore venues and deliver professional-grade tools to American investors.
Nano Bitcoin and Ether for Every Trader
Understanding that flexibility empowers both retail and institutional users, Coinbase is launching two “nano” contracts: 0.01 BTC and 0.10 ETH. Smaller contract sizes lower entry barriers, letting newcomers experiment with leverage while enabling whales to fine-tune large positions without excess friction.
These tiny building blocks democratize sophisticated strategies, whether you’re dollar-cost averaging, hedging exposure, or pursuing advanced arbitrage across global venues.
CFTC-Compliant, 24/7 Spot-Tracking Mechanics
Unlike traditional U.S. futures with quarterly expirations, Coinbase’s perpetual-style products never settle out; there’s no expiry date to worry about. In place of that, a mechanism for hourly funding rates aligns futures prices with spot markets, with funding being settled two times a day.
This design, combined with round-the-clock trading hours, provides a seamless, real-time link to the price fluctuations of Bitcoin and Ethereum, removing the necessity for cumbersome contract rollovers and avoiding forced liquidations at inconvenient moments.
What Traders and Institutions Can Expect
For active traders, the new offerings promise tighter spreads and deeper order books on a regulated exchange. Institutions will appreciate the cleared, onshore framework that replaces counterparty and custody risks of offshore platforms.
In the future, Coinbase intends to broaden the reach of these perpetuals to include partner platforms and retail channels, enhancing them with sophisticated analytics and portfolio management tools. As perpetual futures capture upwards of 90% of global derivatives volume, this launch could spark a seismic shift, ushering U.S. crypto markets into a new era of liquidity, capital efficiency, and compliance.
