Bitnomial Launches First U.S.-Regulated Futures for Aptos

Bitnomial has introduced the first-ever U.S.-regulated futures contracts linked to Aptos (APT), enhancing institutional access to the Layer 1 blockchain ecosystem. The contracts, which started trading on January 14, provide a reliable platform for both institutional and retail traders in price discovery and risk management.

Key Takeaways

Bitnomial has launched U.S.-regulated futures contracts for Aptos (APT).
Trading commenced on January 14, offering a platform for price discovery and risk management.
The contracts can be settled in U.S. dollars or APT, with margin trading available in crypto or USD.
This launch addresses a significant gap in the U.S. derivatives market and is crucial for future crypto ETF approvals.
Aptos, known for its high-speed transactions, aligns with the regulatory standards needed for institutional adoption.

Aptos

A Regulated Market for APT Exposure

Bitnomial's new APT futures contracts come with monthly expirations and can be settled in either U.S. dollars or APT, depending on the trader's position. Traders can post margins in either cryptocurrency or USD through Bitnomial Clearinghouse, LLC, and the contracts can be accessed via Bitnomial Exchange Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) clearing members.

Michael Dunn, the president of Bitnomial Exchange, highlighted that this launch addresses a critical void in the U.S. derivatives market. He noted that having a regulated futures market is a vital step toward obtaining spot crypto exchange-traded fund approvals under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s listing standards. With these APT futures now active, institutional participants can gain exposure to Aptos through the same regulated infrastructure that they depend on for Bitcoin and Ether derivatives, including portfolio margining across their positions.

Institutional Infrastructure Meets Aptos

Aptos operates as a Layer 1 blockchain engineered for rapid finality and high transaction throughput. Utilizing the Move programming language and a parallel execution engine, the network has garnered increasing attention from institutions that are keen on exploring scalable blockchain applications.

Solomon Tesfaye, the chief business officer at Aptos Labs, emphasized the importance of U.S.-regulated derivatives infrastructure for fostering institutional adoption. He noted that Bitnomial's CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse offers the necessary compliance, custody, and risk management frameworks that sophisticated market participants need to engage with Aptos.

Expanding the Crypto Complex

The launch of APT futures significantly extends Bitnomial's Crypto Complex, which gives U.S. market participants access to various digital asset derivatives. Contracts that are delivery-settled and listed on Bitnomial Exchange allow for margining with digital assets, a structure that promotes greater capital efficiency compared to traditional cash-only margining.

This approach enables traders to effectively manage exposure across an array of crypto derivatives products within a single regulated venue.

What Comes Next

Currently, APT futures are available for trading for institutional clients, with retail access anticipated in the upcoming weeks via Botanical, Bitnomial’s retail trading platform. Looking forward, Bitnomial has plans to further enhance its Aptos-related offerings by introducing perpetual futures and options, which will deepen the market for regulated APT derivatives in the United States.

Bitnomial is based in Chicago and operates a comprehensive suite of CFTC-regulated exchange, clearinghouse, and clearing brokerage entities.