Kraken Launches Perpetual Contracts
Kraken has just reached a major new milestone by launching Kraken Perps (Kraken perpetual contracts), available since September 11, 2025, in select regions for eligible clients worldwide. This initiative marks a significant democratization of crypto derivatives trading, previously reserved for experienced traders.
In brief
- Kraken launches Kraken Perps, offering retail investors access to crypto perpetual contracts for the first time.
- The new feature simplifies derivatives trading directly from the Kraken app, with intuitive tools and risk controls.
- The perpetuals market surpassed $515 billion, making 2025 a record year for crypto futures.
- Eligible users in select regions can trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and major assets with USD collateral.
- This launch strengthens Kraken’s position ahead of its planned 2026 IPO and intensifies competition with Binance, OKX, and Bybit.
What is Kraken Perps?
Kraken Perps offers a simple and flexible way to trade on future price movements — without needing to own the underlying asset — directly from the Kraken app. Unlike the existing offering via Kraken Pro, this new solution aims to be more accessible and intuitive for everyday investors like the others campaigns.
The Simplified Concept
Kraken compares its perpetual contracts to a sports bet between friends on a season’s champion, but applied to crypto markets. Users can:
- Bet bullish (“Increase”) on an asset they believe is undervalued
- Bet bearish (“Decrease”) on a token they consider overvalued
- Adjust their position in real-time according to their conviction
- Exit at any time without a fixed expiration date
Technical Operation
| Feature | Kraken Perps | Traditional Spot Trading |
| Asset Ownership | Not required | Mandatory |
| Leverage | Available | Limited |
| Direction | Up or down | Up only |
| Duration | Unlimited | Immediate |
| Collateral | USD (+ others coming) | Concerned asset |
A $515 Billion Market
The launch of Kraken Perps aims to tap into the crypto perpetual futures market, valued at $515 billion. According to 2025 data, the top five centralized perpetual exchanges collectively recorded $58.5 trillion in trading volume, making 2025 the most active year in crypto futures trading history.
This explosive growth is explained by several factors:
- Growing appetite for crypto derivatives
- Demand for exposure without asset custody
- Ability to profit from bear markets
- Attractive leverage to maximize gains
Accessibility and Security at the Core
Simplified Interface
Kraken Perps was designed to be intuitive and approachable, with clean interfaces, straightforward language, and helpful features. The goal: enable retail investors to trade with less complexity and more confidence.
Protection Measures
Aware of the risks inherent in derivatives, Kraken has integrated several safety mechanisms:
- Customizable stop-losses to automatically limit losses
- Educational tools being deployed
- Transparent risk disclosure
- Strict selection of eligible clients
Kraken Perps was built with security, transparency, and education at its core, recognizing that these instruments are not suitable for all investor profiles.
Impact on the Crypto Ecosystem
Democratization of Advanced Strategies
The launch of Kraken Perps democratizes access to sophisticated trading strategies:
- Portfolio hedging: protection against downturns
- Directional trading: exposure to market trends
- Arbitrage: exploitation of price gaps
- Risk management: position diversification
Increased Competition
Kraken joins a market dominated by players like Binance, OKX, or Bybit. This new competition could:
- Reduce trading fees
- Improve user interfaces
- Develop innovative new products
- Strengthen sector regulation
Geographic and Regulatory Expansion
Selective Availability
Kraken Perps is available in select regions for eligible clients worldwide. This cautious approach reflects the regulatory complexity of derivatives according to jurisdictions.
Compliance Issues
Respecting local regulations remains crucial:
- United States: restrictions on perpetuals for retail clients
- Europe: MiCA framework
- Asia: varied approaches by country
| Region | Regulatory Status | Kraken Perps Accessibility |
| European Union | MiCA Framework | Available (selective) |
| United States | Strict restrictions | Not confirmed |
| Asia-Pacific | Variable by country | Available (selective) |
Future Prospects
Product Expansion
Kraken plans to continue expanding access, refining the experience, and delivering the right tools needed to trade markets effectively. Expected developments include:
- New collateral assets beyond USD
- Progressive geographic expansion
- Advanced features for experienced traders
- Optimized mobile integration
Strategic Positioning
This launch is part of Kraken’s multi-asset strategy and supports 24/7 activity, in preparation for a potential IPO planned for 2026.
What This Changes for End Users
For retail investors, Kraken Perps represents:
- Simplified access to institutional strategies
- An alternative to traditional spot trading
- Opportunities for profits in all market environments
- Increased responsibility facing amplified risks
For the crypto ecosystem, this initiative:
- Professionalizes the retail derivatives offering
- Intensifies competition between platforms
- Raises awareness of complex product risks
- Prepares mainstream institutional adoption
Kraken Perps represents a major shift in making crypto derivatives accessible to everyday traders. By democratizing perpetual contracts, Kraken is opening up advanced trading strategies that were previously limited to institutional players.
However, this accessibility comes with new challenges. These complex financial instruments require a solid understanding of the risks involved. Kraken’s cautious approach – featuring protective mechanisms and careful client selection – shows the crypto sector is maturing.
This launch should boost competition among exchanges and pave the way for broader institutional adoption, ultimately benefiting end users with better tools and lower fees.
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