Tl:dr:

• Coinbase Derivatives Exchange (formerly FairX) will launch its first listed crypto derivatives product on June 27, 2022: Nano Bitcoin futures contract (BIT), with each contract sized at 1/100th of a bitcoin.
• Upon the June 27th launch, BIT futures will be accessible for trading via several leading third-party retail brokers and clearing firms.
• Coinbase Financial Markets is awaiting approval for its license to operate a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) to be able to offer futures directly to our clients.

By Boris Ilyevsky, Head of Coinbase Derivatives Exchange

Coinbase Derivatives Exchange, a CFTC regulated Designated Contract Markets (DCM) futures exchange, will launch its first listed crypto derivatives product on June 27: Nano Bitcoin futures (BIT). Initially, BIT futures will be available for trading via several leading broker intermediaries, including retail brokers EdgeClear, Ironbeam, NinjaTrader, Optimus Futures, Stage 5, and Tradovate, and clearing firms ABN AMRO, ADMIS, Advantage Futures, ED&F Man, Ironbeam and Wedbush. Coinbase is awaiting regulatory approval on its own futures commission merchant (FCM) license so we can offer margined futures contracts directly to our clients.

Transforming FairX into Coinbase Derivatives Exchange married a world-class team with deep expertise across product development, market structure, compliance, market-leading exchange technology and a proven ability to deliver listed futures, with Coinbase’s commitment of building products that are easy-to-understand, fair, accessible, efficient, and transparent.

Around-the-clock trading, lower upfront investment, leverage and the ease of going long and short are some reasons why futures are a popular product for traders. Our BIT Futures contract will offer the same benefits but is built with the retail trader in mind. At 1/100th of the size of a Bitcoin it requires less upfront capital than traditional futures products and creates a real opportunity for significant expansion of retail participation in US regulated crypto futures markets.

The crypto derivatives market represents $3Tn* in volume worldwide and we believe that additional product development and accessibility will unlock significant growth. It’s more important than ever to bring the benefits of futures to a broader market so that all types of traders can access regulated U.S. crypto derivatives markets to express their views or hedge their underlying crypto assets.

To become one of our supporting brokers, market makers, clearing firms, or vendors, please email futures.sales@coinbase.com.

*January 2022, https://www.ft.com/content/364dee59-fb51-400b-acd2-808d4ec41ab3