Chicago-based crypto exchange Bitnomial has launched monthly futures contracts pegged to the native token of layer-1 blockchain Aptos, expanding the availability of APT derivatives on regulated US markets.
The contracts will be available to institutional clients through Bitnomial’s clearing members, with retail access expected through the company’s Botanicals platform in the coming weeks.
According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the contracts have monthly expirations and are settled in US dollars or Aptos’ native APT (APT) token, depending on the position. Monthly futures are standardized derivatives that allow traders to gain price exposure over a set period of time without holding the underlying asset.
“A regulated futures market is a prerequisite for spot crypto ETF approval under the SEC’s general listing standards,” said Michael Dunn, president of Bitnomial. He added that the contracts let institutions gain APT exposure using the same derivatives infrastructure they already use for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), including portfolio margining on positions.
According to the company, the contracts are regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
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Slow expansion of US-regulated crypto futures
While there are limited US-regulated crypto futures markets beyond the largest digital assets, Bitnomial has emerged as one of the few places that offer exchange-native futures tied to altcoins. However, bringing those products to market involves navigating a complex and evolving regulatory landscape.
In August 2024, Bitnomial applied to list XRP (XRP) futures through self-certification with the CFTC, but this was challenged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which argued that the contract required Bitnomial to be registered as a securities exchange.
After filing a lawsuit against the SEC in October 2025, Bitnomial dropped the case in March and launched regulated XRP futures for US users later that month, citing “the SEC’s evolving policies on crypto.”
Other US exchanges have taken a more incremental approach to regulated crypto futures.
Coinbase Derivatives Exchange Launches Institutional Futures Contracts Tied up Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) included under CFTC regulation in June 2023, but access not expanded to retail size Contract By May 2025.
In July 2025, Kraken launched An American derivatives platform that provides domestic traders access to cryptocurrency futures listed on the CME Group. The exchange also offers APT perpetual futures contracts on its global platform.
In March 2025, Kraken announced plans to acquire NinjaTrader for approximately $1.5 billion, a deal intended to expand its derivatives capabilities through NinjaTrader’s CFTC-registered infrastructure.
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