Coinbase has received approval to offer global crypto perpetual futures to users in the United States, marking a major step forward for the country’s cryptocurrency market.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the approval will allow American traders to access a market that has largely operated outside the United States for years. He believes the move will help connect U.S. traders with global crypto liquidity through a regulated and compliant platform.
According to Armstrong, unclear regulations in the past pushed much of the crypto derivatives industry overseas. As a result, many traders turned to foreign platforms to access perpetual futures, which have become one of the most popular products in the crypto market.
Perpetual futures are similar to traditional futures contracts but do not have an expiration date. This allows traders to keep positions open for as long as they want, making them a widely used tool for leveraged trading.
Armstrong argued that many Americans continued using offshore exchanges despite regulatory restrictions, often relying on alternative methods to access these platforms. He said the new approval provides a legal and regulated option for U.S. traders who want access to the same products available internationally.
The approval follows years of discussions between Coinbase and U.S. regulators. Earlier this year, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) cleared the way for Coinbase to offer crypto perpetual futures, making it the first U.S. exchange to receive such approval.
Industry data shows that crypto perpetual futures generated more than $61 trillion in trading volume during 2025, making them the largest segment of the crypto derivatives market.
Coinbase plans to connect U.S. customers to global liquidity through Deribit, the crypto derivatives exchange it acquired for $2.9 billion earlier this year. The company also intends to launch its own U.S.-based perpetual-style futures product in July.
Armstrong described the approval as an important milestone for both Coinbase and the broader U.S. financial market. He said it will allow American traders to access advanced trading products within a regulated environment while benefiting from stronger consumer protections.
He also thanked regulators who supported the process and said Coinbase will continue working with policymakers to expand compliant access to digital asset products in the United States.
The approval is another sign that the U.S. crypto industry is gradually moving toward clearer regulations and broader access to products that have long been available in international markets.
