Crypto exchange giant Kraken has officially launched regulated crypto derivatives trading in Europe, marking a significant step in its ongoing expansion beyond retail spot trading.

The offering is made available through Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CY), Kraken’s Cyprus-based subsidiary licensed by CySEC, which was acquired earlier this year. The new product suite will offer eligible clients and partners in the European Economic Area (EEA) access to both perpetual and fixed maturity crypto futures contracts — under the MiFID regulatory framework.

A Strategic Expansion Through Regulation

Kraken describes its new European offering as one of the most liquid onshore regulated venues for crypto derivatives. The exchange emphasizes its institutional-grade infrastructure, support for local fiat currencies, and flexible collateral options, all aimed at optimizing capital allocation and improving risk management.

“Europe is one of the fastest-growing regions for digital asset trading and investment,”
said Shannon Kurtas, Head of Exchange at Kraken.
“The launch of regulated derivatives in Europe is well-timed to meet this growing demand and underscores our commitment to providing trusted, compliant access to the best markets and trading opportunities.”

MiFID-Regulated Futures Now Available

The launch comes as part of Kraken’s broader strategy to offer a comprehensive and compliant trading experience in Europe. The company has been actively expanding its product stack — from acquiring NinjaTrader, a futures broker, to preparing a stocks trading platform.

Kraken first entered the regulated crypto derivatives space in 2019 and has since built what it claims to be one of the deepest global liquidity pools for crypto futures.

“Clients and partners increasingly seek comprehensive offerings within a regulated framework,” added Kurtas.
“With this launch, they can seamlessly trade futures as part of a full suite of products from one of the most well-established platforms in Europe – improving capital efficiency, access to liquidity, reliability, and enabling sophisticated strategies and position management.”

‍ PropInsider continues to track major institutional moves in the crypto and derivatives space across Europe and beyond.