Crypto exchange Kraken is moving decisively into traditional finance, announcing that its regulated U.S. derivatives arm now provides direct access to CME Group’s flagship futures markets.
The rollout extends Kraken’s offering beyond digital assets to include contracts tied to equity indices, commodities, and foreign exchange, effectively transforming it into a multi‑asset trading platform that connects crypto traders to the world’s largest regulated derivatives marketplace.
Expanding from crypto to traditional markets
In its Oct. 9 announcement, the exchange said the integration spans products listed under CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and COMEX, giving clients access to major futures contracts such as the S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow Jones, and Russell indices, as well as commodities like gold, oil, silver, rice, soybeans, and cattle.
Foreign exchange futures linked to EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, and other major currencies are also supported. Kraken called the initiative a “bridge between the world of digital assets and traditional finance,” noting it continues to offer CME‑listed Bitcoin and Ethereum futures, with Solana (SOL) to follow.
🍚 Do you like rice? You can trade it now.
— Kraken Pro (@krakenpro) October 9, 2025
🐄 Moo-re into cattle? Futures got you.
🌕 Feeling precious? Gold’s on the menu.
TradFi CME futures → LIVE now!
🇺🇸 Only for US users 🇺🇸
👉 Start trading: https://t.co/0CjUGFR3Ft pic.twitter.com/y6hT3w0BVK
Designed for professional and retail traders
The new integration includes professional‑grade order tools, allowing users to modify active orders without forfeiting their priority in the book, a feature key to complex hedging and high‑frequency strategies.
In terms of data and costs, Kraken has opted for ultra‑competitive pricing. Funded, verified non‑professional clients receive free Level 1 CME market data each month, while professional users can subscribe to Level 2 (full depth) data for $140 per exchange. Trading fees are set at just 0.5 basis points (bps) per contract, positioning Kraken among the lowest‑cost futures providers in the U.S. market.
Getting started requires funding a Kraken Derivatives US account via USD transfer from a spot wallet before selecting a market and data plan.
Built on the NinjaTrader acquisition
The derivatives expansion builds upon Kraken’s $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader, completed earlier this year, regarded as the largest merger between a crypto exchange and a traditional retail futures platform. The deal supplied both the regulatory licensing and trading infrastructure needed to connect with CME’s system of regulated venues.
Industry analysts view the move as the outcome of Kraken’s longer‑term strategy to merge its crypto capabilities with full‑spectrum derivatives trading. The company launched its first CME‑listed crypto futures for Bitcoin and Ethereum in mid‑2025 and plans further growth into metals, FX, and equity products before year‑end.
Positioning ahead of a potential IPO
According to the Hodlfm report, Kraken is preparing for a potential initial public offering valued near $20 billion. Expanding into regulated futures markets could strengthen its case to investors and help position it directly against established brokerages such as Robinhood, which are also moving into commodities and tokenized assets.
Both Kraken and Robinhood are competing internationally in the tokenized equities segment, one of the fastest‑growing areas at the intersection of blockchain and traditional finance.
Toward 24‑hour markets
One open question concerns trading hours. CME currently operates on a 24/5 schedule, though its chief executive has suggested plans to expand crypto derivatives trading toward round‑the‑clock access. Kraken has not specified whether it will adopt similar hours, but extending to 24/7 trading would align with its crypto market structure and offer traders constant exposure across asset classes.
Gunel Ismayilova
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