Following NinjaTrader Acquisition, Kraken Opens Access to CME-Listed Crypto Futures

Kraken has launched Kraken Derivatives US, a regulated service offering U.S. clients direct access to CME-listed cryptocurrency futures. The move follows Kraken’s acquisition of retail futures broker NinjaTrader, a deal that laid the foundation for its entry into the U.S. derivatives market.

The new integration, available via Kraken Pro, allows traders to manage both spot and futures positions from a single interface, marking a major expansion of the company’s U.S. operations.

CME Futures Now Available to U.S. Clients

The service introduces crypto derivatives to Kraken’s American client base, providing access to one of the most liquid cryptocurrency futures markets globally. Instant collateral transfers between spot and futures balances aim to support active strategies and efficient risk management.

“With this launch, Kraken clients in the U.S. can now trade futures alongside one of the world’s most liquid cryptocurrency spot markets,” commented Shannon Kurtas, the Head of Exchange at Kraken. “It’s a meaningful step in giving traders broad market access and increased capital efficiency within a regulated and high-performance environment.”

The derivatives rollout comes amid Kraken’s broader effort to position itself as a multi-asset trading venue. In April, the firm introduced commission-free equities trading in the U.S., covering over 11,000 stocks and ETFs. More recently, it unveiled plans to support tokenized equities as part of its product expansion.

NinjaTrader Acquisition Sets the Stage

Kraken’s entry into regulated U.S. derivatives follows its acquisition of retail futures broker NinjaTrader. That deal provided the infrastructure necessary to support crypto derivatives trading in compliance with U.S. regulations.

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The company plans to expand further later this year by adding commodity, fixed income, FX, and equity futures, positioning Kraken as a one-stop platform for both digital and traditional assets.

In May, cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced the launch of regulated derivatives trading under the European Union’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive. The move allows retail and institutional investors across the European Economic Area to access perpetual and fixed maturity crypto futures contracts via Kraken’s platform.

The rollout follows Kraken’s acquisition of a Cypriot investment firm earlier in the year, which secured the exchange a MiFID license approved by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. Kraken acquired NinjaTrader, the prominent U.S. futures trading platform, after announcing the $1.5 billion transaction in March.