Bitnomial Opens First Us-regulated Futures Market For Aptos 2026 - Guide

The launch expands Aptos’ reach in CFTC-regulated derivatives markets and adds to Bitnomial’s altcoin futures offerings as investor interest in altcoins grows.

Chicago-based crypto exchange Bitnomial has launched monthly futures contracts tied to the Layer-1 blockchain Aptos’ native token, marking the first APT derivatives product regulated under the US oversight.

The contracts will be available to institutional clients through Bitnomial’s clearing members, with retail access expected in the coming weeks via the company’s Botanical platform.

According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the contracts feature monthly expirations and settle in either 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 defined period without holding the underlying asset.

“A regulated futures market is a prerequisite for spot crypto ETF approval under the SEC’s generic listing standards,” Bitnomial president Michael Dunn said, adding that the contracts let institutions gain APT exposure using the same derivatives infrastructure they use for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), including portfolio margining across positions.

The launch marks Aptos’ first derivatives market regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), according to the company, while other Aptos-linked derivatives available to US traders are listed as offshore products.

Related: CFTC issues no-action letter to Bitnomial, clearing way for event contracts

US-regulated crypto futures markets beyond the largest digital assets remain limited, with Bitnomial emerging as one of the few venues offering exchange-native futures tied to altcoins. Bringing those products to market, however, has involved navigating a complex and evolving regulatory landscape.

In August 2024, Bitnomial filed to list XRP (XRP) futures through a self-certification with the CFTC, but was challenged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which said the contracts required Bitnomial to register as a securities exchange.

After filing a lawsuit against the SEC in October 2025, Bitnomial dropped the case in March and went on to launch regulated XRP futures for US users later that month, citing “the SEC’s evolving policies on crypto.”

Source: CoinTelegraph