Kraken has just reached a major new milestone by launching Kraken Perps (Kraken perpetual contracts), available since September 11, 2025, in select regions for eligible clients worldwide. This initiative marks a significant democratization of crypto derivatives trading, previously reserved for experienced traders.
Kraken Perps offers a simple and flexible way to trade on future price movements — without needing to own the underlying asset — directly from the Kraken app. Unlike the existing offering via Kraken Pro, this new solution aims to be more accessible and intuitive for everyday investors like the others campaigns.
Kraken compares its perpetual contracts to a sports bet between friends on a season’s champion, but applied to crypto markets. Users can:
The launch of Kraken Perps aims to tap into the crypto perpetual futures market, valued at $515 billion. According to 2025 data, the top five centralized perpetual exchanges collectively recorded $58.5 trillion in trading volume, making 2025 the most active year in crypto futures trading history.
This explosive growth is explained by several factors:
Kraken Perps was designed to be intuitive and approachable, with clean interfaces, straightforward language, and helpful features. The goal: enable retail investors to trade with less complexity and more confidence.
Aware of the risks inherent in derivatives, Kraken has integrated several safety mechanisms:
Kraken Perps was built with security, transparency, and education at its core, recognizing that these instruments are not suitable for all investor profiles.
Kraken Perps is available in select regions for eligible clients worldwide. This cautious approach reflects the regulatory complexity of derivatives according to jurisdictions.
Respecting local regulations remains crucial:
Kraken plans to continue expanding access, refining the experience, and delivering the right tools needed to trade markets effectively. Expected developments include:
This launch is part of Kraken’s multi-asset strategy and supports 24/7 activity, in preparation for a potential IPO planned for 2026.
Kraken Perps represents a major shift in making crypto derivatives accessible to everyday traders. By democratizing perpetual contracts, Kraken is opening up advanced trading strategies that were previously limited to institutional players.
However, this accessibility comes with new challenges. These complex financial instruments require a solid understanding of the risks involved. Kraken’s cautious approach – featuring protective mechanisms and careful client selection – shows the crypto sector is maturing.
This launch should boost competition among exchanges and pave the way for broader institutional adoption, ultimately benefiting end users with better tools and lower fees.
