Kraken Parent Filed for Single-Stock Futures

The firm seeks to bring leveraged equity-linked trading to U.S. customers with 24/5 access.

Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Investing

Isometric editorial illustration featuring interlocking steel gears and crystalline structures, representing leveraged financial market mechanics. — Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has filed to offer single-stock perpetual futures to U.S. traders through a new partnership with Bitnomial. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has filed to offer single-stock perpetual futures to traders in the United States. The proposed product aims to allow investors to hold leveraged positions indefinitely without expiration dates.

Why it matters

The introduction of this product would provide U.S. traders with access to equity-linked derivatives that operate outside of traditional market hours. This move follows Kraken’s acquisition of Bitnomial, which holds the regulatory licenses necessary to clear these trades.

The firm plans to launch with 10 equities available for trading 24/5. This follows an acquisition of Bitnomial completed in May 2026 for a maximum price of $550 million.

The players

Payward

The parent company of the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken.

Kraken

A global cryptocurrency exchange that provides digital asset trading and custody services.

Bitnomial

A derivatives exchange operator that holds CFTC-designated contract market and clearinghouse licenses.

The details

The product uses funding payments to keep prices anchored to the spot market, allowing for leveraged positions that do not have set expiration dates. Infrastructure for these trades will be provided by Bitnomial, which possesses a CFTC-designated contract market license and a clearinghouse license. While Kraken already offers similar equity-linked products in over 110 countries, this application represents an attempt to expand the capability into the U.S. market.

May 2026: Kraken completed the acquisition of Bitnomial.
June 2026: Kraken launched regulated crypto perpetual futures.
September 18, 2026: Payward filed the application for single-stock futures.

Money Landscape

This filing reflects a broader industry push to bring perpetual futures, which are common in global crypto markets, into the regulated U.S. financial landscape. It specifically tests the limits of the CFTC-designated contract market license framework for equity-linked assets.

These instruments carry significant risk due to the nature of leveraged positions and should be carefully evaluated against your personal financial goals. Investors interested in these products should consult a qualified financial professional to understand the mechanics of perpetual futures.

The takeaway

Perpetual futures offer a way to maintain market exposure without needing to manage expiration dates or contract rollovers. As firms like Payward, Coinbase, and Crypto.com pursue these offerings, monitor regulatory updates regarding the approval of individual equity-linked products.