The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued a policy statement setting out its approach to listing perpetual contracts and, at the same time, issued an order permitting a DCM to list as a futures contract a perpetual contract that references the spot price of bitcoin. The release combines a specific approval for a bitcoin-referenced product with broader guidance on how the Commission will assess perpetual contracts. The statement says perpetual contracts have unique characteristics and can vary depending on the underlying asset they reference. For perpetual contracts tied to asset classes not contemplated in the order, the Commission considers the case-by-case review process under Commission Regulation 40.3 to be the appropriate route for listing. The policy statement will be published in the Federal Register.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission2026-05-29
Commodity Futures Trading Commission issues policy on perpetual contract listings and permits a bitcoin spot price linked futures contract on a DCM
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued a policy statement on its approach to listing perpetual contracts and, concurrently, approved a designated contract market’s listing of a bitcoin spot-referenced perpetual futures contract. The Commission highlighted the unique features of perpetual contracts and stated that perpetual contracts on asset classes not covered by the order should be listed via case-by-case review under Commission Regulation 40.3.