20.05.2025
Artem Shendetskii
News Author and Editor
20.05.2025

Kraken launches regulated crypto derivatives trading in Europe

Kraken launches regulated crypto derivatives trading in Europe Kraken launches EU-regulated crypto derivatives via Cyprus license

​Kraken is officially rolling out regulated crypto derivatives trading across the European Economic Area (EEA), following approval under the European Union’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II). 

Through its newly acquired Cyprus-based investment firm, Greenfield Wealth, Kraken now holds a license from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), opening up access to perpetual and fixed maturity futures contracts for both retail and institutional users in the region, reports CoinDesk.

Shannon Kurtas, Kraken’s head of exchange, emphasized that this is not the launch of a new venue or product line. “These are existing contracts that already command daily volumes between $1 billion and $2 billion,” she said, adding that European clients will benefit from established liquidity, efficient execution costs, and robust fiat on- and off-ramps.

Europe sees increased crypto derivatives competition

Kraken’s expansion reflects a broader push among major exchanges to cement their derivatives presence in Europe. U.S.-listed Coinbase recently acquired Deribit, one of the largest global derivatives platforms, while Gemini and Bitstamp have also entered the European derivatives market. Meanwhile, FTX EU’s MiFID II license was recently picked up by BackPack, highlighting the value of regulatory footholds across the bloc.

Kraken has also made strategic acquisitions outside of Europe to bolster its derivatives capabilities. In the U.S., the firm acquired NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion, and in 2019 it took over Crypto Facilities, a crypto futures platform regulated by the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority.

Embed and infrastructure focus widen Kraken’s reach

Kraken’s recent launch of its Embed crypto connectivity tool is another key pillar of its strategy. The application allows European neobanks and fintech firms to offer both spot and derivatives products directly to clients, enabling a seamless user experience and deeper market integration.

Kurtas noted that acquiring licenses in agile jurisdictions like Cyprus and Malta has become standard for well-capitalized crypto firms. “There’s a nexus of individuals, firms and know-how in these regions, particularly with a background in FX and CFD derivatives,” she said. Kraken’s approach mirrors that of other leading firms aiming to deliver regulated access to increasingly sophisticated digital asset products across global markets.

Recently we wrote that cryptocurrency exchange Bitstamp has obtained approval as a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation

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