Bitso Bridges CEX and DeFi with Self-Custody Trading Ecosystem

Bitso, Latin America's largest cryptocurrency platform, is set to transform its onchain offerings with the launch of a Perps Aggregator in early 2026 and a native token by year-end, signaling a strategic pivot toward becoming a full-stack self-custody trading ecosystem. According to Bitso's announcement, the announcements made during DevConnect in Buenos Aires mark Bitso's transition from spot trading to a multi-product environment that integrates perpetual futures, rewards systems, and community-driven governance.

The Perps Aggregator, scheduled for Early Q1 2026, will serve as a unified execution layer across multiple onchain perpetual futures platforms. This tool will enable users to deposit assets once and trade across integrated venues, access a single USDC balance, and receive automated best-execution routing. Traders will also benefit from a consolidated profit-and-loss dashboard and simultaneous participation in multiple points-earning streams according to Bitso's plan. Daniel Vogel, Bitso's CEO and co-founder, emphasized the platform's alignment with Web3 principles: "We're building a global self-custody trading platform that works with the simplicity of a CEX, but with the freedom and openness only permissionless crypto can deliver" as stated in the announcement.

To build momentum ahead of the Perps Aggregator's beta, Bitso launched Season 0 of its Onchain Points System on December 1. This gamified engagement model includes boosted rewards, chain-specific multipliers, and a seasonal leaderboard, running until the aggregator's beta launch. The points system is designed to foster community loyalty while testing product features in a live environment.

Looking ahead, Bitso plans to introduce a native Onchain token in 2026, positioned as a governance and incentive mechanism to align the platform with its user base. The token will reward long-term contributors and support ecosystem growth, reflecting broader industry trends. This move aligns with Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan's assertion that regulatory clarity and protocol upgrades are enhancing crypto tokens' value capture, a trend he predicts will fuel market rebounds in 2026.

Bitso's expansion comes as Latin America solidifies its role as a crypto innovation hub. The region saw $1.5 trillion in crypto transactions from July 2022 to June 2025, driven by inflation hedging and underbanked populations seeking alternatives to traditional finance. Bitso's recent partnership with Tether to expand USDT adoption in Argentina and Brazil underscores this dynamic. Tether's investment in Parfin, a digital asset infrastructure provider, further highlights growing institutional interest in the region's onchain ecosystems according to Cointelegraph.

The strategic shift also includes high-visibility events like Copa de los Memes, a memecoin football tournament in Buenos Aires, and Pengu Sala, a networking event hosted by Pudgy Penguins. These initiatives blend Web3 culture with product activation, reinforcing Bitso's focus on community engagement. Analysts note that the Perps Aggregator could disrupt both centralized and decentralized derivatives markets by reducing fragmentation and enhancing liquidity access according to Techbullion.

With 9 million users across Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, Bitso is leveraging its regulatory pedigree and regional dominance to position itself as a foundational infrastructure provider. As the firm advances its 2026 roadmap, the success of its token and aggregator will hinge on execution quality and adoption rates in a rapidly evolving market.