Kraken Launches Largest Regulated Crypto Derivatives Platform in Europe

Kraken has launched what it claims to be the largest regulated crypto derivatives platform in Europe, marking a significant expansion into one of the world's fastest-growing digital asset markets. The platform, which offers perpetual and fixed maturity contracts, is available to clients and partners across the European Economic Area (EEA) and operates under the European Union’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II). This move positions Kraken as a leading provider of regulated crypto derivatives in the region, aligning with the EU’s stringent regulatory framework and accelerating the professionalization and institutionalization of crypto markets.

The new platform is offered through Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CY) Ltd, a Cyprus-based investment firm acquired by Kraken earlier this year. This acquisition has paved the way for fully compliant futures trading within the bloc. Kraken’s head of exchange, Shannon Kurtas, highlighted the growing demand for compliant digital asset trading solutions in Europe, stating that the launch is well-timed to meet this demand. The platform aims to deliver institutional-grade infrastructure with strong local fiat support and flexible collateral options, designed to help traders improve capital efficiency and risk management while maintaining compliance with European regulations.

Kraken’s derivatives platform is one of the first regulated brokers in Europe offering crypto perpetual contracts, building on the company’s earlier acquisition in 2019 of the first regulated crypto derivatives venue. Since then, Kraken has grown into one of the most liquid crypto derivatives markets globally. Kurtas emphasized that institutional clients increasingly seek a complete trading experience under a recognized regulatory regime, allowing users to seamlessly trade futures as part of a full suite of products on the platform.

Kraken’s move indicates a growing demand for regulated digital asset products and a maturing European market. As more institutions seek compliant access to crypto derivatives, Kraken’s entry could help shape the next phase of growth for the region’s crypto trading sector. This launch comes on the heels of Kraken’s acquisition of futures trading firm NinjaTrader, giving the company a direct foothold in the U.S. futures market through a CFTC-regulated entity. This acquisition accelerates Kraken’s pivot toward multi-asset trading beyond crypto, boosting its ability to offer traditional derivatives to U.S. clients and opening new doors across the UK, continental Europe, and Australia.

Kraken’s aggressive derivatives push comes as competitors like Coinbase, Gemini, and Synthetix ramp up their own efforts to capture global demand for regulated crypto trading products. Coinbase recently announced its acquisition of Deribit, while Gemini secured regulatory approval to offer derivatives across the EU. Meanwhile, DeFi protocol Synthetix is working to re-acquire Derive, a crypto options platform, indicating growing competition in the market. Kraken reported strong derivatives performance in Q1 2025, driven by increased market volatility. The company is now eyeing a potential IPO in early 2026 and is exploring a debt package of up to $1 billion to fund the effort.