Coinbase Becomes the First U.S.-Regulated Gateway to Global Crypto Derivatives

By Isaac • May 30, 2026 9:58 am •

Coinbase announced Friday that Coinbase Financial Markets is now the first and only U.S.-regulated futures commission merchant offering access to global crypto derivatives markets, including crypto perpetual futures and options.

That covers the part of crypto that actually moves money. Derivatives account for roughly 80% of global crypto trading volume.

Until now, regulated American traders had no compliant path into it.

The legal piece came from the CFTC. Staff confirmed that certain crypto-asset perpetuals can be categorized as foreign futures and issued a no-action position for Coinbase Financial Markets covering customer crypto assets transferred to foreign brokers as margin.

That guidance is what makes the connection possible without sending U.S. clients to offshore venues with no