CFTC Breaks New Ground as Equity Perpetual Futures Get Green Light

The CFTC has cleared perpetual futures tied to individual stocks to trade on regulated U.S. exchanges for the first time, with Chairman Selig framing the approval as a new era for U.S. derivatives markets. The instrument, which underpins much of crypto’s speculative trading, will now extend to single-stock exposure under federal oversight rather than offshore or unregulated venues. The approval matters because it gives U.S. traders a regulated way to hold leveraged, expiry-free positions in equities, potentially pulling volume toward CFTC-supervised platforms. Watch for the first exchange listings and contract specifications, including leverage limits and funding mechanics, plus whether initial volumes draw liquidity away from offshore perpetual venues.