Coinbase has launched regulated cryptocurrency derivatives for eligible Canadian investors, opening access to 23 perpetual and dated futures contracts with leverage of up to 10 times.
The firm said the launch marks the first time eligible Canadian traders can access regulated native crypto futures directly through its platform. The offering is available through Coinbase Financial Markets (CFM), its U.S.-registered futures commission merchant.
Futures access expands in Canada
The new lineup includes futures linked to Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana, plus contracts covering 20 other digital assets. Eligible investors can also access five commodity futures contracts tied to markets including gold, silver and oil, as well as index futures such as COIN50.
Investors can choose between perpetual and dated futures depending on their trading strategy. Perpetual contracts do not have a fixed expiration date, while dated futures settle according to a predetermined schedule.
The contracts allow sophisticated investors to take long or short positions, speculate on market movements and hedge existing exposure without directly buying or selling the underlying assets. Coinbase said the launch gives Canadian traders a regulated alternative to offshore platforms that have been used to access crypto derivatives.
Nano contracts offer up to 10x leverage
Coinbase has structured its futures products in smaller, nano-sized contracts, reducing the upfront capital required to open positions compared with larger standard futures contracts.
Eligible traders can use leverage of up to 10 times, depending on margin requirements and the specific contract. The structure allows investors to control larger positions with less upfront capital, although leverage can also magnify losses and increase the risk of liquidation.
Coinbase is also offering introductory pricing of 0.02% per trade, plus a flat fee of $0.11 per contract. The company said the pricing is available for a limited period.
Access limited to eligible investors
The derivatives are not available to all Canadian users. Access is limited to eligible Canadian customers who meet applicable provincial requirements. Coinbase’s current eligibility criteria include customers with at least $5 million in net financial assets, excluding real estate, as well as certain registered investment advisers or dealers.
For Canadian customers, Coinbase Financial Markets provides the derivatives offering under foreign dealer and futures commission merchant exemptions. Coinbase Financial Markets is registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a futures commission merchant and is subject to oversight by the National Futures Association.
The expansion comes as derivatives continue to dominate a significant portion of global cryptocurrency trading activity. Coinbase said worldwide crypto derivatives trading volume is approximately 4.4 times larger than crypto spot trading volume.
Crypto derivatives gain traction
Coinbase is continuing to build out its global derivatives business following its acquisition of Deribit, a major crypto derivatives platform. The exchange has been expanding its institutional infrastructure to support perpetual futures, dated futures and options across international markets.
That strategy recently extended to the UK, where Coinbase began rolling out derivatives for eligible professional investors in August. The offering includes more than 170 perpetual contracts covering crypto, commodities, equities and foreign exchange, with leverage of up to 50 times on perpetuals.
Coinbase also entered the Australian derivatives market, launching licensed perpetual contracts for eligible wholesale investors. The offering provides up to 50x leverage across 150 crypto, equity and commodity contracts under its Australian Financial Services Licence.
Canada’s rollout is more limited, with leverage capped at 10 times and access restricted to eligible sophisticated and institutional investors. The launch expands Coinbase’s access to eligible Canadian customers through its U.S.-regulated derivatives business.
Also Read: From Coinbase to Crude: Fred Ehrsam Eyes 3 Venezuelan Oil Fields
