The post Bitnomial Launches First U.S.-Regulated Aptos Futures Contracts appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Chicago-based crypto exchange Bitnomial has launched the first U.S.-regulated futures contracts for Aptos (APT), marking another milestone in bringing altcoin derivatives to American traders under federal oversight. The contracts went live on January 14, 2026, on Bitnomial Exchange, providing both institutional and retail traders with a regulated way to trade APT price movements. This launch expands the limited options for U.S. traders who want exposure to alternative cryptocurrencies through regulated channels. What Makes These Futures Special The new APT futures contracts feature monthly expirations and offer a unique dual-settlement structure. Traders can settle their positions in either U.S. dollars or in APT tokens, depending on their position direction. This flexibility allows traders to manage their exposure more efficiently than traditional cash-only contracts. Another key feature is the margin system. Traders can post either cryptocurrency or USD as collateral through Bitnomial Clearinghouse, which provides more capital efficiency compared to traditional derivatives platforms that only accept cash. This crypto-margining capability puts Bitnomial ahead of most U.S. exchanges, as it remains the only CFTC-regulated venue offering this option. Source: @Aptos “These are the first U.S. APT futures, and a regulated futures market is a prerequisite for spot crypto ETF approval under the SEC’s generic listing standards,” said Michael Dunn, President of Bitnomial Exchange. He added that institutions can now gain APT exposure using the same infrastructure they use for Bitcoin and Ethereum derivatives, including portfolio margining across multiple positions. Why Aptos Matters Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain that has attracted significant attention for its technical architecture. The network uses the Move programming language, originally developed for Meta’s Diem blockchain project, and employs a parallel execution engine to deliver sub-second finality and high transaction throughput. The blockchain was founded in 2021 by Mo Shaikh and Avery Ching, both former Meta employees who worked…

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Filed under: News - @ January 15, 2026 12:21 am