The CFTC, led by Trump appointee Chairman, Mike Selig, approved the Kalshi request to offer perps.

Topic: generalRegion: North AmericaUpdated: i2 outletsSources: 5Spectrum: Center Only⏱ 4 min read⚠ 3d+ old

📰 Scored from 2 outletsacross 2 Center How we score bias →

Story Summary

SITUATION

The CFTC approved Kalshi's request to offer perpetual futures, making it the first U.S. firm to do so.

Coveragetap to expand ▾

Spectrum: Center Only🌍Other: 5

Political Spectrum

Position is inferred from coverage mix.

i2 outlets · Center

Left

Center

Right

Left: 0

Center: 5

Right: 0

Geography Coverage

Distribution of where coverage is coming from.

i2 unique outlets · Dominant: Global

All5 Global5 · 100%

KEY FACTS

Kalshi became the first U.S.-based firm to receive regulators’ blessing to offer a perpetual futures product, which is a novel kind of derivative that was popularized by crypto traders.
Selig has been an advocate for bringing perps onshore since being confirmed as CFTC chairman in December 2025.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The approval of Kalshi to offer perpetual futures marks a significant development in the U.S. derivatives market, particularly in the context of evolving regulatory frameworks surrounding financial products. This event follows a broader trend of regulatory adaptation to new trading instruments, especially as the popularity of derivatives has surged among retail traders.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), under the leadership of Chairman Mike Selig, has been pivotal in this evolution. Selig's confirmation in December 2025 came at a time when the demand for innovative financial products was on the rise, particularly after the cryptocurrency boom of the early 2020s, which introduced perpetual futures as a popular trading mechanism.

Brief

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has granted Kalshi approval to offer perpetual futures, marking a significant milestone as it becomes the first U.S.-based firm to do so.

This decision, led by CFTC Chairman Mike Selig, who has been a proponent of bringing such products onshore since his appointment in December 2025, reflects a growing acceptance of innovative financial instruments in the U.S. market.

Perpetual futures, which are derivatives that allow traders to speculate on the price of an asset without an expiration date, have gained traction primarily among cryptocurrency traders but are increasingly being adopted by those in traditional markets as well.

Currently, the CFTC's approval is limited to futures contracts on Bitcoin, but the potential for expansion into other commodities exists. The leverage offered by these products makes them particularly attractive to retail traders looking for high-risk, high-reward opportunities.

As the financial landscape evolves, the introduction of perpetual futures could reshape trading strategies and market dynamics, allowing for greater participation in speculative trading.

This development comes at a time when the demand for innovative trading products is on the rise, indicating a shift in regulatory attitudes towards more flexible trading options in the U.S. financial markets.

Sources

5 of 5 linked articles