SGX to Launch Crypto Perps

Singapore Exchange is joining the fray on crypto perpetual futures, with the impending launch of Bitcoin and Ethereum perpetual futures on November 24.

SGX says the new contracts will provide a continuous, no-expiry structure favoured by crypto-native communities, combined with the clearing and margining standards of listed derivatives. Perpetual futures volumes are heading close to $200 billion per day, but SGX says these flows remain largely priced off and settled on offshore platforms outside of Asia.

“Digital assets have made their way into institutional investors’ portfolio,” says Michael Syn, president, SGX Group. “We have taken the next logical and deliberate step – applying the same institutional discipline that underpins global markets to crypto’s most traded pay-off. By bringing the perpetuals into an exchange-cleared, regulated framework, we offer institutions the trust and scalability they have been waiting for.” 

The contracts are benchmarked to iEdge CoinDesk Crypto Indices, aligning, SGX says, price discovery with benchmarks widely recognised across the industry. 

“Crypto perpetuals offer institutional traders enhanced precision and capital efficiency when managing their digital asset portfolios as compared to spot trading,” says Patrick Yeo, head of digital assets, global financial markets, DBS Bank. “In addition, clearing and margining these derivatives under the same standards as traditional instruments paves the way for broader adoption, and marks a new milestone in the growing maturation of the digital asset ecosystem.”

Gracie Lin, CEO, OKX Singapore, adds, “We have seen growing demand for regionally anchored benchmarks, especially as institutions look to integrate crypto exposure alongside other asset classes. It is a natural step in Singapore’s market evolution, and this deeper reference point adds transparency and confidence for institutional participants, helping to support long-term growth of the ecosystem.”

Noting that SGX’ entry is a “defining moment for Asia digital asset markets”, Melvin Deng, CEO, QCP, says, “Institutional participants have long sought a regulated venue that combines the familiarity of traditional market infrastructure with the innovation of crypto-native products.”