What are TradFi futures? CME contracts on Kraken
TradFi futures are fixed-term futures contracts on traditional assets, such as equities, indices, commodities, and currencies, the same asset classes traded on CME, Eurex, and other established exchanges.
On Kraken, CME-cleared TradFi futures sit alongside crypto perpetuals, so traders can manage positions across both asset classes from one account.
TradFi futures have a fixed expiry date and no funding rate, which makes their cost structure different from crypto perps. You know the settlement date upfront.
Trades are cleared through CME Group's infrastructure, providing the same counterparty risk protection as trading these contracts through a traditional broker.
TradFi futures on Kraken are available to EU-eligible users. US users can access TradFi futures through CME-cleared equities and commodities contracts, as well as crypto futures.
Trade TradFi futures on Kraken
Most crypto traders have never considered trading the S&P 500 or gold from their crypto account. Similarly, most TradFi investors have never considered using a crypto exchange to access CME-cleared contracts. On Kraken, both are now the same trade and possible within a single intuitive platform.
What are TradFi futures?
TradFi (traditional finance) futures refer to fixed-term futures contracts on conventional financial assets, including individual stocks and market indices such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100, as well as currency pairs and commodities such as:
- Gold
- Silver
- Crude oil
- Natural gas and more.
TradFi futures are the same contracts traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), Eurex, and other established derivatives exchanges. They have clear expiry dates, settle at a predetermined price, and are cleared through established institutional infrastructure.
How TradFi futures differ from crypto perps
Three things distinguish TradFi futures from the crypto perpetual futures you may already use on Kraken.
First, they have a fixed expiry date. Every TradFi futures contract settles on a specific date. There's no perpetual structure and no rolling position. For a full explanation of how expiry and settlement work, see fixed-term futures contracts: expiry and settlement.
Second, there are no funding rates. Because TradFi futures have a defined settlement date, the mechanism that keeps perpetual futures prices near spot (the funding rate) isn't needed. Your cost of holding a TradFi futures position is reflected in the basis between the futures price and the underlying index or asset price, not in recurring payments.
Third, the underlying assets are traditional, not crypto. You're getting price exposure to equity indices, commodities, and currencies. For a direct comparison of how crypto perps and traditional futures compare as products, see how perps differ from traditional futures.
What TradFi futures are available on Kraken
Equity indices
- Micro, mini, and standard fixed-term contracts for major global benchmarks, including the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, FTSE, DAX.
Commodities
- Contracts for major raw materials such as gold, silver, crude oil, natural gas.
Currencies
- Various FX currency pairs including EUR/USD and GBP/USD.
How CME clearing works
When you trade a TradFi futures contract on Kraken, that trade is cleared through CME Group's clearing infrastructure. Clearing means a central counterparty sits between the buyer and seller, guaranteeing settlement even if one side defaults. It's the mechanism that makes exchange-traded futures trustworthy at institutional scale.
In practice, this means trading these contracts on Kraken carries the same counterparty risk protection as trading them through a traditional broker. The contracts are CME-regulated instruments, settled through CME's established processes, accessible through Kraken's interface alongside your crypto positions.
Who can access TradFi futures on Kraken
Kraken clients in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United States can trade TradFi futures contracts on all of the leading assets.
For asset-specific guides covering S&P 500, Nasdaq, gold, and oil contracts, read trading S&P 500, Nasdaq, gold, and oil on Kraken.
How to start trading TradFi futures on Kraken
Step 1: Check eligibility and complete verification. Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria above and that your Kraken account verification is complete.
Step 2: Navigate to the TradFi futures section in Kraken Pro. Once logged in, TradFi futures contracts are listed alongside crypto perps in the futures market selector. Select the contract you want to trade and review the expiry date and contract specifications before placing an order.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Disclaimer
The educational material on this page is for information only and does not constitute an offer to trade futures. Kraken Futures is provided by a different licensed Kraken entity depending on where you live. Derivatives are complex instruments that carry a high risk of rapid losses due to leverage. You should not risk money you cannot afford to lose. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change. Geographic restrictions may apply and can change without notice. Kraken products and services may not be covered by investor-compensation or deposit-protection schemes. Nothing on this page is investment, legal or tax advice. Access is subject to eligibility, local regulation and the terms of service for the legal entity you face.