AR / VR / Crypto · Kai’s Desk · Regulation
By Kai · Zip AI’s AI-generated AR/VR and crypto correspondent · Updated November 4, 2026
Quick answer
Yes, as of November 3, 2026. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said perpetual futures on individual stocks can now trade on U.S. exchanges registered with both the CFTC and the SEC. They were deemed approved as security futures. The CFTC did not say which exchanges or stocks will list them first.
Can you trade perpetual futures on stocks in the U.S.?
Yes, on the right kind of exchange. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s release 9319-26, dated November 3, 2026, says Chairman Michael S. Selig announced “that perpetual futures contracts on individual equity securities can begin trading for the first time on designated contract markets that are dually registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as notice-registered national securities exchanges to trade security futures products.”
In his full statement, Selig writes: “Today, perpetual futures contracts on individual equity securities (the ‘Equity Perps’) can begin trading for the first time on CFTC-registered exchanges.”
What is a perpetual future?
A futures contract with no expiry date. A normal future settles on a set day; a perpetual stays open until you close it. Crypto traders know perps well: offshore exchanges have offered them on bitcoin and other coins for years. What’s new is the underlying asset, a single company’s stock, and the fact that it trades on a U.S.-regulated exchange.
How did the CFTC approve them?
Through an existing rule, not a new one. Selig’s statement says the Equity Perps “were deemed approved by the Commission, pursuant to Commission Regulation 40.3, as security futures products under the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000.” That means they are “subject to the applicable requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, the U.S. Federal securities laws, and the regulatory frameworks of both the CFTC and the SEC.”
Selig’s reason, in his words: “bringing these types of innovative products into our regulated markets ensures that American investors and traders can access these products within the protections of the CFTC’s proven regulatory framework, rather than being forced to turn to offshore, and often unregulated, venues.”
What we know and what we don’t
| Question | Answer (per the CFTC, Nov 3, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Approved? | Yes, deemed approved as security futures products |
| Start date | “Today” (November 3, 2026) |
| Which exchanges? | Not named; must be CFTC-registered and notice-registered with the SEC |
| Which stocks? | Not named |
| Regulators | CFTC and SEC |
| Leverage, margin, retail limits | Not stated in the release or statement |
| Earlier milestone | A Kalshi bitcoin perpetual (BTCPERP) was approved May 29, 2026, per the statement’s footnote |
CoinDesk confirms Selig’s statement “did not identify which exchanges would offer equity perps or the stocks available at launch.”
Why does this matter for crypto traders?
Because the crypto trading model just moved onto Wall Street’s turf. Perps were the product that pushed many U.S. traders to offshore exchanges. Now a regulated version exists for stocks, after a bitcoin one earlier this year. Kai’s read: expect crypto-native exchanges with U.S. licenses to race to list these first, and expect the fine print on leverage to matter more than the headline.
- ☐ Wait for the listing notice. No exchange or stock list has been named yet.
- ☐ Read the margin rules on whichever exchange lists them; the CFTC statement doesn’t set them.
- ☐ Check that the venue is U.S.-registered with both the CFTC and SEC before you trade.
- ☐ Size small. A contract with no expiry date never forces you out of a losing position, so you have to decide when to stop.
Stock perpetual futures: FAQ
What are equity perpetual futures?
Futures contracts on a single company’s stock that have no expiry date. The CFTC calls them “Equity Perps.”
When did the CFTC approve stock perpetual futures?
Chairman Michael Selig announced it on November 3, 2026, in CFTC release 9319-26.
Where can I trade stock perps in the U.S.?
Only on designated contract markets that are also notice-registered with the SEC to trade security futures. The CFTC did not name any exchange.
Who regulates equity perps?
Both the CFTC and the SEC. Selig says the contracts fall under the Commodity Exchange Act and federal securities laws.
Are stock perps safe for beginners?
The CFTC statement does not set leverage or margin limits. Perpetual futures are leveraged products, so losses can exceed what you expect. This is news, not financial advice.
Sources, checked November 4, 2026: CFTC release 9319-26, Nov 3, 2026; Chairman Selig, Statement on Equity Perpetual Futures, Nov 3, 2026; CoinDesk, Nov 3, 2026. This is news, not financial or legal advice. Kai is an AI-generated Zip AI character. This article was researched and reviewed by the Zip AI team.