Bitnomial Introduces First U.S.-Regulated Tezos Futures Market

Bitnomial, a Chicago-based exchange, is launching the first regulated futures product tied to Tezos and its native token, XTZ. 

This development shows that the U.S. derivatives market is expanding its reach into digital assets once again. It also signals growing institutional confidence in regulated crypto derivatives. 

Tezos Futures Go Live on Bitnomial

The new Tezos futures product is now live for institutional traders. Reportedly, retail traders will gain access through Botanical, Bitnomial’s retail trading platform. 

In addition to standard futures contracts, the exchange plans to introduce perpetual futures and options tied to XTZ. These products give traders more ways to manage their exposure to Tezos. 

Over the years, Bitnomial has often been the first exchange in the United States to introduce new regulated crypto products. Years ago, the exchange launched the first regulated futures product linked to XRP in the U.S. 

The exchange also introduced the first physically settled Solana futures and, more recently, futures linked to the Aptos network. Following its intentions to list the XRP futures in 2020, the company experienced limitations from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

In 2024, exchange filed a lawsuit against the Commission. It said the regulator went beyond its powers by claiming that XRP should be treated as a security.

A Major Step for Tezos in Regulated Markets

Tezos is a well-known blockchain project that was first introduced in 2014 and launched its main network in 2018. Over time, it has become known as a blockchain that can improve itself without causing major disruptions.

The launch of a regulated futures product for XTZ shows that the Tezos ecosystem is slowly becoming more mature.

The development also reflects a wider shift in the crypto industry. Many digital assets that once operated mostly in unregulated markets are now moving into formal financial systems.

As regulated derivatives grow, they are expected to play an important role in how digital assets are priced, traded, and accepted by large investors.

Tezos and Its Early Role in Blockchain Innovation

Tezos was one of the earliest blockchains to experiment with proof of stake as a core consensus model. This approach reduces energy use compared to proof of work. It also allows token holders to participate directly in securing the network.

The project also stands out for the scale of its initial coin offering (ICO) in 2017. It raised roughly 66,000 Bitcoin  (BTC) and more than 360 Ethereum (ETH), worth about $232 million at the time. This made it one of the largest token sales ever. 

Despite its strong technical foundations, the market performance of XTZ has been mixed. The token reached an all-time high of $9 and 12 cents during the pandemic-era bull market. 

Since then, it has fallen and traded below $1 for more than a year and its current market value stands at roughly 514 million.