The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) authorized trading in perpetual futures on individual stocks (Equity Perps) on regulated US venues. The corresponding statement was made on November 3, 2026, by the agency’s chair, Michael Selig. 

This means such instruments will be able to trade for the first time on exchanges registered with both the CFTC and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Perpetual futures are derivative financial instruments that allow traders to take positions on changes in the price of an underlying asset without buying it directly. 

Unlike traditional contracts, they do not have a fixed expiration date. These products have become widespread in the cryptocurrency market, including on decentralized venues.

As Selig clarified, Equity Perps contracts are deemed approved under CFTC Rule 40.3 and are classified as security futures under the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000.

Accordingly, they are subject to the requirements of US commodities and securities laws, as well as the regulations of both commissions.

“This expansion marks an important step toward enabling US market participants to benefit from perpetual futures, which have become in-demand tools for risk management and price discovery,” the CFTC chair said.

“This expansion marks an important step toward enabling US market participants to benefit from perpetual futures, which have become in-demand tools for risk management and price discovery,” the CFTC chair said.

He said the development of the regulated segment will allow US investors to access such products domestically instead of using offshore platforms, whose operations are often unregulated.

Selig emphasized that the decision continues an initiative to bring perpetual derivatives trading back under US jurisdiction. Earlier in 2026, the CFTC approved the listing of the first fully fledged perpetual bitcoin futures contract on an exchange overseen by the agency.

The new step extends this approach to traditional financial instruments.

The commission chair also pointed to the memorandum of understanding signed between the CFTC and the SEC in March 2026. The document provides for coordination between the agencies and the removal of inconsistencies in oversight of financial products.

According to Selig, insufficient coordination between regulators over many years has held back the development of innovative instruments. SEC Chair Paul Atkins previously described this situation as a regulatory “no man’s land.”

The CFTC’s decision faced pushback from traditional financial market participants. According to Reuters, the Capital Markets Alliance, backed by Cboe and Citadel Securities, filed a lawsuit seeking to block the approval. 

The plaintiffs argue that the CFTC’s actions could lead to the emergence of a parallel market for synthetic equities and undermine the established division of authority between regulators.