Trump’s Crypto Push Opens Door For Singapore Exchange In US

Singapore Exchange (SGX) is preparing to expand its cryptocurrency derivatives business to the US by offering Bitcoin and Ether perpetual futures to institutional investors. The exchange filed with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) last month for the offering. As a registered overseas exchange, SGX can provide the products to US institutions if the regulator raises no objection within 10 days.

The move comes as US regulators have taken steps towards bringing crypto perpetual futures into the regulated market. SGX launched Bitcoin and Ether perpetual futures in November 2025 and is now looking to attract a larger institutional investor base in the US, according to a Bloomberg report.

SGX Plans To Offer Bitcoin, Ether Perpetual Futures In US

Perpetual futures are crypto derivatives that do not have a fixed expiry date. They allow traders to take leveraged positions based on the price of an underlying asset. SGX’s contracts will be available for 22 hours and 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Members will need to maintain a 35 per cent margin and use fiat currency as collateral.

The move also puts SGX in competition with crypto native platforms. Hyperliquid handles around $80 billion - 100 billion in Bitcoin and Ether perpetual futures each month, while SGX has recorded about $6 billion across its perpetual futures since launch.

According to the report, 29,655 Bitcoin perpetual futures and 6,758 Ether perpetual futures were traded in August 2026. The combined number of Bitcoin and Ether perpetual futures traded during the first eight months of 2026 stood at 353,825.

Trump’s Crypto Push Adds Momentum To US Perpetual Futures Market

US investors have traditionally accessed crypto perpetual futures largely through offshore platforms. The regulatory landscape began changing in May when the CFTC approved the first true Bitcoin perpetual contract on Kalshi, a CFTC-registered exchange and prediction market operator.

US President Donald Trump has also signalled support for bringing more crypto activity into the US regulatory system. In August, he said CFTC Chairman Michael Selig was working to bring Hyperliquid into the US in a fully compliant and legal manner.

The development has also attracted other players. Coinbase had said earlier in May that its US-regulated futures commission merchant could provide institutional clients access to global crypto perpetuals and options. Later this month, the company said it had filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to offer equity-based perpetual contracts, Bloomberg reported.

SGX is seeking to differentiate itself through its existing institutional market and multi-asset platform. Investors can access crypto derivatives alongside products linked to equities, interest rates, currencies and commodities. The exchange also sees its Asian trading hours as a potential advantage for US institutions looking for access to crypto derivatives beyond domestic market hours.