Key Points
- Singapore Exchange plans to launch Bitcoin perpetual futures contracts in the second half of 2025.
- Robinhood Crypto aims to offer its services in Singapore by late 2025 through Bitstamp.
Singapore Exchange, the leading asset exchange in the region, has announced its intention to launch Bitcoin (BTC) perpetual futures contracts in the latter half of 2025. This move is part of a broader trend of traditional exchanges widening their offerings in the crypto derivatives market.
Expanding Access to Institutional Clients
According to a SGX spokesperson, the company will primarily target institutional clients and professional investors. Unfortunately, retail customers will not have access to these services. The spokesperson noted that this new offering would greatly enhance institutional market access to Bitcoin, although no specific timeline was given.
These proposed products are still pending approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Perpetual futures, which do not have an expiry date, enable traders to speculate on price fluctuations without owning the underlying asset. Such contracts are already prevalent on offshore crypto exchanges. Ventures backed by Citadel Securities also plan to offer perpetual futures in Singapore.
Robinhood Crypto’s Expansion
In February, it was reported that Robinhood Crypto was planning to extend its crypto services to Singaporean users under local regulations by the end of 2025. This expansion would be facilitated through Bitstamp, a crypto exchange recently acquired by Robinhood. The $200 million acquisition took place in June 2024, and Bitstamp was chosen specifically for its Singaporean license.
Bitstamp received in-principle approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore in 2024. The exchange will serve as a conduit for Robinhood to extend its services to the Singaporean market, under the supervision of local regulators.
