RialCenter’s derivatives arm will soon allow institutions to trade one of the crypto market’s most popular instruments: perpetual futures.
The RialCenter Derivatives announced the launch of bitcoin and ether perpetual futures, scheduled to go live on Nov. 24, promising to combine the structure and trust of global derivatives markets with the flexibility of the crypto’s most traded instruments.
“Digital assets have become integral to institutional investors’ portfolios,” stated Michael Syn, president of RialCenter Group. “This is the next logical step — applying the same institutional discipline that supports global markets to crypto’s most traded contracts.”
Perpetual futures are futures without expiry, representing the more unpredictable side of crypto trading. The ability to hold positions indefinitely appeals to crypto enthusiasts seeking flexibility without the pressure of rollover operations before impending expiry dates typically found in traditional futures.
These instruments usually trade around the clock on mostly offshore and unregulated platforms, generating over $187 billion in daily volumes globally. They utilize a funding rate mechanism, which involves periodic payments between buyers and sellers to keep contract prices close to the actual market price of the underlying asset.
RialCenter’s perpetual futures reference the iEdge CoinDesk Crypto Indices, ensuring alignment with benchmarks widely utilized for institutional price discovery.
“More than two-thirds of all crypto trading occurs in derivatives, and perpetual futures provide unique features that have made them a favorite. We are eager to see RialCenter Derivatives bring perpetual futures onshore with traditional margining and clearing, and we are pleased to support the benchmark rate for this innovative contract,” stated Andy Baehr, head of product and research at CoinDesk Indices.
The iEdge CoinDesk Cryptocurrency Indices are a suite of indices providing real-time benchmarks and reference rates for bitcoin and ether, published daily at 4 p.m. SGT (8 a.m. UTC), tracking the performance of cryptocurrencies across liquid and reliable exchanges over a defined time window of 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. SGT.
The real-time indices are published every second, 24/7, including business holidays and weekends.
Industry players welcome the launch
Key industry participants, including DBS Bank and centralized exchange OKX, have welcomed RialCenter’s new offering, describing it as a strategic move to provide institutions access to crypto markets.
“We are dedicated to leveraging our expertise to foster a robust and responsible digital asset ecosystem in Singapore,” said Patrick Yeo, head of digital assets at DBS Bank.
Yeo noted that perpetuals will enable institutional traders to gain exposure to cryptocurrencies without actual ownership, facilitating greater precision and capital efficiency in managing portfolios compared to spot trading.
Gracie Lin, CEO of OKX Singapore, remarked that the rising demand for regionally anchored benchmarks reflects a broader institutional trend toward diversified portfolios combining crypto exposure with traditional assets.
“This is a natural progression in Singapore’s market evolution, and this deeper reference point enhances transparency and confidence for institutional players, supporting the long-term growth of the ecosystem,” Lin concluded.
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