Loading article…
US crypto perpetual futures debut, Kraken rolls out regulated perps and CBOE eyes conversion; ETH trades at $1,869.70, down 1%, signaling a shift in Ethereum’s
Ethereum fell 0.98% to $1,869.70 on June 13, 2026, as the U.S. derivatives market prepared to introduce regulated perpetual futures—a product that has dominated offshore trading and could reshape Ethereum’s utility in the sector【3】.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| ETH price | $1,869.70 |
| 24h change | –0.98% |
| Key level | $1,870 (near‑term support) |
| Catalyst | Kraken’s U.S. perpetual futures launch & CBOE’s conversion plan |
Kraken announced it will list regulated Bitcoin and Ether perpetual contracts on Kraken Pro after securing CFTC‑licensed platforms via its NinjaTrader and Bitnomial acquisitions. Head of derivatives John Palmer expects “sophisticated proprietary traders and retail users” to adopt the new products first, with larger asset managers following later【3】. The move mirrors the earlier rollout of spot Bitcoin ETFs, suggesting a pathway for broader institutional participation.
The Chicago Board Options Exchange is reportedly evaluating a shift from its existing continuous Bitcoin and Ether futures—launched in December 2023 with ten‑year expirations—to perpetual contracts that have no expiry date【2】. This potential conversion follows recent CFTC approvals that allow exchanges to list crypto perps, a regulatory backdrop that could accelerate U.S. market depth and reduce reliance on offshore venues such as Hyperliquid.
Historically, Ethereum’s value proposition has centered on smart‑contract utility and DeFi activity, often measured by total value locked (TVL). The surge in perpetual futures, however, introduces a new demand for ETH as collateral and as the underlying asset for leveraged trading. While ETH’s price slipped below the $1,870 threshold, its on‑chain activity remains robust, but the market’s focus is increasingly on derivatives volume rather than traditional DeFi metrics.
Globally, perpetual futures now account for the vast majority of crypto derivatives volume, yet U.S. traders have been limited to offshore products until now【3】. The introduction of regulated perps could attract capital that previously stayed outside U.S. borders, potentially boosting ETH’s trading volume even as its spot price modestly declines.
The debut of regulated perpetual futures marks a pivotal moment for U.S. crypto markets, positioning Ethereum less as a pure DeFi engine and more as a cornerstone of leveraged trading. How quickly institutional players adopt these products will determine whether ETH’s price stabilizes or faces new volatility pressures.
Coverage is mostly measured — 112 of 112 reports stay neutral.
Every Monday — the token unlocks, Fed dates & catalysts set to move crypto and markets this week. So you’re never blindsided.
Free · 3-min read · one-click unsubscribe
AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 3 outlets · Aug 1, 2026 · How we report
Layer 2 scaling refers to solutions built on top of a blockchain, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, to increase its transactional capacity and reduce costs. These systems process transactions off the main chain but rely on the main chain for security and final settlement, aiming to overcome the inherent scaling limitations of foundational blockchain designs.
Layer 2 scaling solutions have made Ethereum transactions faster and cheaper, boosting its ecosystem by enabling more DeFi, NFT, and gaming activity. However, they have also created headaches for Ethereum's value model by moving activity off the main chain, which can slow down fee revenue and token burns, leading to debate about their long-term impact on ETH's price.
Some examples of Layer 2 scaling systems for Bitcoin include Ark, Statechains, Lightning Network, Sidechains, Clique, Rollups, Client Side Validated Systems, Ecash, Custodial Systems, and Physical Bearer Instruments. These systems aim to facilitate higher transactional volumes without degrading Bitcoin's security properties.
Layer 2 scaling is necessary for blockchains because they inherently struggle to facilitate transactional use at a truly global scale without sacrificing core properties like decentralization and verifiability. These solutions allow for higher transaction volumes and lower costs while maintaining the security of the underlying blockchain.
Yes, the Dencun upgrade in 2024 significantly affected Layer 2 scaling for Ethereum by slashing transaction costs across Layer 2 networks by over 90%. This reduction in cost opened Ethereum to new users and business models, leading to a boom in DeFi, NFTs, and gaming transactions.