12 Best Crypto Contract Trading Platforms in 2025
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Based on our analysis, the best crypto contract trading platform is CoinFutures. The platform is highly beginner-friendly, offers excellent futures contract trading features, and is available worldwide without requiring identity verification.
Finding a crypto contract trading platform can be challenging, especially since the market is flooded with options. So, we tested and analyzed 50+ crypto exchanges to find the ones that offer the best conditions, from competitive trading fees to high leverage limits and a wide variety of tradeable contracts.
Read on to learn what crypto contract trading is, how it works, and what sets our top picks apart from the competition.
- In This Article
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- 1. CoinFutures – The Overall Best Platform for Crypto Contract Trading
- 2. Coinbase – Best Contract Trading Platform For US Crypto Traders
- 3. MEXC – Best Platform for Crypto Contract Trading for Low Fees
- 4. Crypto.com - Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform to Trade Options
- 5. OKX – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Europeans
- 6. Binance – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Delivery Futures
- 7. Margex – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Privacy-Conscious Traders
- 8. BloFin – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform For Meme Coin Futures
- 9. KCEX – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform For Advanced Traders
- 10. Bybit – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Inverse Perpetual and Futures Contracts
- 11. PrimeXBT – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Mobile Users
- 12. KuCoin – The Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform For Beginners
- In This Article
-
- 1. CoinFutures – The Overall Best Platform for Crypto Contract Trading
- 2. Coinbase – Best Contract Trading Platform For US Crypto Traders
- 3. MEXC – Best Platform for Crypto Contract Trading for Low Fees
- 4. Crypto.com - Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform to Trade Options
- 5. OKX – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Europeans
- 6. Binance – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Delivery Futures
- 7. Margex – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Privacy-Conscious Traders
- 8. BloFin – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform For Meme Coin Futures
- 9. KCEX – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform For Advanced Traders
- 10. Bybit – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Inverse Perpetual and Futures Contracts
- 11. PrimeXBT – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Mobile Users
- 12. KuCoin – The Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform For Beginners
- Show Full Guide
Top Crypto Contract Trading Platforms Compared
Here’s how our top-rated crypto contract trading platforms compare to each other:
| Trading Platform | Number of Derivative Markets | Trading Fees % | Max Leverage | Best For |
| CoinFutures | 11 | PnL Fee or Flat Fee | 1,000x | Overall best platform for crypto contract trading |
| Coinbase | 160 | 0.02% maker / 0.04% taker | 20x | US traders |
| MEXC | 750 | 0% maker / 0.02% taker | 500x | Low fees |
| Crypto.com | 580 | 0.020% maker / 0.040% taker | 50x | Options trading |
| OKX | 291 | 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker | 100x | European traders |
| Binance | 513 | 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker | 125x | Delivery futures |
| Margex | 45 | 0.019% (maker) 0.060% (taker) | 100x | Anonymity |
| BloFin | 439 | 0.006% maker / 0.050% taker | 150x | Meme coin futures |
| KCEX | 538 | 0% maker / 0.01% taker | 100x | Advanced traders |
| Bybit | 567 | 0.020% maker / 0.055% taker | 100x | Inverse perpetual and futures contracts |
| PrimeXBT | 35 | 0.01% maker / 0.045% to 0.02% taker | 200x | Mobile users |
| KuCoin | 403 | 0.020% maker / 0.060% taker | 100x | Beginners |
Best Crypto Contract Trading Platforms Reviewed
Now that you know how the top providers stack up against each other, take a look at our extensive reviews to find the crypto contract trading platform that aligns with your needs and risk tolerance.
1. CoinFutures – The Overall Best Platform for Crypto Contract Trading
CoinFutures is not your typical contract trading platform. It lets you predict price movements of 11 top coins like BTC, ETH, and SOL by using charts that follow assets’ real price action, but without the actual exposure of buying and selling. You simply select a coin and tap the Up (if you think the price will go up) or Down (if you think the price will go down) icon. You can also set up the leverage up to 1,000x, which is more than any other platform we’ve tested for this guide.
CoinFutures lets you choose between two types of fees – PnL and flat. The former refers to a small percentage you have to pay on your profits, while the latter charges a fixed amount to enter and exit the round. Moreover, you can set stop loss and take profit orders to help you manage risks. CoinFutures also supports an auto cash-out option, which means you can define your maximum profit and loss.
CoinFutures is an ideal contract trading platform for crypto beginners and advanced traders who want to improve their trading strategy. This platform will enable you to predict price movements without owning real cryptocurrencies or dealing with complex order types and margin calls.
CoinFutures Key Takeaways
- Smart algorithm: CoinFutures is powered by a smart algorithm that mimics real crypto volatility.
- No KYC requirement: You won’t have to go through KYC verification. You just need to download the app and create an account, and you’re good to go.
- Built-in ROI calculator: You can use the ROI calculator to plan smarter plays.
- Real-time leaderboard: You can compete against other traders on the crypto futures leaderboard.
Pros
- Up to 1000× leverage
- Profit-based and flat round fees
- Built-in auto cash-out option
- Supports crypto and fiat deposits (credit card, Apple/Google Pay, PIX)
- Available as a mobile and desktop app
Cons
- Doesn’t work with real futures contracts
2. Coinbase – Best Contract Trading Platform For US Crypto Traders
Coinbase is our top pick for US contract traders, as it’s the only major exchange regulated by the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission). While no-KYC exchanges like Margex and BloFin are available in the US, Coinbase is your best option if you want to comply with local rules and regulations.

The exchange offers 19 coins for standard futures contract trading, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Dogecoin, with up to 5x leverage, which is significantly lower than offshore platforms. However, if you’re a low-volume trader, you’ll appreciate its Nano Bitcoin and Ethereum futures, which are sized at 1/100th and 1/10th, respectively.
To access crypto derivatives, you’ll need to open a Coinbase Advanced account and go through KYC verification. The platform is very easy to use, even for complete beginners, but the lack of perpetual futures and options for US users might deter traders with higher risk appetites.
Coinbase Key Takeaways:
- Regulated crypto contract exchange: Coinbase complies with US regulations, making it the best option for traders in the country.
- Derivatives support: Offers Nano BTC and ETH futures, as well as standard futures contracts for 19 coins.
- Beginner-friendly interface: The platform is highly intuitive and easy to get used to, even for trading beginners.
Pros
- Available in the USA
- Beginner-friendly interface
- Nano futures for low-volume traders
Cons
- Relatively few supported trading pairs
- Low futures leverage limit of 5x in the States
- Requires KYC verification
3. MEXC – Best Platform for Crypto Contract Trading for Low Fees
MEXC has earned the status of one of the best crypto contract trading platforms thanks to its low fees, wide coin support, and a large number of futures trading pairs. We found the exchange suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. The former can use its demo trading mode to simulate USDT-M trading in a risk-free environment, while the latter can benefit from high leverage limits and advanced order types.

MEXC is also the crypto exchange with the most coins in 2025. It supports 2,120+ coins and 750+ futures trading pairs. You can choose between three types of futures contracts – USDT-M, COIN-M, and USDC-M futures. Moreover, this exchange offers some of the lowest trading fees for perpetual futures, which amount to 0.000% for makers (market orders) and 0.020% for takers (limit orders). Plus, using its native token, MX, will net you a 20% discount on USDT-M perpetual futures fees.
You can use leverage of up to 200x for COIN-M perpetuals and up to 500x for USDT-M futures. You can also switch between different futures trading modes, such as one-way mode, hedge mode, isolated margin, and cross margin, depending on your trading style and strategy.
MEXC Key Takeaways
- High leverage limits: You can benefit from 200x to 400x leverage for COIN-M and USDT-M perpetual futures, respectively.
- Demo trading: You’ll be able to practice your trading skills by creating a demo trading account.
- Low slippage: Offers some of the lowest slippage, especially for large futures sell orders.
- Auto-margin addition function: You can automatically add position margin to isolated margin positions to avoid liquidation.
Pros
- Low maker and taker fees (20% discount with MX token)
- Supports five order types (limit, market, trigger, trailing stop, and post-only)
- Leverage ranges from 1x to 400x
- 760+ futures trading pairs
- Demo trading mode available
Cons
- Can’t switch from cross to isolated margin mode for open positions
4. Crypto.com – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform to Trade Options
Crypto.com was the first major exchange to obtain CFTC derivatives licenses. It holds FCM, DCM, and DCO licenses, which enable it to offer derivative contracts in the US. You can also trade strike and UpDown options.

UpDown options will automatically terminate if the price of the underlying asset hits a predetermined price (up or down). On the other hand, strike options let you profit by predicting whether the price of an underlying asset will be above or below the strike price at contract expiration. You can trade strike option contracts for a predetermined duration – from 5 minutes to 2 hours.
Strike options are currently available for BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, DOGE, AVAX, LINK, DOT, SHIB, XLM, HBAR, SOL, ADA, CRO, PEPE, BONK, FLOKI, and XRP. Strike options are also available for four forex pairs – AUD/USD, EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY. On the downside, strike options come with a $0.15 exchange fee per contract and a $0.14 technology fee, while UpDown options involve a $1.00 exchange fee and a $0.99 technology fee per contract.
Crypto.com Key Takeaways
- Strike options. Profit by predicting whether the price of an underlying asset will be above or below a specific price at the time of expiry.
- UpDown Options. Automatically terminates if the price of the underlying asset hits a predetermined ceiling.
- Forex Strike Options. Predict if the price of forex pairs (AUD/USD, EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY) will be above or below their strike price.
Pros
- Start trading strike options with just $10
- Trade strike option contracts for a predetermined duration (from 5 minutes to 2 hours)
- Heavily regulated platform (holds FCM, DCM, and DCO licenses)
- Trade perps with up to 50x leverage
Cons
- UpDown options are currently available only to US users
- Options contracts come with a flat exchange and technology fee
- You must stake CRO tokens to pay lower fees
5. OKX – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Europeans
OKX is one of the first crypto exchanges to obtain a MiCA license, which enables it to operate in 28 EEA countries. The platform is one of the best XRP futures trading platforms, and it supports futures margined in USDT, USDC, and cryptos, as well as BTC/USD and ETH/USD options. However, what makes it stand out are its pre-market futures. This lets you trade new cryptocurrencies before they get listed on crypto exchanges. These contracts are USDT-margined, and you can trade them with up to 2x leverage.

The trading fees on OKX are based on your VIP level – the higher the level, the lower the fees. The starting maker and taker fees amount to 0.020% and 0.050%, respectively. OKX’s fee structure may be a bit complex for beginners, which lowers its rating in our book. However, the exchange makes up for this complexity with its futures grid trading bots, which let you automate your trades. OKX also supports scaled orders, so you can enter multiple orders at different prices.
OKX supports 240+ cryptocurrencies, 290+ trading pairs, and 60+ Euro-based trading pairs. It also offers one of the best crypto wallets on the market – a self-custody solution that supports thousands of coins and gives you access to a wide range of Web3 and DeFi applications.
OKX Key Takeaways
- Futures grid trading bot: OKX enables you to automate your buys and sells and to customize the bot’s parameters to fit your strategy.
- Scaled orders: Enter multiple orders at different prices using limit orders.
- Futures analysis tool: This tool will enable you to track your trades in a calendar view.
- User-friendly mobile and desktop app: Available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS devices.
Pros
- Variety of futures contracts, including pre-market futures
- Futures analysis tool
- Advanced order types, such as scaled orders
- Futures grid trading bot
- Cross margin and isolated margin modes
Cons
- Delists pre-market futures contracts if the tokens don’t get listed on the spot market
- Beginners may find some features complex
6. Binance – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Delivery Futures
Binance stands out for its USDT and COIN-M delivery futures, which are available for BTC, ETH, SOL, and many more assets. Delivery contracts are settled in BTC and expire on the last Friday of each quarter, which makes them suitable for swing traders.

Binance is the largest crypto exchange in terms of trading volume. As of May 2025, this CEX has over 260 million registered users, which is proof of its popularity and user trust. It supports 510+ derivative markets, including USDC, USDT, and COIN-M perpetual futures. Depending on your position bracket, you can set the leverage from 1x to 125x. The maker and taker fees start from 0.0200% and 0.0500%, respectively. However, if you hold BNB tokens, you’ll get a 10% discount.
You can use cross and isolated margin modes, and you can automate your trades using the futures grid bot. Binance’s portfolio margin program will allow you to use 350+ crypto assets as collateral. Moreover, you’ll be able to use the same collateral across USDⓈ-M Futures, COIN-M Futures, and Cross Margin programs.
Binance Key Takeaways:
- Multi-assets mode: You can trade USDⓈ-M Futures contracts using multiple assets as collateral.
- Binance futures present: Send a customized position to your friends.
- Price protection: This feature will protect your stop loss and take profit orders from extreme price fluctuations.
- Portfolio margin program: Use 350+ crypto assets as collateral.
Pros
- Supports USDT and COIN-M delivery futures
- BNB token holders will get a 10% discount on trading fees
- Futures grid bot
- Portfolio margin program
Cons
- Futures presents support only USDT perpetual contracts
- Only VIP users can use the portfolio margin program
7. Margex – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Privacy-Conscious Traders
Margex found a spot on our list due to its lack of KYC verification, which makes it a go-to place for traders who value anonymity. This platform is also ideal for trading USDT-M and USDC-M futures, with flexible leverage options and competitive trading fees. On top of that, you benefit from its MP Shield™ AI-based system that eliminates the risk of price manipulation and unfair position liquidation.

Margex is a centralized crypto exchange that lets you trade COIN-M and USDT-M perpetual futures. The platform currently supports 45+ trading pairs; however, only four pairs, BTC/USD, ETH/USD, BNB/USD, and TRX/USD, come with up to 100x leverage, while for others, the leverage ranges between 15x and 50x. The trading fees stand at 0.019% (maker) and 0.060% (taker), which we found highly competitive.
As one of the best no-KYC platforms, Margex boasts an intuitive, beginner-friendly design and lets you hone your trading skills with a demo account. You’ll also be able to set price alerts to stay up-to-date with the latest market movements. Moreover, Margex offers a wide range of educational materials and video tutorials to help newbies learn all about crypto contract trading.
Margex Key Takeaways:
- Demo account: Practice trading with virtual funds.
- Beginner-friendly interface: Intuitive interface with customizable layouts.
- MP Shield™ AI-based system: Eliminates the risk of price manipulation and unfair liquidation of positions.
- Referral program: Earn 40% of the trading commissions paid by your referrals.
Pros
- No KYC verification
- AI-powered price manipulation protection
- Isolated and cross-margin modes
- Demo trading available
- Price alerts
Cons
- Relatively limited number of futures trading pairs
- Pending withdrawals are processed once a day
8. BloFin – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform For Meme Coin Futures
BloFin supports 30+ meme coin futures trading pairs, such as WIF/USDT, BRETT/USDT, and PEPE/USDT. The platform also offers promotional events where you can trade meme coin futures pairs for discounted fees. Moreover, BloFin lets you trade futures using a hedge mode, meaning you can open two opposing positions under the same contract to hedge your risk.

BloFin supports 439+ perpetual swap contracts and a wide range of coins, including some of the best gaming crypto tokens, like SAND and AXS, popular memes, like PEPE and DOGE, as well as AI and Layer 1 tokens. The trading fees for futures range between 0% and 0.006% (maker) and 0.035% and 0.05% (taker), based on your VIP level, while the leverage goes up to 150x. You can also automate your trades using BloFin’s trading bots or test your skills via its demo trading account.
As one of the best futures trading platforms, BloFin allows you to create up to 10 isolated sub-accounts, which helps you diversify your strategies and reduce risks. You can also take advantage of its unified trading account expansion, which enables trading across both spot and futures markets within a single account. Plus, you can use BloFin’s futures bonus as a margin to open a position or pay your trading fees.
BloFin Key Takeaways:
- Sub-accounts: Create up to 10 isolated sub-accounts.
- Unified trading account expansion: Trade spot and derivative markets within a single account.
- Promotional events: Trade meme coin futures pairs for discounted fees.
- Futures bonus: You can use futures bonuses to pay for the trading fees or as a margin to open a position.
Pros
- Offers 30+ meme coin futures trading pairs
- Supports 439+ perpetual swap contracts
- Demo trading and unified trading accounts
- Futures bonuses for various milestones
Cons
- No withdrawals directly from sub-accounts
- Beginners may find its interface challenging to navigate
9. KCEX – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform For Advanced Traders
We gave KCEX the title of the best contract trading platform for advanced traders due to its futures trading competitions, intuitive and customizable interface, and low trading fees. What’s more, KCEX doesn’t require KYC verification and allows you to transition from an existing cross-margin position to an isolated one, which is a rare find. On the other hand, if you want to hold both short and long positions, you can take advantage of KCEX’s hedge mode.

KCEX supports 538+ derivative markets and offers some of the lowest trading fees – 0% for makers and 0.01% for takers – while its perpetual futures come with a leverage of up to 100x. Moreover, you’ll be able to customize your trading page layout and use its automatic margin addition function to prevent forced liquidations, which makes it ideal for professional traders.
We also liked KCEX’s futures trading competition. Namely, if you make it to KCEX’s top 300 future traders list, you’ll be able to earn daily rewards of up to 1,800 USDT depending on your ranking. You can also trade perpetual futures on the go using the exchange’s user-friendly mobile app.
KCEX Key Takeaways:
- Flexible trading modes: You can switch from cross to isolated margin on open positions.
- Customizable trading page: You can customize the trading interface to suit your preferences.
- Automatic margin addition function: Automatically add margin to your futures position to avoid forced liquidation.
- Futures trading competition: The top 300 traders will earn daily rewards of up to 1,800 USDT.
Pros
- Competitive fees
- Customizable interface
- Supports 600+ derivative markets
- Integrated TradingView charts
Cons
- No desktop app
- No fiat support
10. Bybit – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Inverse Perpetual and Futures Contracts
Bybit is a crypto exchange offering over 567 USDT-settled perpetual futures, USDC-settled futures, and USDC-settled options. However, what makes it stand out are its inverse perpetual and futures contracts, which are denominated in a base currency (such as BTC or ETH). This means you can speculate on BTC’s price in US dollars while using BTC as collateral. The minimum order size is $1 per contract, while the maximum leverage for BTC/USD and ETH/USD stands at 100x and 50x, respectively.

Another feature that makes Bybit a good platform for crypto contract trading is its position builder tool. This lets you create complex investment portfolios using futures, perpetual, and options contracts. You can also use its futures combo bots to combine multiple futures contracts and place orders using AI strategies. The base trading fee rates start at 0.020% (maker) and 0.050% (taker). However, those will be reduced as you progress through the VIP level.
Similar to OKX, Bybit also lets you trade pre-market perpetual contracts and speculate on the future price of new tokens that will be listed on the exchange. The leverage on pre-market perpetual contracts ranges between 2x and 5x. If you want to further diversify your investments, you’d be happy to know that we currently rank Bybit as one of the best platforms for crypto options trading, as well.
Bybit Key Takeaways:
- Inverse perpetual and futures contracts: Speculate on BTC’s price in US dollars while using Bitcoin as collateral.
- Unified trading account: Trade perpetuals, futures, spot, and options within a single account.
- Futures combo bot: Lets you combine multiple futures contracts and place orders using AI
- strategies.
- Position builder tool: Create complex investment portfolios using futures, perpetual, and options contracts.
Pros
- Supports 560+ derivative markets
- Offers a variety of customizable trading bots
- The minimum order size is $1 per contract
- Supports pre-market perpetual contracts
Cons
- Position builder tool is only available with a unified trading account
- No insurance on deposits
11. PrimeXBT – Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform for Mobile Users
PrimeXBT supports 35 futures contracts that come with up to 200x leverage. You can trade crypto futures via its proprietary web-based trading platform and native mobile app. You can also take advantage of its demo account that’s available on Android and iOS devices and via a web app. PrimeXBT’s mobile application stands out for its intuitive design, advanced trading tools, and robust security, while its rating on Google Play and App Store stands at 4.5 and 4.7, respectively.

We tested the app to see how it works, and we found its interface intuitive and responsive. You can also customize the layout, use charting tools, and apply technical indicators. Moreover, PrimeXBT recently revamped its crypto futures order-entry form by introducing a simplified 2-button buy/sell layout that lets you execute orders without having to switch between screens.
PrimeXBT also offers competitive fees. The maker fee starts at 0.01%, while the taker fee ranges from 0.02% to 0.045%, depending on your monthly volume. Futures contracts usually come with no expiration date, while the leverage goes up to 200x.
PrimeXBT Key Takeaways:
- Adjustable leverage system: The leverage ranges from 2x to 200x.
- You can switch between cross and isolated margin modes.
- User-friendly Android and iOS apps: The app includes real-time market data, advanced charting tools, and multiple order types.
- Demo account: Test the exchange’s features risk-free.
Pros
- Low trading fees
- Adjustable leverage that goes up to 200x
- Intuitive mobile app with advanced trading tools
Cons
- Limited number of derivative markets
- Lack of futures grid trading bots
12. KuCoin – The Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform For Beginners
KuCoin supports 400+ tradable futures contracts, including USDT-, USDC-, and coin-margined contracts and options. You can also automate your trades using its futures grid bots. KuCoin stands out as the best crypto contract trading platform for beginners due to its user-centric interface, demo account feature, and futures trial funds.

We tested both the demo account and trial funds feature, and we found them comprehensive enough to help beginners test strategies and get a feel for the market without the stress of actual exposure. Furthermore, you can take advantage of KuCoin’s Learn and Earn program and newcomer bonuses. And if you’re interested in trading new and exciting tokens, check out our guide to the upcoming KuCoin listings.
Another beginner-friendly feature the exchange offers is its automated trading bots. We particularly liked its grid trading bot, designed to profit from sideways price movements, which uses AI to help newbie traders identify the optimal trading range.
KuCoin Key Takeaways:
- Trial funds: You can test your trading skills using KuCoin’s trial funds.
- Learn and Earn program: Earn rewards by taking crypto-related courses and quizzes.
- Trading bots: Automate your trades with the help of AI
- Competitive fees: With a 0.02% maker and a 0.06% taker fee, KuCoin is a cost-effective contract trading platform
Pros
- 400+ tradable futures contracts
- Supports futures grid bots
- High liquidity for perpetual and delivery contracts
- Regular futures trading competitions
Cons
- Limited fiat on-ramp options
- Trial funds have an expiration date
What is Contract Trading in Crypto?
Contract trading involves trading with crypto derivatives. Crypto derivatives are financial contracts whose value is based on their underlying assets, such as BTC, ETH, or SOL. Trading contracts enables you to speculate on the future price movements of cryptocurrencies using leverage. This means you’ll be able to profit from short and long positions without directly owning cryptocurrencies. Leverage will also let you enter positions larger than your initial capital.
Contract trading is especially popular among experienced crypto traders because it enables them to increase their market exposure and potential gains.
The most common forms of contract trading include:
- Futures: Futures allow you to buy or sell cryptocurrencies at a predetermined price on a predetermined date.
- Perpetual swap contracts: These contracts function like futures, except they don’t come with an expiration date. This means you’ll be able to hold your position for as long as you want (as long as you maintain the margin).
- Options: Options let you buy or sell crypto at a fixed price on a predetermined date or before the expiration date. However, unlike futures, options are not obligatory.
- USDT-M contracts: These types of contracts enable traders to speculate on future cryptocurrency prices using USDT (Tether) as collateral. They are also known as linear contracts.
- COIN-M contracts: COIN-M contracts, or inverse contracts, enable you to use cryptos, such as BTC and ETH, as collateral.
As you can see, contract trading differs greatly from spot trading. Spot trading allows you to own, buy, and sell cryptocurrencies at their current market price, which makes it more suitable for beginners. Spot trading is also less risky because it doesn’t involve the use of leverage. This means that you won’t be at risk of losing more than your initial investment.
How Does Crypto Contract Trading Work?
Crypto contract trading platforms enable you to speculate on the future price movements of cryptocurrencies without owning them. You’ll be able to profit from both bearish and bullish markets by entering short or long positions using borrowed funds. You profit from short positions when the price drops, while long positions win from price increases.
Once you open a position, you’ll have to set a leverage that usually ranges between 1x and 100x. You’ll also need to choose a contract type (futures, perpetual futures, options). Keep in mind that futures come with expiration dates, while perpetuals don’t. To mitigate risks, we advise you to use stop-loss and take-profit orders to automatically close your position once you reach the specified price.
You can exit the trade by closing your position. Your profits (or losses) will be based on the entry and exit prices. Once you’re out, the exchange will automatically return the borrowed funds.
Benefits of Crypto Contract Trading
Contract trading comes with many benefits since it allows you to enter short/long positions using leverage. Let’s explore them below:
Opportunity to Boost Your Potential Gains
Contract trading lets you make a profit by speculating on the future price movements of cryptocurrencies without the need to own them directly. You’ll also get to profit from both bullish and bearish markets. Since you’ll be using leverage, you’ll be able to enter positions larger than your initial capital, which will boost your potential gains. For example, if you use 100x leverage, you can open a position 100 times larger than your initial capital.
Hedging Against Price Fluctuations
The crypto market is highly volatile, which means that you’ll be able to profit from the short-term price movements of cryptocurrencies. However, high volatility can also lead to significant losses. This is where contract trading comes into play. Namely, futures contracts can hedge your crypto holdings from price fluctuations. For example, if you believe that the price of Bitcoin will drop, you can sell your BTC futures contract to offset potential losses.
Diversification
Crypto contract trading platforms give you exposure to a wide range of digital assets without the need to own them. This will help you diversify your portfolio and spread the risk. You’ll also be able to go short or long and base your trading strategy on the current market trends. Some platforms support pre-market futures, such as OKX and Bybit, which means you’ll get the chance to profit from new crypto projects before they get listed on spot markets.
Risks of Crypto Contract Trading
However, trading crypto contracts also comes with high risks, such as amplified losses and liquidation:
Complexity
Beginners may find contract trading a bit complicated since it involves opening positions, placing orders, understanding different types of leverage, and switching from cross margin to isolated margin modes. Beginners may be tempted to use the highest leverage, which can lead to huge losses, especially if they forget to apply protection measures, such as stop-loss orders. So, before you dip your toes into contract trading, we advise you to use demo accounts or demo funds to test different features and order types.
High Fees
Contract trading platforms charge trading fees for opening and closing positions and funding rates that are usually calculated at regular intervals (e.g., every 8 hours). Keep in mind that higher leverage can further increase those fees, so you’ll need to factor that into your trading decisions and profit/loss calculations.
Liquidation
Liquidation represents the biggest risk in contract trading. It occurs when traders cannot meet the margin requirements to keep their positions open. If liquidation happens, the exchange will close your position, which may result in partial or complete loss of your initial capital. This is why some contract trading platforms, like KuCoin, use insurance funds to cover the losses caused by forced liquidations.

Can You Trade Crypto Contracts in the USA?
Yes, you can trade crypto contracts in the US on platforms regulated by the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission). The CFTC oversees the commodity derivatives markets in the US, including futures and certain types of options. The CFTC also works with the NFA (National Futures Association), a self-regulatory organization for the US derivatives industry.
The most popular crypto contract trading platforms in the USA include eToro, Coinbase, Crypto.com, and Uphold.
Methodology: How We Ranked The Top Crypto Contract Trading Platforms
We tested numerous exchanges to find the best platform for crypto contract trading. We based our criteria on the number of futures pairs and derivative markets, maker/taker fees, volume and liquidity, leverage limits, and user-friendliness.
Available Coins and Markets (25%)
Platforms that support a large number of futures pairs and derivative markets are ranked higher on our list for two reasons. First of all, a wide range of futures pairs will allow you to diversify your portfolio and spread your risks. This is why we listed crypto exchanges that, in addition to BTC and ETH, support popular altcoins. Secondly, a larger number of derivative markets equals greater liquidity.
Trading Fees (25%)
Each contract trading platform will charge maker and taker fees that can vary from 0% to 0.100%. Maker fees refer to limit orders that add liquidity to the market, while taker fees refer to market orders that remove liquidity from the market. Our list includes exchanges that offer competitive maker and taker fees, such as MEXC and KCEX, as well as those that offer fee discounts through their VIP programs, like Bybit, Kucoin, and BloFin.
Volume and Liquidity (15%)
High trading volume equals high liquidity, which means that you’ll be able to enter and exit your positions more efficiently, reducing the risk of price slippage. On the other hand, exchanges with low trading volume are more prone to price swings. For this reason, we gave an advantage to crypto exchanges with high trading volumes, as well as those that offer price protection features, such as Binance.
Leverage Limits (20%)
Leverage will enable you to use borrowed funds to increase your position on the crypto market. Our list contains exchanges that offer flexible leverage options, which lets you set the leverage amount based on your risk tolerance. Leverage on contract trading platforms usually ranges from 1x to 100x. However, you’ll also find platforms that exceed this figure. For example, MEXC offers a maximum leverage of 400x. However, while higher leverage can boost your potential gains, it can also increase the risk of substantial losses.
Ease of Use (15%)
Ease of use played an important role in our selection of the best platform for crypto contract trading. We tested all the above-mentioned platforms to assess if they’re user-friendly, whether they’re available as desktop and mobile apps, and if they offer customizable options. We also gave an advantage to exchanges that provide tools that will help you execute your trades more efficiently, such as trading bots, demo accounts, multiple order types (such as limit, market, trigger, trailing stop), and modes (such as cross margin mode, isolated margin mode, and hedge mode).
Conclusion – What is the Best Crypto Contract Trading Platform?
Contract trading will enable you to speculate on future price movements of cryptocurrencies without having to own them directly. Instead, you’ll be borrowing funds from contract trading platforms to increase your position on the crypto market.
Contract trading involves setting up leverage that can range from 1x to 400x, meaning you’ll get to enter positions larger than your initial capital. The most common forms of contract trading include futures, perpetual swap contracts, options, USDT-M contracts, and COIN-M contracts. Futures come with expiration dates, while perpetual swap contracts allow you to hold your position for as long as you want.
CoinFutures reached the top of our best crypto contract trading platforms list due to its gamified approach to trading, high leverage limits, and transparent fee structure. The fact that it’s available worldwide also makes it attractive, and its simulated nature protects you from risks like poor liquidity and market manipulation while following real price action.
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References
- Top Cryptocurrency Derivatives Exchanges Ranked (CoinMarketCap)
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
- National Futures Association (NFA)
- OKX is officially among the first MiCA-licensed global crypto exchanges to passport its services across Europe (OKX)
- State of the Blockchain 2024 Year in Review (Binance)
- What are long and short positions in crypto trading? (Learncrypto.com)
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